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Debate with my old boss about stretch vs power stretchers
Had a conversation with my old boss, Mike, last week. He swears by knee kickers for residential rooms under 12x12, says power stretchers are overkill and damage tack strips. But I've been using a power stretcher for everything the last 2 years after I refinished a 10x14 room that came out wavy with a kicker. He argued that a good installer can get perfect tension with a knee kicker in half the time. I told him my power stretcher saves my knees and gives consistent results. Which tool do you guys lean on for small rooms? Has anyone else had trouble with tack strips getting pulled up by a power stretcher?
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kair6522d agoTop Commenter
Funny you mention tack strips pulling up, I talked to a guy who swears the real issue isn't the tool but how your tack strips are nailed in the first place. If they're only nailed on the ends a power stretcher will pop them every time no matter what you use.
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caleb_gibson22d ago
Have you ever tried working a whole day with a kicker and then switched to a power stretcher the next? Your knees will THANK you. I had the same debate with my old crew and I feel your pain on the tack strip thing. @kair65 makes a really good point about nailing them right. I switched to using 1-1/4 inch nails every 6 inches and my power stretcher has never pulled one up since. Mike sounds like a good installer but honestly saving my body is worth the extra couple minutes.
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