Wrinkled, loose carpet is a nuisance and can cause you to trip when you walk across it.Stretching carpet is something any dedicated homeowner can do.The technique is easy if you rent a few special tools from the hardware store.You'll save money by stretching your own carpet.
Step 1: The carpet needs to be cleaned.
Furniture and other items need to be removed from the carpet.Thoroughly clean the carpet.Wait until the carpet is completely dry before stretching it.
Step 2: The old carpet needs to be removed.
The carpet will be held in place by tack strips.Pull up the carpet in the corner to get away from the tacks.If it doesn't come up easily, try grabbing the corner of the carpet with a pair of pliers and pulling it away from the tack strip.It should pull away once you start.Pull the carpet on the other side of the room.It needs to be anchored on two walls.This could cause damage to the carpet if you pull too hard.If you are having trouble getting the carpet up, contact a professional.
Step 3: Lift the pad from the floor by pulling out the tacks.
There is a layer of padding underneath the carpet.Take a look at the padding.If it is held down by tacks, remove them with pliers and a flat-head screwdriver.You can use the space to work with the tack strips by lifting it back from the edges of the walls.
Step 4: The tack strips need to be removed.
The claw of a hammer or a pry bar is strong enough to hold a screwdriver.Attach your tool to the old tack strips.While handling old and new tack strips, wear gloves because they are made of setting nails on one side and razor-sharp tacks on the other.It is a good idea to wear protective eyewear to avoid being injured by flying splinters or tacks.You can put old tack strip in a bucket or box.You can't put a knee or hand down on the exposed nails if your work area is clear of sharp objects.
Step 5: Clean the floor.
Your base flooring will need to be cleaned after the carpet and padding are removed.There may be splinters from the materials being pulled up.To remove this debris, go over the floor with a shop vacuum.
Step 6: Fix areas that need it.
If the plywood is loose, use a hammer and nails to secure it.Sanding down high areas or applying a filling compound can be used to fix rises or dips in the subfloor.
Step 7: Put the new tack strips in place.
Attach the new tack strips to the wall by using a pair of tin snips to cut them in lengths.The carpet will be in place if the nails on top are pointed toward the wall.The setting nails should be sunk with a nail punch.If you haven't already purchased tack strips, you should be able to find them at a flooring supply or hardware store.Take a look at the perimeter of the area you are carpeting.It is a good idea to buy enough tack strips to have a little bit more than the perimeter, just in case you need extras.
Step 8: The pad has to be reset.
The padding needs to be put back over the tack strip.You can either trim it along the tack strip with a utility knife or rent a carpet cutter from a hardware store.The padding should be stapled to the floor about every 3 inches (8.6 cm) along the tack strip and along all seams.It will fall into place when you trim off the excess.If the area you are working with is large enough that you need multiple pieces of padding, you can use duct tape to secure the seams between them.
Step 9: You can rent carpet tools.
You will need to visit a home improvement store to get these, but hold off on renting this equipment until you have the new tack strips in place.When you rent the tools, you want to make sure that your floor is ready so you can use them when you get home.If you have questions, talk to the store staff.A power stretcher gives a lot of the muscle.You can stretch the carpet in the largest areas of the room with the brace that fits against the opposite wall.The stretching shaft can be adjusted to fit the length of the room.If you can't fit a power stretcher in smaller areas, a knee kicker can help.After using the power stretcher, it's useful to do the last bit of stretching.It is easier to cut excess carpet with a carpet cutter than it is using a utility knife.
Step 10: Put the carpet down.
If you haven't already done so, use a carpet cutter to trim the padding.Place the carpet over the padding.If you want to be stretched over the part of the carpet you are working with, set the power stretcher down.Measure out the carpet before you cut it to make it easier to lay it down.
Step 11: The power stretcher can be used to pull the carpet into place.
The base of the stretcher should be against the wall.The power stretcher's head should be about 6 inches from the un-anchored edge of the carpet.The power stretcher has a lever that you can use to smooth out the carpet.You're stretching the carpet too tight if the lever requires too much pressure to push down.You aren't stretching it tight enough if it takes almost no effort to push the lever down.
Step 12: The kicker should be grabbed to finish the stretching.
If you are trying to stretch carpet in a part of a room where the power stretcher is too big to fit, you should use the knee kicker.Place the knee kicker's head about 6 inches from the wall and use your leg to finish the stretch.This tool can be used for going back over the carpet after the power stretcher has done most of the work.
Step 13: The excess carpet needs to be trimmed.
The tack strips should be pushed down into the stretched carpet.The space between the tack strips and the wall should be pushed down slightly by the carpet.The carpet cutter can be used to remove excess that is against the wall.If you are using a utility knife, cut slowly and cautiously.
Step 14: The carpet needs to be secured at doorways.
If you are stretching carpet through doorways, you need to go to a hardware store or flooring supply store.There is transition molded over the carpet in the doorway.The carpet will be held in the high-traction area.Transition mold can be used to cover carpet seams.Ask the staff at the hardware or flooring supply store if you have any questions about how to install transition molding.