Prior to me becoming a computer technician, I was a certified flooring installer for 5 years and in the business for over 8. I obtained CFI certification I & II, which is basically a instructional certification in ways to properly install carpet, using certain type of tools, identifying defects & how to repair them, etc..

Basic tools needed can be rented from a home improvement store or bought. If you wish to buy them I'd suggest contacting L Fishman & Sons @ http://www.lfishman.com or 1-800-556-7899 or Allied Products @ http://www.alliedproducts.net/ or (800) BUY-GLUE or go to your local home improvement store.

Here are the tools being used: knee kicker, stair tool/chisel and carpet knife (can use a regular utility knife in place of the carpet knife)
http://www.superiorpcmd.com/carpet/DSC00352.JPG

If the problem was more severe, I would use this.. Its called a mini-stretcher.
http://www.superiorpcmd.com/carpet/DSC00353.JPG

Now for the problem in my living room..
http://www.superiorpcmd.com/carpet/DSC00339.JPG
http://www.superiorpcmd.com/carpet/DSC00340.JPG

Not sure if its noticable in the pic but the carpet basically is off the tack strip, what holds the carpet securely after being installed..
http://www.superiorpcmd.com/carpet/DSC00341.JPG

Here is the tackstrip & padding installed..
http://www.superiorpcmd.com/carpet/DSC00342.JPG

Re-stretching:

1. Place the kicker approximately 2" behind the tackstrip's location and using your left or right knee, kick the carpet knee kicker and using the chisel or your hand, firmly push the carpet down on the tackstrip as you move the kicker over to the left or right..
http://www.superiorpcmd.com/carpet/DSC00343.JPG

2. Once your finished, the carpet will look like this on the baseboards or walls.
http://www.superiorpcmd.com/carpet/DSC00344.JPG

3. Trim the excess carpet, try to guess how much by folding the carpet up to the baseboard and then add about 1/4 inch or so..
http://www.superiorpcmd.com/carpet/DSC00345.JPG

4. Tuck carpet into edge between carpet & baseboard/wall. Place the knee kicker approximately 1" from the wall while installing the carpet as shown to prevent the carpet from bubbling back up when you tuck the carpet in.. If it still bubbles up, then cut the carpet some more until it tucks nicely without any bubbles against the wall.
http://www.superiorpcmd.com/carpet/DSC00346.JPG

5. Amount stretched out of the carpet. Approximately 1" in this particular case.
http://www.superiorpcmd.com/carpet/DSC00347.JPG
http://www.superiorpcmd.com/carpet/DSC00348.JPG

6. Clean the mess up..
http://www.superiorpcmd.com/carpet/DSC00349.JPG

7. Finished product
http://www.superiorpcmd.com/carpet/DSC00350.JPG

The reason why the kicker or mini-stretcher has the ability to stretch the carpet is because of the "teeth" on the surface..

On the knee kicker, it has 3 rows of cleats plus adjustable "teeth"
http://www.superiorpcmd.com/carpet/DSC00356.JPG

On the mini-stretcher, it has similar but more and the "teeth" are facing in the opposite direction cause basically it is placed between the tack strip and the baseboard/wall and is cranked on with the handle to stretch it..
http://www.superiorpcmd.com/carpet/DSC00354.JPG
http://www.superiorpcmd.com/carpet/DSC00355.JPG

Stay tuned for instructional information regarding how to use the mini-stretcher, restretching carpet in the doorway or close to it, and possibly repairing a hole.

My tools are available for rent but they do require a deposit :D

Part II

Mini-stretcher use

The problem:
http://www.superiorpcmd.com/carpet/DSC00357.JPG
http://www.superiorpcmd.com/carpet/DSC00358.JPG

Carpet, padding, trackstrip:
http://www.superiorpcmd.com/carpet/DSC00359.JPG

I removed about 1" of padding so I can lay a second strip of tackstrip in front of the first piece.

New piece of trackstrip in place:
http://www.superiorpcmd.com/carpet/DSC00360.JPG

Roofing nails used to supplement the nails holding the original piece of tackstrip in place. The mini-stretcher puts extreme amounts of force on the tackstrip and can break as a result. The use of the roofing nails gives the tackstrip a firm grip to the subfloor and a firm surface for the mini-stretcher to grab on to without slipping/breaking. They are placed about every 8" or so.
http://www.superiorpcmd.com/carpet/DSC00362.JPG
http://www.superiorpcmd.com/carpet/DSC00363.JPG

Mini-stretcher in place about to be cranked on.
http://www.superiorpcmd.com/carpet/DSC00365.JPG
http://www.superiorpcmd.com/carpet/DSC00366.JPG

