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Question about a stubborn seam on a 20-year-old Berber
The backing was so brittle it crumbled every time I tried to stretch it. That 12x14 room took me almost 8 hours, double my usual time. Ever have a job where the carpet itself was the main enemy?
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faith_hart205mo ago
Did you try a knee kicker instead of a power stretcher on the brittle parts? I've had to switch tools mid-job like that, using light taps with the knee kicker to avoid total blowout. Sometimes you just have to work a six inch section at a time.
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michael_green445mo ago
Yeah, that part about working a six inch section at a time is the real key. I read a whole forum thread last year where guys were saying the same thing as you, @faith_hart20. They said once the carpet gets that old and dry, you just can't force it. You have to go super slow with the knee kicker and barely move it with each tap. Trying to take a full bite with the power stretcher is just asking for a tear. It turns a one day job into a two day job, but it's better than having to explain a huge rip to the customer.
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west.casey5mo ago
Seems like a lot of fuss for some old carpet.
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max2235mo ago
Honestly that "super slow" method sounds like a great way to kill your back and your profit. I've done plenty of these and you can totally use a power stretcher on old carpet, you just need to know how to set the head right. I put a block of wood behind it to spread the pressure and take shorter pulls. Gets it done in half the time without any tears.
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