TIL the hard way that stretch bars and stairs don't mix well

I was working a split-level home in Akron last Tuesday, and everything was going smooth until I hit the L-shaped staircase. I had my power stretcher set up on the landing, trying to stretch a heavy Berber into the corner where the steps turn. I leaned forward to get better leverage, but my boot slipped on the gripper strip and I went flying backwards down three steps. The stretcher popped off and the carpet bunched up like an accordion at the bottom. My helper just stood there with his mouth open trying not to laugh. Took me an extra two hours to re-stretch that whole section because the wrinkles were baked into the backing. Has anyone else taken a tumble on stairs and had to redo an entire run?

2 comments

2 Comments

cameron7705d ago

Has anyone seen that old safety video they used to show in trade school about the "stair stretch trap"? I remember reading a blog post from a carpet installer out of Cleveland who swore by using a knee kicker instead of a power stretcher on any stairs with a turn. He said the extra time was worth it compared to having to re-stretch a whole run like you did. Your helper laughing at you is rough too, but I bet you'd both rather have a laugh than a broken ankle. Those gripper strips are no joke when you're sweaty and tired.

the_henry5d ago

Bruised my pride and my tailbone on a similar setup last year. The trick I finally figured out is to never stretch toward the stairs. Work the carpet off the steps first and get it locked into the gripper strip on the landing before you even touch the power stretcher. Doing that saved me from having to redo the whole thing when I slipped. Also, invest in some non-slip boots if you do a lot of stairs. Makes a world of difference on those gripper strips.