BLOGS

The Importance of Tack Strips

Our team at Carpet Stretch and Rescue are called in to fix and repair several carpeting issues. From frayed carpet to buckling seams, we handle it all. Sometimes these issues naturally occur over a carpet’s lifetime, but sadly many issues come to the surface because of poor installation. Having the ability to demand quality service stems from the ability to identify substandard workmanship. One of the building blocks to being able to do this is understanding the different components needed for a proper carpet installation.

Contractors and craftsmen often have knowledge of a certain trade that you do not. And that’s great! That’s probably why you hired them in the first place. But if you suspect that you are dealing with a company that does not provide quality services, they will rely on your lack of knowledge to get away with things that they should not. You can protect yourself from situations like these by arming yourself with a little carpet know-how. And we want to help you do just that. That is why today we want to discuss what tack strips are and why they are essential to proper carpet installation.

What Are Tack Strips?

Tack strips are long, thin strips of wood that are studded with nails. They lay along the edges of where your base flooring meets your drywall. They are either nailed, glued, or screwed into your subfloor.

Tack strips are important because they perform the essential job of anchoring your carpet in place. That is why when a carpet installation is flawed or begins to fail, you will often notice it first near the tack strips.

Knee kickers are popular in helping stretch the carpet over tack strips, but through our years of experience, we have found that the results that come from those are just not long lasting. We have found that for an enduring effect, using a power stretcher is really the best way to go. So, the next time you have carpet work done, make sure they use a power stretcher and be sure to inspect the seams along your tack strips. And if ever you discover ripples in your carpet years down the line, give us a call to repair it the right way.

By Carpet Stretch and Rescue 5-12-2021