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Guidance for Re-stretching

Buckles, wrinkles, and bubbles normally do not occur with properly stretched-in carpet. Power stretching following these recommendations should correct the situation when these conditions arise.

  • Remove all furniture from each room.
  • Loosen the carpet from all tackstrip.
  • Check that all tackstrip is firmly anchored to floor. The proper gully for the tackstrip is slightly less than the thickness of the carpet, and not exceeding 3/8 inch. Check for cushion (padding) that may have bunched up under the carpet because of inadequate fastening of the cushion. Check for delamination of the secondary backing. Correct all of these conditions before proceeding.
  • The seams are to be cut open at all doorways, and the edges at the seams are to be sealed or buttered before re-seaming.
  • Using a power stretcher, not a knee-kicker, the carpet is to be stretched 1% to 1½% in each direction in each room.
  • Any device that may cause injury, damage carpet or subfloors, or result in an inadequate amount of stretch is not acceptable as a substitute for or an attachment to a power stretcher.
  • Restretching one room and not restretching an adjoining room or hallway will likely allow wrinkles to reappear.
  • Most floor vents and doorways will require pieces to be seamed into the carpet as the carpet is repositioned with power stretching.
  • Edges of carpet that will be placed under a metal strip should be sealed with seam sealer adhesive to deter raveling. Exposed edges fitted to a hard surface flooring should also be sealed.

Posted by donnie at June 14, 2004 10:01 PM