How can I get a big crease out of the middle of a wall to wall carpet?

Question

Years ago I remember a big metal tool that a workman would put on the carpet and work it across with his knee to stretch the carpet thus removing the crease. What is there that a homeowner can do themselves?? Or who do I hire to do this?

Answer 1

Have the Carpet guys do it. Did the crease just recently show up or has it always been there? If it was there when installed it is called a "crush-line" where the end of the carpet roll was bent over backwards :)

Answer 2

A carpet stretcher will stretch the carpet, or use a knee kicker along edges that will pull the carpet. You can buy these online, or call a local tool rental center to rent a stretcher or kicker. The problem with rental is it can cost as much as buying the items, at least where I live.

    If the carpet will not go far enough to get rid of the crease, when you try to stretch it over the little nail hooks that are hiding all along the edges (carpet tack strips have nails that point toward the wall) -- I think you would have to remove any baseboards and see if you need to trim excess carpet at the edges.

Lots of work!

Answer 3

There is a tool called a knee kicker , your best bet is to call a carpet layer to stretch your carpet.

Answer 4

The tool you're describing is a "carpet kicker" and you might be able to rent one from a rental yard. It is designed more to hook the carpet on the tackstripping then to actually stretch the carpet, but for a small area you can use it to stretch. Better is to use a carpet stretcher, which might also be a rental item.

Here's how to install carpet, along with a short video clip. It shows the use of both tools:

http://www.thisoldhouse.com/toh/video/0,...

Answer 5

I'm a carpet fitter; Before you go ahead with the repair job get a professional fitter in to assess the floor. The creases could be resolved with a simple stretch, but in 7 out of 10 cases a creased carpet as old as this is damaged. Maybe the backing has lost adhesion to the carpet fibres (two layers to a carpet), this makes it impossible to stretch, believe me I have tried on many occasions. Find your nearest fitter and get them in to have a look, they'll tell you whether it can be resolved