How to Stretch Berber Carpet

Berber carpet is made of small loops.

Berber carpet is made up of a series of tiny loops of various heights. The name Berber comes from an African tribe that uses the same loop technique, according to The Flooring Lady website. The yarn used for Berber carpets is often speckled and contains color variations throughout. This gives the carpet a different appearance than traditional single-colored carpeting. Over time, a Berber carpet can develop wrinkles and bulges. Stretching removes them.

Things You'll Need

• Pry bar
• Power stretcher
• Finishing nails
• Hammer

Instructions

1. Insert the flat edge of a pry bar behind the molding and pull the molding up from the floor. Continue working your way around the room until all of the molding is removed. If you are installing new carpet or there is no molding, skip this step.

2. Grasp the edge of the carpet where it meets a wall and pull it up from the floor, using firm pressure. You may want to wear gloves while doing this to help you get a better grip. Loosen all of the carpet along one of the longest walls of the room.

3. Place the bottom end of a power stretcher against the center of the wall on the opposite side of the room. Extend the telescoping handle out until the gripping end of the stretcher is approximately 6 inches away from the wall with the loosened carpet. Some stretchers have additional poles to insert rather than a telescoping handle.

4. Set the depth dial on the power stretcher to the deepest setting possible.

5. Press the grippers of the stretcher firmly down into the Berber carpet. You want the metal teeth to grip the base of the carpet, not the Berber loops.

6. Press down on the top handle until it meets the pole of the stretcher. Hold the pole down with one hand and use your other hand to press the edge of the stretched Berber carpet down onto the carpet tack strip installed on the floor.

7. Release the handle on the carpet stretcher. Reposition the bottom of the stretcher pole so that it is 18 inches away from the first location.

8. Angle the top of the stretcher approximately 10 degrees to the side so that you are stretching in a fan-shaped pattern.

9. Repeat the process to stretch this segment of Berber carpet. Continue until all of the Berber carpet has been stretched along the wall.

10. Turn the power stretcher around so that it is facing the opposite wall and repeat the entire stretching procedure to stretch the other side of the Berber carpet.

11. Replace any molding and secure it with finishing nails and a hammer.

Tips & Warnings

• You can use a knee kicker to stretch any small areas, such as around doors and in corners.

• Power stretchers can be rented and purchased at home improvement stores.

References

• The Family Handyman: How to Restretch a Carpet
• The Flooring Lady: What is Berber Carpet?
• Find Any Floor: Installing Carpet Stretch Method