I saw a guy in Kansas City use a different method for stretching carpet on stairs

I was helping a buddy on a big job in Kansas City last month, and we got to the stairs. This other installer, a guy named Ray who's been doing it for 30 years, was there. I always used my knee kicker on every single tread, just how I was taught. Ray watched me for a minute and said, 'You're fighting it. On a straight run like this, just power stretch the whole flight from the top, then use the kicker only on the landings.' I was skeptical, but we tried it his way. We got the power stretcher set up at the top of the run, got a solid stretch, and tacked it. The carpet laid down so much smoother on the treads, with way less fussing. It cut our time on that staircase by almost half. I've done three stair jobs since then using that method and it's been a game changer. Has anyone else switched up their stair stretching technique like that?

2 comments

2 Comments

jake_mason301d ago

Ever try that on a curved staircase?

faith_smith1d ago

What do you think happens when you hit a patch of ice on one of those old spiral ones? It turns a simple trip into a full spin cycle. You're not just falling down, you're falling around. The banister is your only friend and it's a terrible one. I saw a guy try it once and he looked like a human pinball.