Howdy fello fitters, I have been contemplating for a while on whether or not i should buy a power stretcher, I have no trouble stretching out my carpets but i'm always looking out for ways to improve as a fitter. But out of All of the fitters i know, which is about 30, only 1 guy has one, and he never/rarely uses it. Are they just pointless for the UK scene? I'm pretty sure American fitters use them daily. Also heard a few stories about them pushing skirtings off and pushing back through walls. Are UK houses just badly built and that's why no one uses one ? What do you guys use ?
Hiya there, yes i have one, Had for 6 months now and used once, but would defo reccomend getting one if you can get a good deal, I would not pay £500-£600 for the amount of time you use it, i got a roberts one from e,bay all in all about 37ft long and all for £130, I also borrowd it to a shop as the owner needed one for a job and charged him £50, If you fit big rooms or high end gear you should be useing these all the time but tbh its mostly cheap crap selling these days but if you get a diecent one for price i paid for mine there always good for that stiff wilton or carpet with creases or big rooms 25` and upwards.
Hi, I'm a nicf masterfitter and I use mine rarely, BUT I still have a Floorwise Superstretcher which gets more stretch than a kneekicker alone. Any carpet over 5m in length or width should be stretched with a powerstretcher (bs5325). Got it off last week as carpet had bad crease in the middle and it took it out no problem, they can push in dry lined walls if your not careful, through lounges there 're great for, wouln't be without mine it's always on the van for when it's needed. Pricey bit of kit though, could do with some extra tubes if anyone got some to sell?
If you got spare cash and want to have a go then why not but will you ever need 1? I don't think so, I really don't see the point in them.
Skirting movement is a big issue, my customers wouldn't worry, or see any difference between a power-stretched, or knee stretched carpet. But they would notice if the skirting moved and their paint cracked between the skirting and wall. If you're fitting high end all the time, money is no object to the customer, and you knew the wall/skirtings were fine, then it would be the "right" way to do things, but personally I would use one so rarely I couldn't justify the cost.
wont need one on cheap tat But you really need them on quality gear esp if theres big areas too Have always had one Wouldnt be without it
What head does your super stretcher have on it? any chance of a picture? Also where are you getting replacement pins from?
The only thing I could see a power stretcher being good for is lining up a pattered carpet join in a big room? If you've been taught to use one I can see how you would keep with it.
To Bs all carpets should be stretched by 1.5%+ , so for every 1 meter you should stretch the carpet by 1.5cm. If you dont the wear of the carpet will increase. You might not have bubbles and the carpet might look perfect and flat but the actual wear of the carpet will be reduced with pile going flat etc also. There is plenty of carpets that are becoming worn after a few years but if stretched to the correct tension they would wear and look a lot better. Thats why carpets should be power stretched and its why BS says anything over 5 meters. its not possible to stretch a carpet to teh correct tension over 5 meters without damaging the carpet or your knee !
Don't disagree at all, but most of my customers want to replace the carpet b4 it wears out anyway, and I think lack of vacuming will cause more wear than not using a power stretcher.
@ matt. If you do not have a power stretcher then I assume the only way to fit big rooms is treat them as 2 separate rooms.thats what I do anyway.
The actual head. The prototype had a different head on it to what went into production when floorwise started making it but a few did get made with the good head. . The pins are at the rear of it.
If you split the room into two and stay take then yes you can do like that. So a 8 meter room for example would be like two 4m rooms.
Nice advice guys, I do fit higher end products regularly. So I may keep my eyes open for a good deal on one. Perhaps i will see if someone local can lend me one and i can have a play with it. I always worry about kicker slip on big rooms when your trying to give them the beans, power stretcher would eliminate this ?
Ye, almost impossible to slip and very hard to rip a carpet as its a slow stretch, not a sudden impact. You would probo stretch 30cm out of a 10 meter carpet before you came even close to ripping it !
While Im on the look out for one, who are the better manufactures? I used Roberts kickers, mostly because i always have, what do you guys prefer?
Say u had a 10x4 piece of carpet and its expencive like jacaranda. £100+ a meter could you then order your carpet at 9.80 and stretch it on? I don't fit carpet and never seen a power stretcher. This way you can make some money back and justify the cost?
