Went to a job site in Phoenix last week and saw something weird with the tack strip layout

A crew had installed the tack strips about 4 inches from the wall instead of the usual half inch gap. They said it makes stretching easier on long runs, but I've always done it tight to the baseboard. Which method actually holds up better over time?

3 comments

3 Comments

michael_williams14d ago

Yeah I tried the 4 inch gap once on a big install in a living room and ended up having to redo it a year later because the edges curled up bad. You get better tension control with the half inch gap and a power stretcher, don't you think?

kim_davis14d ago

Wow, 4 inches out from the wall? That's wild. I actually read something from a flooring forum a while back that said that trick can work okay for commercial carpet with really heavy padding, but for residential stuff it usually causes problems. The main issue I heard is that when you stretch from that far out, you end up with a weird tension point right where the carpet meets the baseboard. That area gets loose over time and starts to ripple. I stick with the half inch gap like you do because it keeps the edge locked down tight. If a long run is giving you trouble, I'd rather add an extra seam or use a power stretcher than mess with the layout like that.

shane17013d ago

Haha I feel this, I once tried the 4 inch gap trick and my carpet looked like a wrinkled shirt within six months. Guess I'll stick to boring old half inch and just accept I'm not a flooring wizard.