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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 | Carpet Installers - Librear

lopez.mason•6mo ago

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?

3 comments

3 Comments

cole3576mo 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_perry6mo 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.

zara_perez624mo ago

My buddy Chris had a job last year in an old Victorian house in Portland where they had these tiny built-in bookcases with carpeted shelves. He brought his whole setup and couldn't fit anything in there. @cole357 mentioned that combo of knee kicker and stair tool which is basically what Chris ended up doing after calling his grandpa for advice. He was so mad about it at first but the carpet on those shelves looked better than the floor carpet somehow. That old school stuff really does save you sometimes.