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How to Repair Carpet: Removing Wrinkles

Rent the proper tools and restretch the carpet in less than an hour

Rent special carpet stretching tools and restretch loose or wrinkled carpet quickly and easily. We demonstrate the technique in four steps; you don’t have to hire a pro.

By the DIY experts of The Family Handyman Magazine:November 2011

Step 1: Rent the proper tools

The holidays are coming, and even though your “favorite relatives” might not comment on those wrinkles in the living room carpet, trust us, they’ll notice. More important, if you ignore the wrinkles, they’ll wear and become permanent eyesores—even if you stretch them later. You don’t have to hire a carpet layer—fix it yourself with rental tools and our instructions. Rent a power stretcher and knee kicker for less than $40 (for four hours) at an equipment rental store. Then buy a carpet knife (not a utility knife) at any home center.

Step 2: Prepare the room and stretcher

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Photo 1: Pull the carpet free

Grab the carpet right next to the baseboard and pull it straight up. Then loosen the rest of the carpet along the wall.

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Photo 2: Dial in the correct tool depth

Adjust the tooth depth by loosening or tightening the screws on the spacer bar. Set the bar so the teeth grab just the carpet pile, not the jute backing or pad (the pad is stapled to the floor and shouldn’t be stretched).

You’ll be stretching from the center of the carpet and pulling it at an angle into a corner. So move any furniture that’ll be in the path of the stretch. Loosen the carpet in the corner (Photo 1). Next, set up the power stretcher at an angle across the room. Set the tooth depth on the power stretcher based on the carpet pile depth (Photo 2).

Step 3: Stretch the carpet

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Photo 3: Sink and stretch

Set the teeth into the carpet near the wall and push down on the stretcher handle. Then lock the stretched carpet into place by jamming it behind the tack strip with a putty or linoleum knife.

Operate the power stretcher with the lever and capture the excess carpet in the tack strip as you stretch. Use the knee kicker on both sides of the locked power stretcher to help lock the carpet into the tacks.

Step 4: Trim the carpet

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Photo 4: Trim off excess carpet

Fold the excess carpet so the backing is facing up. Then cut it off with the carpet knife.

Once the wrinkles are out and the carpet is secure in the tack strip, cut off the excess (Photo 4).

Steve Hoover, carpet installation pro

Smooth Talk About Wrinkles

Professional carpet installer Steve Hoover explained how carpet gets wrinkled. “Carpet has to acclimate to interior conditions before it’s installed. That’s especially important if the carpet has been in a cold truck or exposed to high humidity. If it’s installed while it’s still cold or humid, you’re going to have wrinkling problems later on,” he said.

Improper stretching during installation is another cause. “Some installers lay the pad and carpet and secure it with just the knee kicker. Since the carpet was never really stretched, it’s going to wrinkle after it’s seen some traffic,” he added.

Steve’s advice? Make sure the installers allow enough time for the carpet to acclimate and insist that they actually stretch it with a power stretcher during installation.

Key comment: “If the carpet wasn’t stretched during installation, it’s going to wrinkle later.”

Tools & Materials List

Required Tools for this Project

Have the necessary tools for this DIY project lined up before you start—you’ll save time and frustration.

4-in-1 screwdriver
Pliers
Putty knife

In addition, you'll need a power stretcher and knee kicker (both rental), as well as a carpet knife.

Required Materials for this Project

Avoid last-minute shopping trips by having all your materials ready ahead of time. Here's a list.


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