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Had to choose between a knee kicker and a power stretcher for a tricky hallway job
I was doing a job in a 1970s split-level house with a long, narrow hallway that had a bunch of doorways. The homeowner wanted a tight fit, obviously. I had to decide between just using my knee kicker, which is faster for small spaces, or setting up my power stretcher, which is a pain in tight spots but gets a better stretch. I went with the power stretcher, thinking the extra time would be worth it for a wrinkle-free finish. It took me like an extra 45 minutes to get it positioned right without hitting the walls, and I had to use a smaller head attachment. Honestly, it worked out great, the carpet is drum-tight and looks perfect. The homeowner even commented on how smooth it looked. Anyone else ever feel like the extra setup for the power stretcher in a tight area is the right call, or do you think I wasted my time?
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the_aaron14d ago
Your old boss was right... I had a job last month in a condo with a similar hallway. I almost just used the kicker to save time, but I wrestled the power stretcher in there instead. The stretch was so much better, zero call-backs. That extra time setting up feels long, but it saves you later.
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