The 5-year difference between cheap stretch-in and power-stretched carpet blew my mind

I went back to a house I did 5 years ago where the owner insisted on just stretching it in by hand to save money. Man, that carpet looked wavy and loose, seams were showing everywhere. Meanwhile, another job I did that same week where I used a power stretcher and kicker still looks tight as a drum. Why do people still think hand-stretching is okay for anything bigger than a closet? Anyone else see a huge difference years later?

3 comments

3 Comments

max_torres441d ago

Honestly, I think people overstate how bad hand-stretching really is. It all depends on who's doing it and how careful they are. I've seen power stretchers ruin carpet too, especially if the installer doesn't know how to use one properly. They can overstretch it and cause ripples at the walls or even tear the backing. A good installer with strong hands and patience can get a hand-stretch job to last just as long, especially if the room isn't huge and the padding is decent. The main problem is most people who do it by hand just rush through it, they don't take the time to work the wrinkles out from all angles. Power stretchers are a tool, not a magic fix. A sloppy worker with a power stretcher will still give you wavy carpet in five years. It's more about the person than the tool.

fiona_west211d ago

This is basically true for everything, not just carpet.

michael6691d ago

That detail about a sloppy worker with a power stretcher still giving wavy carpet, that honestly blows my mind a little. I guess I always figured the tool itself made up for some lack of skill, you know? But you're probably right, a bad installer can mess up anything, even a good power stretcher. I just can't get past how it looked in that house, the seams were so obvious and the whole thing had that loose, baggy feel. You'd think with all the time saved, people would just learn to use the power stretcher right. It still feels like hand-stretching a room bigger than a closet is asking for trouble in the long run. But I hear your point about the person mattering more than the tool.