Swapped my knee kicker for a power stretcher on every job and never looked back

Used to think knee kickers were fine for residential rooms under 12 feet wide. Then I did a 15x20 living room in Phoenix last fall and had to re-stretch three times because the seams kept rippling. Now I use a Roberts power stretcher for anything over 10 feet. Ever had a call-back because of loose seams?

3 comments

3 Comments

paul_taylor214d ago

Whoa, I gotta push back a little on that one. I've been using a knee kicker for years on rooms way bigger than that and rarely had issues. Maybe your technique was off or the pad was slipping, but a good knee kicker can handle 15 feet no problem if you know how to lock it in. Power stretchers are great for heavy commercial carpet or super long runs, but for most residential jobs they're overkill and just slow you down.

william_harris4d ago

And that's exactly what I've been saying for years. I've done plenty of 15 and 20 foot rooms with just a knee kicker and never had a problem either. It's all about getting a good solid hit and making sure your pad is clean and not dusty. I think a lot of folks these days watch a couple YouTube videos and think they need a power stretcher for every little job, but most of the time it's just extra weight and hassle for nothing.

karen3614d ago

Read somewhere that the adhesive on the pad can break down in that dry heat if it's not the right type for Arizona. Might explain why the knee kicker wasn't holding for you. A power stretcher puts way more tension into the hook strip itself rather than relying on the pad grip.