Have you seen buckels or wrinkles in your carpet? Are you wondering whether or not it’s worth it to stretch your carpet? It’s a fair question that a lot of people have. And this is the answer you were looking for:
Yes, carpet stretching is worth it (even necessary) because it extends the carpet’s lifespan, it reduces the chances of slipping and falling, it helps improve air quality and it keeps the carpet looking as it were new. You can hire a professional to use a power stretcher or use a knee licker yourself.
But before we dive in, you might want to take a look at why your carpet is wrinking or buckling in the first place. If that’s the case, I’d recommend that you visit the following post:
Why Your Carpet Is Buckling? 6 Reasons and How to Fix It
If your carpet is buckling or wrinkling it can be to one of these 5 reasons. But whatever the cause, there are 2 easy ways to fix it renting or buying a couple of tools.
What is Carpet Stretching?
Carpet stretching is a process whereby the carpet is pulled tighter and re-clipped to the tack strips along the perimeter of the room and unto the floor so as to put it back in place. In layman terms, carpet stretching is the use of tools like a power stretcher to remove bumps, wrinkles, and bubbles that may have formed on the surface of a carpet.
Without regular maintenance and care, it is not possible to keep a carpet in good condition, just like any other household item. Carpet stretching is one of the major maintenance routines to consider in the quest for a long-lasting carpet in tiptop condition.
When a carpet is smooth and without wrinkles, it becomes much easier to clean but when a carpet is loose, the use of vacuums and steam cleaners will exert more wear on the loose fabric thereby causing more harm than good.
If you’d like to know more about what carpet stretching is and how to DIY, visit the following post for more information:
What is Carpet Stretching? Step by Step Guide
Are you wondering how to best stretch your carpet? This post will show you how to do it right in 7 easy steps. You will also find the causes of wrinkling and the tools you need for carpet stretching.
Why Stretch Your Carpet?
After a few years, ripples tend to form on carpets as a result of sliding of furniture, excessive foot traffic, wear and tear, and even as a result of recurrent playing with pets and children.
Since carpets are essentially textile materials that have a tendency to relax over time, this should be expected. Also, poorly installed carpets will shift after some period of use when subjected to the abovementioned activities and thereafter become unsafe.
Rather than using a power stretcher doing carpet installation, some carpet installers make use of only knee kickers in order to complete more jobs quickly.
I wouldn’t recommend you hire someone that’s going to use knee kicker to stretch you carpet. Even if it’s way cheaper than using a power stretcher. Eventually your carpet will start loosening, buckling or wrinkling before you think.
Don’t get me wrong, I love knee kickers! And I’ve recommended it’s use in the past. But only if you want to stretch your carpet yourself. Knee kickers aren’t expensive, and it can easily help you stretch your carpet.
But if you’re hiring a pro… I would always hire someone who is going to use a power stretcher. The results will last way longer.
When should you stretch your carpet?
This isn’t as obvious as it may seem. If you can spot wrinkles, ripples, or lumbs, then you must stretch your carpet. If you don’t, then your carpet will suffer in the long run. You’ll have to buy a new carpet sooner than you think, and new carpets are quite expensive.
The most obvious signs you’ll notice is the appearance of ripples, wrinkles and lumbs.
But here comes the tricky part… The fact that you haven’t noticed any wrinkles or buckling doesn’t necessarily mean that your carpet doesn’t need stretching.
A professional might point this out to you and you probably don’t believe him/her. After all, the carpet seems to be ok!
This usually happens when you hire someone to clean your carpet. And when they arrive they tell you that your carpet needs stretching too. But how do you know if they’re telling the truth or want to make some extra money?
I can’t speak for all carpet cleaners or carpet installers, but most of the time they’ll be right. And it’s ok if you wait a little bit longer to stretch your carpet. But it’s always better to stretch it before the buckling appears.
Benefits of Carpet Stretching
Many people have come up with varying narratives like improper padding, delamination, and poor installation to explain the reasons why a carpet will develop an uneven surface.
One of these or even a combination of more could cause your carpet to wrinkle. The good thing is that re-stretching your carpet using the appropriate working pieces of equipment will remedy the situation and extend the longevity of your carpet.
There are many benefits to a well-stretched carpet but the three major benefits are extended lifespan, increased safety, and increased beauty.
1. Extended Life Span
It is normal for carpets to suffer wear and tear after a prolonged period of usage but when the carpet was not properly installed in the first place, it is more like to snap out of place and wear unevenly.
When this happens, it becomes imperative to replace the carpet as soon as possible in order to avert hazards like slipping. Aside from these accidents, cleaning becomes harder and the use of steamers will cause additional strain on the carpet thereby reducing its lifespan.
Carpet stretching on the other land extends the lifespan of your carpet. When this process is rightly done, the wrinkles are cleared off the surface of the carpet, dirt is cleared, and the soil is prevented from settling in the uneven areas.
This will help slow the deterioration of your carpet and extend its lifespan. A skilled carpet installer will ensure that the carpet is expertly fastened to the tack strips along the edges of the room to prevent it from snapping out of place in the near future.
2. Increased Safety
As earlier mentioned, ripples and bumps on the surface of carpets are one of the major threats to safety is homes. The uneven carpet surface caused by wrinkles could cause children, pets, or the aged to trip and fall while walking across the room.
Such falls are dangerous and may result in serious injuries to the head or other parts of the body. A carpet that is stretched as at when due, will help maintain a safe environment.
3. Enhanced Beauty
The sight of wrinkles and lumps on carpets reduces the beauty and aesthetic value of your home. A well-stretched carpet that is smoothly contoured to the floor will enhance the beauty of your home décor and add to your home’s appeal.
This is because it will signify that your carpet is tidy and well maintained. A clean carpet also exudes warmth and charm in addition to fresh air for your home; giving it the exquisiteness that makes a home comfortable and relaxing.
The Process of Carpet Stretching
When it comes to carpet stretching, adequate pressure is applied on the carpet to different directions using the right tools to force it back into place and smooth out its surface of any form of wrinkle or bump.
The process has become a much-mechanized one today with carpet installers making use of essential tools like power stretcher and a pole system to get the job done easily and more effectively.
The power stretcher is built with special jaws that sink into the latex padding of the carpet during this process and exerts an estimated pressure of 764 pounds to re-align the carpet to the padding. The alignment will cause the carpet to sit correctly without signs of kinks and wrinkles.
It is then clipped to the tack strips at the corners of the wall after trimming off excess carpet material before being stapled down to the baseboards to ensure that it contours properly to the floor.
If you intend to do the carpet stretching on your own, make sure that the replaced tack strips are in a new position at about half an inch away from the old position so that it doesn’t pull out.
For a more detailed post on the process of carpet stretching, you can read through the ultimate guide by clicking (here)
WARNING
STRETCH TO THE LAST
extend the carpet to its full length before clipping it with the tack strips.
Conclusion
Whether you are stretching your carpet for the first time or you are re-stretching it after some period of use, do not do hurriedly and haphazardly. Although it may seem like an easy task, it actually requires a significant level of attention to detail, strength, and energy.
If you’d like to get your carpet professionally stretched and save yourself the hassles, reach out to an experts. We have a post on How to Find the Best Carpet Installers in your Area. I’m sure it will help you find an affordable installer at a reasonable price!