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Power stretcher vs knee kicker for long hallways - which one actually saves more time?
I used to swear by my knee kicker for every job but then I took on this 40-foot hallway last month in a house near Austin. The carpet was a thick plush and no matter how much I stretched with the kicker I kept getting ripples. Switched to my power stretcher halfway through and the difference was night and day. The hallway looked smooth in under an hour compared to the three I'd already wasted. But here's the thing - setting up the power stretcher takes forever with the poles and the head adjustments. My buddy says he sticks with the kicker because it's faster to grab and go on smaller rooms. What do you guys think for long runs - power stretcher worth the hassle or just stick with what you know?
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phoenix_grant5d ago
For long hallways you ABSOLUTELY need the power stretcher or you'll be fighting ripples all day.
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wilson.olivia5d ago
Read somewhere that the pros actually use knee kickers more than you'd think for super straight runs, but they pair it with a power stretcher every few feet to keep tension even. Heard one guy say his crew will leave the carpet stretched for like 15 minutes before stapling to let it settle in long hallways. Saved me from redoing a hallway once after I got too eager with just a knee kicker and ended up with waves near the doorframe.
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