PSA: Stop using knee kickers on commercial glue downs

I was at a training seminar in Denver last week and the instructor showed us a failed glue down job that had wrinkles everywhere because the installer used a knee kicker on a 2000 sq ft space. The glue was still wet and the kicker just pushed the carpet sideways instead of stretching it right. Who else has seen bad installs from guys skipping the power stretcher on glue down jobs?

2 comments

2 Comments

olivia_chen3522d ago

I did a 1500 sq ft commercial office last spring and the GC tried to tell me to just use the knee kicker to save time. I told him no because I've pulled up too many jobs where the carpet looked fine for a month then started rippling at the seams. Power stretcher is absolutely the way to go on any glue down over like 200 sq ft, especially if you're working with a heavier commercial carpet tile or broadloom.

sandra71522d ago

You've SEEN it too then. That month delay is REAL. I swear by the power stretcher even for smaller rooms now. Had a job last year, maybe 300 sq ft, owner said just use the kicker. I said no. Three months later they called me back because the seam by the doorway was bunching up. Had to pull the whole section and redo it. That's lost time and money. Never again.