Carpet Fitter Tools

Row Cutter

• A row cutter, otherwise known as a row-running cutter, is a very cheap but useful tool for carpeting jobs. The runner part of the tool slides between roles of pile. Located behind the runner is a very sharp blade that is capable of making precise cuts without damaging the pile.

Utility Knife

• Most other jobs that require cutting during a carpet fitting project can be done with a basic utility knife. Make sure the blade is very sharp and retractable and that the design of the tool fits easily in your palm.

Chalk Line

• Trimming off excess rug can be helped along with the use of a chalk line. Hold the chalk line at a 45 degree angle to the joint and make the line by moving the point of it along the length of the joint. This should create a line on both the wall and the floor.

Stapler

• A stapler is used to attach the carpet pad to the floor after a tackless strip has been laid down around the edge of the area to be carpeted. The pad should be stapled at six to 12 inch intervals until you have completed the entire floor. The utility knife comes in useful for trimming away excess.

Knee Kicker

• The knee-kicker is the unusual name that belongs to one of the most specialized tools associated with the work of fitting carpet. This vital piece of equipment is fitted with an adjustable gripping head at one end and is cushioned at the other. These two parts are connected with a telescoping handle. The knee-kicker attaches the carpet to the tackless trip laid down earlier. The knee-kicker is best used when the area to be covered by carpet is not that large.

Power Stretcher

• A power stretcher should be used for laying down and fitting carpet inside a very large room. Teeth that bite into the carpet can be adjusted to account for various thicknesses of carpeting. The power stretcher is equipped with a handle extension that can reach across the entire width of the room. The knee-kicker requires a slow procession across the room kick-by-kick while you secure the carpet down to the strip. The power stretcher locks into place while you work.

Seam Iron

• Rent a seam iron for the job of sealing the seams between two pieces of carpeting. Adhesive that is on placed on tape beneath the carpet activates as you slowly move the seam iron over the pieces. Make sure to press down hard enough to seal the carpet’s edges.

Bolster and Mallet

• A carpet bolster is a piece of metal with a wide blade that looks like a beaver’s tail. Also known simply as a stair tool, this piece of carpet fitting equipment is used with a mallet to help tuck the trimmed edge of a carpeting between the tackless strip and the baseboard.