Refitting carpet on gripper rods

converse

For extensive decorating we've had to remove a carpet (hessian backed with underlay, fitted on gripper rods around egde) in a hallway, what tools do we need to fit it back securely on the gripper rods, can the knee/kick tools be bought online. I've fitted it back ok using wide screwdrivers, but it's not as good as before, so I'd like to do it properly.

cattie

Screwfix do a carpet kicker & so do Argos.

brownbake

If it was a simple restretching to gripper it would take an experienced carpet fitter minutes and would be done right. It wouldn't cost you a lot if you got an honest guy.

The tools will probably cost more than getting a pro in. And then you always have the danger of overstretching - therefore ruining the carpet!!

Carpet fitting, like plastering, is a skilled trade which, unless you are going to be doing it loads for practice, is better getting a pro in. It takes a lot of experience to get it right - even if it only takes a pro minutes - or seconds!!

Doozergirl

I agree. We paid £35 yesterday for our little girl's room to be fitted. The guy even picked up the carpet from the warehouse and brought it over. I don't know how much a carpet kicker costs but they are pretty heavy to be cheap. I'd get a carpet guy in - they can do your room, especially as it's already cut, very quickly at the end of the day for a bit of cash and it will be done right for you.

brownbake

Totally - if already cut to size and "just" needs re -hooking an honest guy is gonna charge you what - £10-20 for a "job" that will take him under 10 mins!!

I'd go that way personally.

converse

Thanks all, I might go the DIY route as will have more to refit, the last time I asked our local fitter to refit a carpet, he took 10 mins and charged £30, so I didn't feel it was good value!

converse

Bought the argos one, and just can't seem to get it to work right... extended the pins so it grabs the hessian backing, near to edge, push/kick with knee, but doesn't seem to grab it over the gripper, can just pull up the carpet again at the edge easily... £30 wasted me thinks

latecomer

Take it back and ask for a refund as it doesn't work? anyway I'd go with the others and get a pro in. Ok so it does cost a little bit but you should get a decent job done.

converse

Think I will latecomer, will try a bit more this evening, but I'm sure I'm doing it right...

broonbear

i'll try and talk you through it. i'll assume you have the carpet lying over the gripper , the stretcher should have a number dial on the top 1-10. set it about 3 if you set it higher the teeth go through the carpet and grip the underlay or floor and don't stretch the carpet. place the stretcher about 3 inches from the skirting, place your left hand on the stretcher and press down on the stretcher as hard as you can while doing this hit the pad with your right knee this will stretch the carpet onto the gripper rods. the gripper rod nails face in the way so when you stretch onto them the carpet can't retract .repeat this every 6 inches along the skirting . then if you have a bolster tuck the carpet behind the gripper, easy peasy:T

converse

Thanks broonbear, pretty much exactly what I'm doing! I've tried 3 inches, 2 inches and 1 inch away from skirting, I've tried with pins at various lengths, but checked it ensure they don't go too far through and out to underlay! 3 to 4 seem to be the ideal length

I do it, teh way suggested, pushing the carpet down to the edge, but the carpet just lifts straight back off if I tug it gently at the skirting edge.

Compare this with carpet we haven't removed at it's solid to the grippers and won't come up - so I know it's not right!

Not much DIY I can't do, so this is very frustrating!!