Power stretchers vs knee kickers for large rooms

I keep seeing guys in the forums swear by knee kickers for everything, but after installing carpet in a 20x30 living room last month I gotta say power stretchers are way better. My knee kicker left wrinkles in the middle of that big space no matter how much I stretched, then I borrowed a power stretcher and got it smooth in one pass. Am I the only one who thinks knee kickers are only good for closets and small bedrooms?

3 comments

3 Comments

the_evan1mo agoProlific Poster

Knee kickers just don't have enough reach for a room that size.

-1

casey161mo ago

Nah, you just gotta know how to work em right. Ive laid carpet in houses way bigger than that with nothing but a knee kicker and never had any issues. If you're trimming it tight and stretching it right as you go, the reach is fine. Most people just dont take the time to do proper kick and tuck steps. Plus, you can always shift your position and work in sections, its not like you have to cover the whole wall in one go. Power stretchers are overkill for residential rooms unless youre dealing with super thick commercial carpet.

kai_park1mo ago

People act like a knee kicker is some ancient tool that can barely reach across a closet. You can absolutely work a larger room with one, you just have to move around and not expect to cover the entire span from a single spot. Honestly, for most typical bedrooms and living rooms, a power stretcher is way more effort than it needs to be. Unless you're laying carpet in a banquet hall, it's really not that deep.