How to Repair a Carpet

Tap to Read ➤ Bidisha Mukherjee

When a carpet begins to fray, tear, or undergo other signs of damage, it can mean one of two things―it needs to be replaced, or you can salvage what you can by repairing it. Here, we show you how to repair a carpet using a simple-to-perform method, that will take care of the problem in no time.

The most common carpet wear-and-tear problem, is when it wrinkles after pushing heavy furniture across it. A simple way to deal with this, is to sprinkle a little water on the affected area and use a blow dryer to soften the wrinkles.

While blow drying it, rub your hand continuously over the fibers to loosen them up. For stubborn wrinkles, it would be better to get a hold of a knee kicker and carpet stretcher to do the job. After it is stretched and wrinkle-free, the excess will need to be trimmed using a carpet knife.

How to Repair a Hole in a Carpet

If you have a large hole in the carpet, fixing it will not be all that simple. Repair it patiently, since a job that's been done hastily, may not yield the desired result. The step-by-step instructions given here, will help make the task easier for you.

Cut Out the Damaged Part

Brush the carpet in such a manner where the fibers are left standing up. Then, brush it back into place; this will help determine the direction of the grain. Now, remove the damaged section of the carpet with the help of a carpet knife.

Do this carefully so that the knife does not run through the underlying carpet pad. An easier way to do this, is to take a circular template and place it over the damaged area, slicing the section along the circumference.

Choosing the Right Substitute

Take out a replacement piece of the carpet from a concealed spot, like from behind or under furniture. Make sure that its grain runs in the same direction as the previously extracted piece (damaged carpet).

The shape of the replacement piece should ideally be either triangular or circular; avoid shapes like square/rectangular. This is because square- and rectangle-shaped patches are quite visible to the naked eye.

Repairing the Carpet

It is wiser to use a waterproof adhesive while repairing a carpet. Apply some of it on the exposed parts of the carpet pad, and behind the substitute piece. Then, spread the adhesive under the surrounding edges of the hole. Press the substitute piece into the hole so that it adheres properly to the carpet.

While applying the adhesive, care should be taken; it shouldn't stick to the fibers of the undamaged area. Brush the fibers of the replacement patch, as well as the encompassing area, so that the seams blend as one. Place a heavy object over the repaired section, leaving it for at least twelve hours to allow the adhesive to dry.

After the repair job is completed, the carpet may not look all that eye-pleasing because of the patchwork. However, it is far better than having to look at a damaged one, right? Instead of buying a new carpet and having it installed, you can save on these expenses and repair the old one instead.