Rugs, Carpets and Carpeting - relay carpet

Hi,
We recently had a little flooding in our basement and had to pull up the carpet and pad. We dried everything out but now we are not sure on how to relay the carpet. The room is essentially a big rectangle. one end (70%) is still attached to the floor. The other end was pulled up. I read an article on this website on how to use a carpet strecher etc but I'm still a little confused. Let's say I am standing in the middle of the room facing the upended carpet. (Behind me is the attached end.) Should I first use a knee kicker to attach the right side. then use a strecher to attach the left side. When done with both sides, do I then use a strecher to attach the top end?

Also, the pad was originally glued to the floor. Should I reglue it? What type of glue should I use?

I'm just not really sure on how to start. Any recommendations on where to rent these tools (carpet strecher, knee kicker.. anything else)?

Is it a fairly straight forward task once I get into it? Any help would be appreciated.

I can picture it, now lets see if I can type it, so you get the picture.


First, pole stretch away from the attatched wall, right next to the left or right wall that has carpet continuing into another room or hallway. If there isn't continuing carpet, not even a closet off the big area, then it won't matter which side to do first, left or right.

Once you take a stretch, with the stretcher handle down, still pulling a stretch in the corner. Take the knee knicker and place it on the edge of the stretcher head, and bump the head to position the carpet edge at the corner, on the wall side. Don't worry about the wall your stretching too, yet. Get that side wall where you want it. Then press on the tacks in the tackstrip, through the carpet, with both hands, spread out the width of the stretcher head. Take the side of your knee, while holding the carpet and lift the handle slowly, don't let it pop up.

Now with the knee kicker, set that wall along the side of your pole stretcher onto the tackstrip. Rub it down onto the tackstrip pins. The carpet should go up the baseboard ever so slightly and get tucked into the gully. If you but it to the base and tuck it, it will pull a gap when you continue stretching.

Now, continue stretching down the wall, that you made that first stretch too. Only don't move the tail for the first 3 stretches, each stretch the width of the stretcher head. You want to gradually angle, then more angle, then more angle, for those first 3 stretches. Then keep that angle and slide the stretcher tail, as you finish stretching that wall. Double check to be sure you didn't pull it off the other 2 attached walls. It happens!!!

Now spin the stretcher to stretch the last wall. Make straight stretches across the room along it. Don't angle it as you did on the first wall.

Trim any access carpet you stretched up the walls, and tuck it into the gully along the baseboards.


I hope I typed a good picture for you????

I had myself confused, there for a minute.:p

You could possibly be better off to hire a professional. By the time you rent out the powerstretcher and kicker and get what ever else you may need. //////////// Previously wet carpet is alot harder to work with than it if it would be from the beginning. WWW.cfiinstallers.com Look in where to find an installer and put in your zip code. These are certified floorcovering installers they had gone under testing for educational and occupational benefits lets say. These installers are ranked at different levels for your satisfaction. Some are more expensive than others.:)