Do You Need To Use Knee Kickers When Fitting Carpets

A knee kicker is one of the most important tools for any carpet fitter. They are designed to make repairing and laying carpet much easier but there are several different options. If you are a new carpet fitter looking for the best knee kicker or a seasoned pro looking to upgrade, it’s important to weigh up your options. 

A knee kicker for professional carpet fitters needs to be durable and suited to the job at hand. For example, there are some that are perfect for very small jobs while others are ideal for more heavy duty use. 

Do keep in mind that a knee kicker is primarily designed for smaller jobs such as hallways, stairs and inside of cupboards, small rooms. If you need a tool to help you stretch carpet over a larger area, such as a full sized room then a power carpet stretcher would be your tool of choice.

In this guide, we will be talking you through exactly what a knee kicker is used for and how to choose the right one. We will also offer some advice on alternatives should you ever find yourself without your knee kicker. 

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What Is A Knee Kicker Used For?

You may sometimes hear people referring to a knee kicker as a carpet stretcher. This is a tool used for stretching carpets but it is essential not to confuse it with the powered carpet stretched which is a more powerful tool used for larger areas. 

The knee kicker is a manual tool and something that every professional carpet fitter should have in their arsenal. They are used when installing wall to wall carpets but can also be very handy when it comes to making repairs on carpets that have lifted or creased. 

A knee kicker has a set of teeth on the operating end; these are typically adjustable so you can alter them according to the type of carpet you are installing. Before you start working for clients, it can help to experiment with your knee kicker and figure out which depth you will need for each carpet type. This simply saves time on the job.

Using your knee kicker is relatively simple and requires you to primarily put the device into position with the teeth firmly down into the carpet. You will need to have the knee kicker around one inch away from the wall. When it is in place, you’ll want to use your knee to apply fast and firm force to the other end of the kicker and this will push the carpet into position. Keep in mind that you need to hit it quite vigorously with your knee.

If there are any bubbles or imperfections in the carpet then you can also use your knee kicker to smooth these out. 

The knee kicker is not something you would use to lay carpet in a large area. It would simply be too much work and not powerful enough. However, when it comes to smaller spaces, this is an essential tool so if you’re laying carpet in anything less than a 3m x 3m space, make sure you’ve got yours to hand. 

What Can I Use Instead Of A Knee Kicker?

If you don’t have your knee kicker to hand then there are some other ways that you can lay wall to wall carpet. Do remember that almost any professional carpet fitter will tell you that you really do need a knee kicker for carpet installation. If you can get your hands on one then absolutely do. 

But if you’re still stuck then you might consider using the jump method. You will need to prepare your area as you normally would when installing any other carpet. Once your carpet has been cut and laid, it’s now time to get a little more inventive with how you’ll stretch it. 

The jump method involves exactly what you might imagine; jumping. Make sure that you do this after laying each piece of carpet. Start at the edge when you use the tack strip and turn to face the wall. Now simply jump forwards by about 12 inches. As you jump, use your momentum to stretch the carpet so that it makes contact with the tack strip. 

Unlike using a knee kicker, you may find that the jump method is not quite as reliable. The first jump may not get the carpet to reach the tack strip so you may have to repeat the process a couple more times. It’s not ideal, but when you have no other way, it’s a great thing to have under your belt.

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Time To Switch To A Power Stretcher – Knee Kicker Alternative

In bigger spaces, your knee kicker just won’t cut the mustard and you will need to swap it out for a power stretcher. Every professional carpet fitter should have both tools in their kit.

Unlike a knee kicker, the power stretcher is much longer and larger. These tools reach from one side of the room to the other but they work in a very similar manner. The head of your power stretcher is placed onto the carpet at one side of the room and grips it in the same way that your knee kicker would. 

The long pole between the head and the other end of the power stretcher runs across the room to the wall on the other side. There is a lever which you pump and this is what causes the carpet to stretch and fit perfectly. 

Remember that when choosing between a power stretcher and a knee kicker, you should consider the manufacturer’s warranty for the carpet. In many cases, the manufacturer will require you to use a power stretcher otherwise the warranty will become void. 

Can You Stretch Carpet With A Knee Kicker?

A knee kicker is designed to be used during the installation of smaller carpets. As we have discussed, areas like inside closets, stairs and hallways would usually be where you’d use your knee kicker. However, there are a lot of DIY websites out there offering instructions on how to use a knee kicker to stretch carpet. You’ll also find a lot of guides talking about how to restretch carpet using these tools. 

The truth is that you could use a knee kicker to stretch a full sized carpet but you’re certainly going to have your work cut out for you. Moreover the results will not be as good and you may find that your carpet starts to wrinkle and bubble. This is something that could happen to any carpet over time, but if you use a knee kicker for a large room, these imperfections will appear much more quickly. In some cases, this could be as little as six months!

To achieve the best results, you will need to use both a knee kicker and a carpet stretcher in conjunction with one another. Generally speaking, you would use the knee kicker along one wall of the room. Once you have secured the carpet along here, you would then use your carpet stretcher for the remainder of the job. 

If you do not have these tools and cannot purchase them, then it may be a better idea to hire a professional to install the carpet for you. They will have all of the correct tools and will ensure that the carpet is secure and lasts a long time without creasing. 

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Conclusion

A knee kicker is an excellent tool that professional carpet fitters cannot live without. They are ideal for helping to install carpets in small areas or where a carpet stretcher cannot be used. These manual tools ensure that the carpet is secured wall to wall but they aren’t suitable for use in larger areas. 

When you are carpeting a bigger room, typically anything over 3m x 3m, you will need a powered carpet stretcher. Failing to use one of these alongside your knee kicker will mean that your final result is not as good and that the carpet may lift or wrinkle prematurely.