How to Correct a Carpet Bulge

Determine the general direction that the buckle takes on the carpet. Use the pliers to pull the carpet up along the walls that are closest to the buckle. These carpet edges must be pulled up away from the tackless strip on the floor.

Wrap the bath towel around the piece of lumber. Place the wrapped piece of lumber against the wall that is both parallel to the buckle and opposite one of the walls where the carpet has been pulled up.

Assemble the carpet stretcher by inserting the first stretcher pole into the stretcher head. Attach the second and subsequent poles until the carpet stretcher spans approximately the length of the room. Attach the stretcher base to the last pole. Place the stretcher base against the wrapped piece of lumber.

Pull the carpet stretcher arm up and place the stretcher head approximately 1 foot away from the pulled-up edge of the carpet, while keeping the stretcher poles perpendicular to the buckle. Slowly but firmly push down on the carpet stretcher arm to stretch the buckle out of the carpet.

Lay the edge of the carpet that is parallel to the stretch over the tackless carpet strip. Use the head of the hammer to press the carpet backing into the metal spikes on the tackless strip. You may choose to staple the carpet into the tackless strip by using the staple gun; this will fasten the carpet to the tackless strip more securely.

Pull the carpet stretcher arm up slowly to release the carpet stretcher. Move the wrapped piece of lumber against the wall opposite the remaining loose carpet edge. Move the carpet stretcher so that the stretcher head is approximately 1 foot away from and parallel to the remaining loose carpet edge, and so that the carpet stretcher base is butted up against the wrapped piece of lumber. You may need to add or remove poles from the carpet stretcher to make the stretcher fit properly.

Slowly but firmly push the carpet stretcher arm down. Use the head of the hammer to press the carpet backing into the metal spikes on the tackless strip. You may choose to staple the carpet to the tackless strip on this side as well. Pull the carpet stretcher arm up to release the carpet stretcher once the carpet is attached to the tackless strip.

Use the carpet trimmer or utility knife to trim off all but a half inch of the excess carpet at each edge that had been pulled up. Tuck the half inch of excess carpet between the wall and the tackless strip by using the stair tool; this will give the stretched carpet a “finished” look.