I finally tried that old school trick for stretching carpet in a tight corner

Had a job in a 100 year old house in Savannah last week where the knee kicker was useless in a tiny back room corner. My grandpa always said to use a block of wood and a rubber mallet, so I gave it a shot. Got a perfect stretch without tearing the pad, anyone else use this method on old floors?

2 comments

2 Comments

karenp111d ago

Honestly thought that block of wood trick was just an old timer story until a Baltimore row house proved me wrong. My power stretcher couldn't even fit in the space, and a knee kicker was just chewing things up. Tried the wood and mallet on a stubborn spot near the fireplace, and it just clicked into place. Sometimes the simple way is the right way, you know?

ellis.susan1d ago

Yeah, that "simple way is the right way" thing is real. My buddy had a similar mess in an old Philly apartment, a closet that was basically a triangle. His power stretcher was a no-go. He was about to just leave it wrinkled, but another guy on the crew grabbed a scrap 2x4 and a dead blow hammer. Just tapped it along the tack strip in that tight V shape. The carpet laid down smooth as anything. He said it felt like cheating.