How to Stretch to Tack Strip When Laying Carpet Yourself

Stretching carpet requires using two essential carpeting tools: a knee kicker and power stretcher. Without using these tools, carpeting is more likely to buckle and wrinkle. Knee kickers push carpeting onto tackless strips, while power stretchers stretch and attach the carpeting onto the teeth of the tackless strips. Both carpeting tools can be purchased or rented at your local hardware store.

Knee kicker
Stair tool
Power stretcher

Instructions

- 1
  Place the knee kicker 1 inch away from the wall in one corner of the room. Press down on the cushioned end of the knee kicker with your knee. Wait for the knee kicker to attach the carpeting with its teeth to the tackless strips.
- 2
  Push the carpeting with a stair tool underneath the wall. Move the knee kicker 1 foot over and press down on the cushioned in to attach the carpet. Place the knee kicker on the adjoining corner and attach the carpeting. Move the knee kicker to the opposite corner and attach the carpeting.
- 3
  Place the power stretcher head in the same location where you first used the knee kicker. The power stretcher head is the side with the teeth. Extend the power stretcher at a 15-degrees angle toward the opposite end of the room.
- 4
  Press the lever down on the power stretcher and attach the carpet. Move the power stretcher to the opposite corner of the room and attach the carpeting.
- 5
  Set the knee kicker in the other unattached corner and press down on the lever. Go to the opposite corner and attach the carpeting to the tackless strip. Stretch both corners with the power stretcher. Move the power stretcher every 2 feet and attach the carpeting along the walls.

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Carpeting