I always thought a knee kicker was fine for stairs until I saw the failure rate numbers

I was watching a training video from the CFI last night and they said over 60% of callbacks for loose carpet are on stair jobs done with just a kicker. The guy said a power stretcher is non-negotiable for proper tension on the nose of each step. I've been using my kicker on stairs for three years without a single complaint, but now I'm rethinking every install. Has anyone else made the switch and noticed a real difference?

3 comments

3 Comments

the_holly16d ago

Lol, those callback stats sound a bit overblown to me.

charles_green9516d ago

Right? Feels like they're just making up numbers.

rowanellis9d ago

Charles_green95 has a point about made up numbers, but the basic idea is solid. A kicker just can't get the same pull on a stair nose as a power stretcher. You might get lucky for a few years, but all it takes is one heavy foot on that loose edge. I switched after seeing a job I did six months ago start to sag at the corners. The power stretcher locks it down tight.