How to Put Together a Carpet Stretcher
A carpet stretcher or power stretcher is a necessary tool for the installation of carpet. Carpet stretchers are not carpet kickers, which are used to secure the carpet to the tack strips. The stretchers actually stretch the carpet tight to get a smooth long-lasting carpet installation. Without a stretcher, the carpet will eventually get waves in it and possibly come off the tackless strip that holds it in place. Carpet stretchers basically consist of a toothed paddle that is connected to a long adjustable pole. The paddle has a lever, which when dropped causes the stretcher to make the carpet flat. Does this Spark an idea?
Instructions
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Open the case and take out the sections of adjustable pole and the carpet stretcher. One end of each pole has two small nobs that lock into holes on the other end of each pole. Push the nobs that are located on opposite sides of the pole in and insert the pole into the next. The nobs will lock into the holes in the pole. Adjust the pole so it is 2 feet shorter than the length of the room.
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Connect the carpet stretcher to the adjustable pole and lock it in place by pushing the nobs in and inserting the pole into the stretcher and locking it in. Adjust the pole so it spans the length of the room with the nose of the toothed paddle end 6 inches from the wall.
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3
Place a scrap section of 2 by 4 board against the trim, which will brace it from damaging the drywall, for the end of the adjustable pole to push against.
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Fully adjust the stretcher so the stretcher end is still 6 inches from the wall and the pole is tightly pressed against the 2 by 4. Pull the lever down to stretch the carpet and connect the carpet to the tackless strip. The tackless strip is what holds the carpet in place and consists of 4-foot sections of 1-inch wide wood that has a lot of curved tacks through it. The tackless strip is nailed to the floor, 1/2 inch from the wall, around the entire perimeter of the room with the tacks curved toward the walls. This is installed before the carpet is laid out.
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References
- Photo Credit carpet close up image by isatori from Fotolia.com
