Installing a carpet isn’t as simple as just laying it down on the floor and hoping for the best. The best carpet fitters out there have to take training courses and achieve flooring qualifications so it goes without saying that this is a specialist job.
The tools that you use when laying a carpet are also considered specialist and it’s important to make sure that you have everything you need in your arsenal before getting started. Carpet stretchers, sometimes called power stretchers are among one of the most important tools. But what are the best power stretchers?
Related Article: Do You Need To Use Knee Kickers When Fitting Carpets
The best power stretchers are made from high quality materials, have excellent teeth and are easy to use. These are just some of the features you’ll need to look for when choosing this type of equipment.
In this guide, we will be looking at the importance of using a power stretcher as well as offering advice on selecting the best tool. This will ensure that you always achieve a professional and long lasting result.
What Is A Power Stretcher?
A power stretcher is a tool used by carpet fitters which ensures correct tension in the carpet so that it reaches from wall to wall. They’re usually used in areas where the floor area is larger than normal and allow the fitter to achieve a perfect fit. Without a power stretcher, you would end up with gaps around the edge of the room.
It’s important to note that a carpet power stretcher is vastly different to the smaller tool known as a knee kicker. While the two do perform similar jobs, they are different by design and in which situations they can be used.
How Do Power Stretchers Work?
Power stretchers for carpets feature a head that has small teeth, sometimes called tines, that attach into the carpet. Let’s take a look at how these essential tools work.
- You will start by testing the length of the tines in the power stretcher head. There is usually a knob on the stretcher that allows you to adjust the length of the tines and it’s important that you do this. They should be long enough to go through the fibres and grip the back of the carpet without actually poking through.
- The best professionals will tell you that you need to protect the wall before using your power stretcher. You can do this by applying a pad or even scrap bit of carpet against the opposite wall you will be stretching the carpet to.
- Now take the base of your power stretcher and place this against the pad you just created. The head of your power stretcher, with the tines, should be placed on the opposite wall about size inches away.
- You should make sure that the connection between the base and the head is properly adjusted according to the size of the room. Furthermore, it’s important to stretch the carpet at an angle; usually 15º is about right.
- There is a lever on your power stretcher which you use to stretch the carpet. Once you have it in place, you can then lock the power stretcher and attach the carpet to the tack rod. Keep repeating this process until you have stretched and fitted the entire carpet.
Do You Have To Use A Power Stretcher?
There are two main tools that are used to stretch carpet from one wall to the other. These are the power stretcher and the knee kicker. Now the knee kicker is a manual tool that is designed to be used in smaller areas. For example, when you are carpeting a very small room, a hallway or a landing.
On the flip side, a power stretcher is a tool designed to help the installer fit carpet in a much larger space. When you are laying carpet in a room, a power stretcher is an essential tool. If you do not use one, then the final result will be less than impressive.
When carpets are laid without a power stretcher, they will not be as stable or secure. This means that they will begin to crease and buckle, in some cases, in as little as a few months. Carpets naturally wrinkle over time and this is unavoidable but using the right equipment to lay them will improve their integrity and ensure that they last much longer.
Can You Install Carpet Without A Power Stretcher?
Normally, carpets come in a roll. This is the case when you purchase one from almost any carpet retailer. However, this means that the carpet won’t normally provide you with an exact fit. Each room is different in terms of shape and size, so the carpet will need to be cut to match this.
Additionally, your carpet may need to be stretched which is the case when installing wall to wall carpets. If you do not stretch the carpet then this can massively impact how the room looks since it will not be flush to the edge of the room. On top of this, and as we have already mentioned, your carpet is much more likely to buckle and crease. When you stretch your carpet, you can feel confident that the installation will be of the highest quality.
Now, using a power stretcher is by far the best way to stretch your carpet. However, there may be times when you don’t need to use one. This applies if you are installing a felt backed carpet as these do not need to be stretched. Instead, you will install the carpet by using a spray adhesive. Any spare carpet will run up the wall during installation and is then removed using a cutting tool.
You will typically find that this method of installation is preferable if you are a beginner as you won’t need to worry about getting that stretch just right. However, it is worth keeping in mind that you might still need to stretch the carpet in certain areas of the room such as around a door. The good news is that you won’t necessarily need a power stretcher for this. A knee kicker will usually be more than sufficient.
Choosing A Power Stretcher For Carpets
Now that we are aware of the importance of using a power stretcher, it’s a good idea to know what to look for when buying one. When we ask which are the best power stretchers, the answer is simple. They are reliable, robust and easy to use. Here is our detailed guide on finding the best power stretcher whether you are a DIYer or a professional carpet fitter.
Ease Of Use
No matter whether you’re a pro or not, you’re going to want a tool that’s easy to use. If the power stretcher is in any way fiddly or tricky to operate, you’ll find each job takes a lot longer. What’s more, if it’s difficult to use, there is a risk of breaking it.
There are various things you’ll want to look out for when checking the useability of the tool. For starters, make sure that the grip and teeth will easily attach to the carpet without causing damage. There are power stretchers with a non-slip grip which is an important feature to look out for.
Carpet Stretcher Material
One of the most important things to consider when buying a power stretcher is what it’s made of. This might not seem like the most obvious point but the material will tell you a lot about how durable the tool is.
Usually, the best power stretchers are made from steel or aluminium. The benefit of these is that both are lightweight and yet incredibly robust. These tools will stand the test of time so they’re ideal for professionals.
It is possible to buy plastic power stretchers but these won’t have the same level of durability. That said, if you’re not going to use the tool all that often, it might be worth considering as plastic is normally much more affordable.
Power Stretcher Size
Power stretchers are used for larger areas so you’re going to need something that’s up for the challenge. The size of the tool will determine what jobs you can do. If you’re a professional, you’ll need something more versatile. On the other hand, if you’re a DIYer only doing one job then you might want to look for a tool that’s the perfect size for that.
Also keep in mind that the bigger the power stretcher, the more force it will be able to withstand. But of course, if you’re working in a smaller area, a big tool might make life more difficult.
Tines
The quality of the tines is essential as this will determine how the carpet looks once it has been laid. Take a look at what material they’re made from; this should be stable, robust and sturdy. The best option here is steel as this won’t damage as easily as other materials. Moreover, it will give you a better grip.
Also be sure to check how long the tines are and how many are present. Almost all power stretchers have adjustable tines so don’t forget to look at the maximum and minimum length as well as how easy they are to adjust. Keep in mind that the more teeth the power stretcher has, the better it will grip the carpet.
It is also a good idea to look for a power stretcher that comes with replaceable tines. If just one or a couple of the teeth sustain damage, there’s no need to replace the whole lot. This is quite a common feature of modern power stretchers and will save you a lot of money in the long run.
How Heavy Is The Power Stretcher?
The last thing you want is a power stretcher that’s so heavy, it feels almost impossible to move around the room. On the flipside, you don’t want something so light and flimsy that it will break easily.
Normally, you will find that power stretchers are anywhere between 1kg and 4kg so choose something that feels right for you. Although, it is essential to remember that those on the lighter end of the scale are likely made from less robust materials and could break.
Conclusion
A power stretcher is an important tool for laying carpet. If you are fitting a carpet in a large area then these tools will help in stretching the carpet from wall to wall. Without them, you would not get the perfect fit and there would likely be gaps around the edge of the room.
Many people confuse the power stretcher with the knee kicker but these are different pieces of equipment. They function best when you use them together.
When choosing the best power stretcher, you need to take a lot of things into consideration. If you’ve asked yourself what is the best power stretcher then the answer is one that is durable, made from high quality materials and has reliable, adjustable tines.