TIL that stretch-in method fails way faster than power stretcher on commercial jobs

I had a 2,000 square foot office carpet job go sideways last Thursday when the stretch-in started lifting at the seams after just three hours, so I ripped it all out and redid it with a power stretcher. The customer watched me the whole time and asked why I didn't just use the knee kicker like before, but the seams are holding flat now. Has anyone else had a big install fall apart on them from using stretch-in instead of a power stretcher?

2 comments

2 Comments

wright.cole27d ago

Three hours before it started lifting? That's not a fail, that's a crash.

dakotawells27d ago

And honestly, I think the stretch-in method gets a bad rap when the real issue is usually bad prep or not stretching properly. If the carpet was power stretched tight enough to lift in three hours, the subfloor or padding was probably the problem, not the tool. You could knee kick that same room just fine if you take the time to do it right and seam it with good glue.