Wear your gloves, then place the carpets edge over the tack strips. You should cut it to a length of 16 inches. Adjustable pins. See if theres any buckle or dip on its surface. The products included in this article are available at various retail stores, local home centers, and online retailers like Amazon. After applying the strips, allow the glue to dry. The MARSHALLTOWN Professional Knee Kicker is used to stretch carpet over tack strip for a better, tighter fit. Fit one knee into the padding at the base of the knee kicker. Is a knee kicker the same as a carpet stretcher? It is also an affordable tool one can utilize to install artificial turf. Something went wrong. Please enter a valid email and try again. Copyright 2022 This Old House Ventures, LLC. This article was co-authored by Mark Spelman. It "bites" into the carpet with sharp prongs on one end and has a brace that fits against the opposite wall, allowing you to stretch the carpet in the largest areas of the room. To learn how to prepare your carpet for stretching, keep reading! 1. Step 6 - Secure the Carpet. spotman123 said: I agree with Kevin. QEP 4-1/8 in. Dont pull too hard, as this could separate the fibers and damage the carpet. unlocking this expert answer. He has been a construction professional since 1987. You don't want to risk damaging your flooring or existing carpet by making a mistake. The knee kicker carpet installer is the ideal tool for stretching new carpet into the corners without leaving wrinkles or bulges. You need enough to cover one side of the piece of wood. Wear work gloves while handling old and new tack strips as they are made of setting nails on one side and razor-sharp tacks on the other. First, cut the 44 wood with a saw. There are some checks that you can perform to answer your question. Subscribe and scale! First, check the depth of the teethwhen the head is pressed down on the carpet, the teeth should bite into the pile and backing, but not protrude through it. Cut a tack strip into several 16-inch length pieces. One of the great things about wall-to-wall carpeting is that its surface is completely smooth and wrinkle-free. In using a knee kicker, youll have to kick its back with your knee so that it would tension the carpet and pull it closer to the wall. If you are using a utility knife, cut very slowly and cautiously so you don't over-trim. Get the latest This Old House news, trusted tips, tricks, and DIY Smarts projects from our expertsstraight to your inbox. Apply glue first on the bottom of the 44 wood, which will serve as the kicker piece. Trim the excessive part of the carpet that is touching the wall. Grasp the carpet at one corner of the room with a pair of pliers, and lift the corner of the carpet off of the tack. Read our guide to learn how to easily remove mold from wood. First, check the depth of the teethwhen the head is pressed down on the carpet, the teeth should bite into the pile and backing, but not protrude through it. You can use the dial on the kickers head to adjust the depth of the teeth. For small installations and fixing loose carpet. A power carpet kicker is disclosed. Look at the carpet surface and see if there are any folds or wrinkles. It also comes in handy for doing the last bit of stretching after using the power stretcher. If the room with the carpet you are trying to stretch is too small for the power stretcher to fit, you may consider using the knee kicker. Youd want to use the momentum of your jump in stretching the carpet for it to meet the tack strip. It needs to remain anchored on two opposing walls. If you're not sure how to do this, check out the video below. Unlock expert answers by supporting wikiHow, https://www.bobvila.com/articles/how-to-stretch-carpet/, https://www.thisoldhouse.com/how-to/how-to-install-wall-to-wall-carpeting, http://www.familyhandyman.com/floor/carpet-repair/how-to-restretch-a-carpet/step-by-step. Mold commonly grows on wooden surfaces, as wood is very good at absorbing water. We use cookies to make wikiHow great. Thanks for the information. and 24 in. By choosing I Accept, you consent to our use of cookies and other tracking technologies. To learn more or opt-out, read our Cookie Policy. It may take a few kicks to get the desired result. Bring more flexibility and functionality home with these cool, creative ways to separate spaces. Attach this to the main body using a . (Important Facts) Written by: Nicolas Attachthe kneekickerto the carpetby stretchingit against the baseboard. It works by bracing one end against a wall while you embed the teeth of the head in the carpet about 6 in. Use the carpet cutting knife to trim it down if necessary. Rather, you use your knee to "kick" the padded end of the device. Best Seller. Carpet Kicker. At the opposite end from the pad is a square-ish plate with little metal teeth facing down. Dont fret, as you can still install a carpet without a knee kicker. If you have questions about how to select or install transition molding, ask the staff at the hardware or flooring supply store for more information. Homenish.com, All Rights Reserved. Support wikiHow by Step 5: Stretch More with a Knee Kicker. 39 Related Question Answers Found . You can perform several knee kicks on the end to check if the padding is sufficient and that the upholstery fabric stays in place. This tool also comes in handy for going back over the carpet after the power stretcher has done the bulk of the work, to give any trouble spots some extra care. Make sure to use protective gloves and. But since you wont be stretching the carpet to make contact with the tack strips, you can place the latter directly against the wall. How to Clean Carpet on Stairs (Even Without a Vacuum). Then take your seam iron and place it under the edge of the carpets. Tack strips resemble old-fashioned wooden yardsticks pre-nailed with small, very sharp pins. Make sure not to place the underpad over the tack strips, as you will need these to secure your carpet. But what if you cant find one in your local home improvement store? 2. You should also check the carpet leveling. {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/a\/a8\/Stretch-Carpet-Step-1-Version-3.jpg\/v4-460px-Stretch-Carpet-Step-1-Version-3.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/a\/a8\/Stretch-Carpet-Step-1-Version-3.jpg\/aid1181534-v4-728px-Stretch-Carpet-Step-1-Version-3.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":546,"licensing":"