Does your carpet seem to have waves running through it? If so, it was not put down with a carpet stretcher. This is a tool used to stretch the carpet tight to the floor and make sure it is lying flat. If not, the carpet can be dangerous. When carpet is put down, this tool is used as well as another tool called a knee kicker.
What is a Carpet Stretcher?
The carpet stretcher is a long tool with a row of teeth on the bottom. There is a lever that is pushed down to ensure the carpet is as tight as possible before being permanently affixed to the floor. When laying carpet you will find it is better if you have at least two or three people to help.
As the carpet is being pushed towards the wall using the knee kicker, the carpet is smoothed out so there are no wrinkles or waves. This is only used after one end has been secured with tacks. After the carpet has been smoothed out with this tool, the carpet stretcher grabs the carpet with the teeth on the underside and stretches it until it can be secured on the opposite side.
Once this is secured, release the lever and work on stretching the carpet along the two remaining walls. These tools are very handy for those who want to put down their own carpet. As a matter of fact, you should never attempt to lay carpet without having one of these handy tools to stretch the carpet. No matter how tight you think you have the carpet, it is not possible to make it lie perfectly flat without the use of a carpet stretcher.
There are even stretchers that have adjustments for different stretching needs. The straight head and swivel heads are needed for rooms that may be an odd shape. A swivel lock carpet stretcher can be purchased with lock pins for angle stretching. They are also available with an adjustment for the different thicknesses of carpet.
This is certainly a handy tool to have if you install a lot of carpet. However, if you only need it for a one time project, you may want to rent one. They are somewhat expensive depending on the type you purchase. Many home improvement and hardware stores have these available for renting for the home do-it-yourselfer.
The more features you get, the costlier the carpet stretcher will be. Also available are stairway carpet stretchers for getting a tight fit and avoiding excess carpet that could be very dangerous especially here. Some can cost several hundred dollars if they have angle stretching options.
They used to be made of wood, but most are made of metal today. They will last several years if taken care of properly. This means they have to be cleaned and dried and put away in an area that is not damp. Since they are made of metal, you do not want to run the risk of rust forming on the teeth.
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