Figured out my seam gaps after a job in Springfield

I was finishing a 15 by 20 foot room and the seams kept showing a tiny line. My helper, Mark, pointed out I was holding the knee kicker at a slight angle instead of straight on. I tried it his way on the last strip and the seam just vanished. Anyone else have a simple trick that fixed a long-running problem?

3 comments

3 Comments

gonzalez.anna1mo ago

Oh, so now we're all supposed to bow down to Mark and his "straight kicker" wisdom? Must be nice having a helper who actually knows what they're doing. I bet he also knows how to fold a fitted sheet.

flores.jana2mo ago

Wait, is it the knee kicker angle or the power stretcher? I've always been told the knee kicker is just for positioning and you get the real tension from the power stretcher. Maybe your helper was right for that specific carpet, but I've seen guys get perfect seams with a slight angle on the kicker if the stretcher is set up right.

masona622mo ago

Perfect seams with a slight angle on the kicker" sounds like a flooring urban legend. I've watched guys try that and end up with a bubble by lunchtime. The power stretcher does the real work, period.