Mini-stretcher with stretching carpet. There is a hump between the two ends of the mini-stretcher from the amount of carpet that was stretched.
http://www.superiorpcmd.com/carpet/DSC00367.JPG
http://www.superiorpcmd.com/carpet/DSC00368.JPG

Knee carpet kicker next to the mini-stretcher used to bump the excess up on the trackstrip.
http://www.superiorpcmd.com/carpet/DSC00369.JPG

Amount of carpet up against baseboard from stretching with the mini-stretcher & knee kicker.
http://www.superiorpcmd.com/carpet/DSC00370.JPG
http://www.superiorpcmd.com/carpet/DSC00371.JPG

Trimming the carpet's excess. First image shows how to judge the amount of carpet needed to be trimmed..
http://www.superiorpcmd.com/carpet/DSC00372.JPG
http://www.superiorpcmd.com/carpet/DSC00373.JPG

Carpet tucked nicely against the baseboard
http://www.superiorpcmd.com/carpet/DSC00374.JPG

Furniture sliders as shown below are a life saver for moving heavy furniture like a tv.. There are 4 that are placed in each corner of the furniture foam side up and basically you push the furniture on the teflon pads and it moves without much fuss.
http://www.superiorpcmd.com/carpet/DSC00376.JPG

Amount stretched.

http://www.superiorpcmd.com/carpet/DSC00377.JPG

http://www.superiorpcmd.com/carpet/DSC00378.JPG

nice job.

can one OVER stretch the carpet??

nice job.

can one OVER stretch the carpet??


Not really.. I've ripped carpets stretching though.. Then again it was determined that the carpet was defective since the backing did not have much latex adhesive used for bonding the fibers to the backing..

The mini-stretcher can definately do damage.. I typically start with a little bit and work my way until the bubble disappears..

before re stretching you should also make sure the backing dosent freely peel off due to moisture or heavy traffic over years. If it does, the carpet will pull apart.

Good write up. We have carpet just laying on our floors right now that needs to be installed. After reading this I might try to tackle it now. How far in front of the baseboard should the tack strips be installed?

before re stretching you should also make sure the backing dosent freely peel off due to moisture or heavy traffic over years. If it does, the carpet will pull apart.

If doesn't feel damp to the touch then your fine.. The mini-stretcher or power stretcher is another story.. Most carpets nowadays go thru some stringent inspections before being shipped, the issues with the backing peeling off is usually caused by the carpet getting wet and as a result delamination occurs in the carpet once it dries causing a failure in the carpet.

Good write up. We have carpet just laying on our floors right now that needs to be installed. After reading this I might try to tackle it now. How far in front of the baseboard should the tack strips be installed?

About 3/8" of a inch away from the baseboards.. If possible, raise the baseboard about the width of the baseboard if you haven't already installed baseboards.. Makes the carpet installation much easier since the carpet can tuck under the baseboard. Let me know if you need a hand Brian.. You'll understand why I use the mini-stretcher after installing one bedroom or whatever room your installing.. Your knees will be on fire, trust me. :D

exactly, the carpet can dry, but still be delaminating so its good to check.

exactly, the carpet can dry, but still be delaminating so its good to check.

yup.. I'm bored now.. Micah you wanna be my test subject? I wanna see how much it hurts to be hit with a power stretcher pole :D

Let me know if you need a hand Brian.. You'll understand why I use the mini-stretcher after installing one bedroom or whatever room your installing.. Your knees will be on fire, trust me. :D

I'll let you know. I'll have to look at it again. It's hardwood floors and I'm pretty sure the baseboards are right on top of the floors so I guess they would have to be removed and new ones installed hovering above the floor? It's probably something we won't end up tackling anytime soon. There's a lot of other stuff on the list that needs to be done.

I'll let you know. I'll have to look at it again. It's hardwood floors and I'm pretty sure the baseboards are right on top of the floors so I guess they would have to be removed and new ones installed hovering above the floor? It's probably something we won't end up tackling anytime soon. There's a lot of other stuff on the list that needs to be done.

No, having the baseboards raised is a benefit but not required.. If they are flush to the floor then just install the tack strip 3/8" of an inch away as usual..

So the carpet will stay hooked on the tack strips without really having anything holding it on?

Yeah.. it should have no issues as long as the tack strips are about 3/8" or a finger tip thickness away from the baseboard. The tackstrips have tacks that are angled which secure the carpet. Becareful when installing them not to nick the baseboards and not to cut yourself.. Those little buggers will make you bleed like crazy :D

I guess I will have to post my "home improvement project" that took me 6 years... building a 3 story 2400 Sq foot house in the 1990's.

