How to Stretch Carpets
Carpet installation is easier when using the tools of the professionals. You will need to research what tools are required for stretching carpet. The tools can be purchased or rented from a home improvement store. Homeowners can save money by installing and stretching their own carpet.
Roll out the carpet over the floor. Make sure the carpet is the right size for the space. There should be an extra inch of carpet along the borders and walls.
Wear knee pads when installing carpet. Set up a tack strip in the corner section of your room. Attach a small section of the carpet to tack strip.
Position your knee kicker tool in front of the wall. The knee kicker tool should be about three inches in front of the tack strip.
Push your knee into the padded end of the knee kicker tool. This motion will drive the carpet forward and cause the carpet to firmly attach to the tack strip.
Tug gently on your carpet to check if the carpet is firmly attached to the tack strip.
Use an automated carpet stretcher to stretch the carpet. You want to position one end of the carpet stretcher against the wall by the knee kicker.
Place the end of the stretcher with the teeth on the opposite side of the room. The opposite end of the stretcher should be around six inches from the wall. You will have to adjust the extension tools so that the tool can reach across the room.
Push down on the lever of the carpet stretcher to start the stretching process. Stretch the carpet over the tack strips across the room. This tool will stretch the carpet and make the carpet fit across the floor.