Showerthought: I used to laugh at the idea of a knee kicker for tight spots, but a job in a San Diego condo changed my mind

For years, I figured a power stretcher was the only real tool for the job, and a knee kicker was just a cheap shortcut. Then I got a call for a condo remodel downtown, a tiny bedroom with two closets and a weird angled wall. My big stretcher wouldn't fit through the door, let alone turn the corner. I was stuck. The homeowner, an older guy who'd done some work himself, pulled out this beat up knee kicker from his garage and said, 'My dad swore by this thing.' Out of pure desperation, I gave it a shot. After about 20 minutes of fussing, I got the carpet in that corner so tight you couldn't get a fingernail under the baseboard. It taught me that having the right tool for the specific space matters more than the fanciest tool in the truck. Has anyone else been forced to use a method they avoided and been shocked by the results?

2 comments

2 Comments

cole3573d ago

That line about "the right tool for the specific space" is so true. I read a forum post from an installer who had to do a spiral staircase, and he said his standard power stretcher was completely useless. He ended up using a combination of a knee kicker and a stair tool, and it came out perfect. It really is about what fits the job, not just what's the most expensive or high tech. Sometimes the old school method is the only thing that will get into those weird corners.

pat_perry3d ago

A spiral staircase with a power stretcher, how was that even the plan? That condo story hits home though, my first boss kept a knee kicker in his van and we all made fun of it until a hallway job with five doorways. You just can't argue with a tight corner.