In addition to doing pretty much everything but framing - though I worked WITH the framing crew...I also laid the carpet but hired a pro to help me with seams and stairs. I have the basics down pretty well... but good seams seem to elude me. It is more luck than skill when I do a good one. Now and then folks that know I built my house all myself ask for carpet help and I shy away because of seams (I have all the tools and seaming iron etc).... can you post a mini lesson on seams ?

I guess I will have to post my "home improvement project" that took me 6 years... building a 3 story 2400 Sq foot house in the 1990's.

In addition to doing pretty much everything but framing - though I worked WITH the framing crew...I also laid the carpet but hired a pro to help me with seams and stairs. I have the basics down pretty well... but good seams seem to elude me. It is more luck than skill when I do a good one. Now and then folks that know I built my house all myself ask for carpet help and I shy away because of seams (I have all the tools and seaming iron etc).... can you post a mini lesson on seams ?

yeah I'll do one soon enough as soon as I have time and can find some spare carpet in the house :D

Great ! I'll be in your debt.

I always got a kick out of the fact that the technical name is "tackless strip" when it fact it is studded with razor sharp tacks.... If ound out that in the old days they used tacks to hold the carpet around the edges, so the use of this "strip" 'eliminated' tacks, hence tackless strip.

To me it will always be TACK STRIP.

Course it could be called blood strip. I lost more blood laying carpet than almost anything else in building the house. (With a couple exceptions for which I bear scars to this day).

Great ! I'll be in your debt.

I always got a kick out of the fact that the technical name is "tackless strip" when it fact it is studded with razor sharp tacks.... If ound out that in the old days they used tacks to hold the carpet around the edges, so the use of this "strip" 'eliminated' tacks, hence tackless strip.

To me it will always be TACK STRIP.

Course it could be called blood strip. I lost more blood laying carpet than almost anything else in building the house. (With a couple exceptions for which I bear scars to this day).

LOL.. I know the feeling.. I hated when I would grab a stack of them and lay em out on the floor in a rush.. I would always manage somehow to poke myself with them.. And worst of all, those suckers make you bleed like crazy. I was on a job once in DC where two of spanish/mexican descent were fighting and using the tackstrip as a weapon.. Nothing like seeing two of them smacking each other with it..

i know this is a carpet orientated thread, but can you also post about hardwood install, i have my whole downstairs to do.

i know this is a carpet orientated thread, but can you also post about hardwood install, i have my whole downstairs to do.

Funny
I just got done putting a coat on a floor.
As I was doing it I was thinking I should do a thread on hardwood flooring.
Install, sand and finish, and also refinish.
Then I sat behind the pc and noticed this thread.
I will make it a point to bring the camera out on jobs for the following:
3/8 engineered flooring- install ( I dont do a ton of these)
3/4 prefinished flooring- install
3/4 unfinished flooring- install sand & finish (my bread and butter)
and refinish ( I do more of these then anything)
I will do write ups on all of these when I get a chance.
But if you need help and have any questions
Fire away

i know this is a carpet orientated thread, but can you also post about hardwood install, i have my whole downstairs to do.

Wish I had taken pix when I did our floors. I did my whole house about 2 years ago, including putting in a hardwood staircase....

Wish I had taken pix when I did our floors. I did my whole house about 2 years ago, including putting in a hardwood staircase....

Nice!
Did you just install hardwood treads?
Or was it a full staircase install with railings, newell posts and spindles.
Thats where they get tedious.
Trust me!

Full treads, risers and sideboards. I already had the railings posts and spindles from when it was installed with carpeted steps. I just took 'em out, re-did the staircase and re-installed them. Most fun was integrating the top step into the flooring.....

Full treads, risers and sideboards. I already had the railings posts and spindles from when it was installed with carpeted steps. I just took 'em out, re-did the staircase and re-installed them. Most fun was integrating the top step into the flooring.....

In most cases you can just use a stair nosing for the top step . its bullnosed on one side and grooved on the other to tie into a floor.

To get the treads I wanted, I had one of our local Amish wood product manufacturers custom make treads for me. I couldn't find a piece of stair nose that matched what I was doing, so I made my own out of one of the treads. Little bit of work with the table saw and my router table did wonders...

To get the treads I wanted, I had one of our local Amish wood product manufacturers custom make treads for me. I couldn't find a piece of stair nose that matched what I was doing, so I made my own out of one of the treads. Little bit of work with the table saw and my router table did wonders...

Looks good :thumbsup: