How to Mend a Carpet

Finding a matching carpet remnant.

Fabrics used in carpets include nylon, wool, acrylic, polyester, polypropylene olefin, or a combination of two or more materials. Installed carpets often have a pad underneath to soften the texture and protect the carpet's backing from moisture. Even though a vacuum cleaner is all that is necessary to keep a carpet in good shape, carpets sometimes are in need of repair as they get damaged as a result of stains, spills, burns, age, or wear and tear.

Things You'll Need

• Carpet patch or remnant
• Marking pen
• Carpet cutter
• Sharp scissors
• Double-sided carpet tape
• Latex seam adhesive or carpet glue
• Vacuum cleaner

Instructions

1. 

   Color compatibility is a key ingredient for success.

   Find a matching piece of carpet to use as a patch for the damaged area. If you did not save any carpet from your original installation, you may have to contact a carpet distributor to obtain a piece of carpet that closely matches the one that you currently have. If you don't find a match, try to obtain a piece of color-compatible carpet from a local remnant distributor.

2. 

   Use a rectangular patch to repair a damaged carpet.

   Draw four lines to form a square or rectangle around the damaged area and carefully cut out the damaged carpet inside the square or rectangle using a carpet cutter. Be careful not to cut into the carpet padding.

3. Cut a piece of double-sided carpet tape, peel the backing away from the adhesive side of the tape and carefully insert the tape into the cut-out area, smoothing it flat so that it sticks firmly to the carpet backing around the perimeter of the opening. The tape needs to be long enough to extend under the existing carpet a couple inches on each side of the hole.

4. Cut a piece of the matching carpet in the same shape and size as the square or rectangle you cut out of the carpet. Spread carpet glue on the back of the patch. Apply latex seam adhesive on the exposed carpet pad and under the edges of the carpet surrounding the cut-out area. Press the patch firmly into the cut-out area, making sure that the nap or pile direction is going in the same direction on both the patch and the damaged carpet.

5. Trim any strands of carpet on the edges of the patch that are higher than the surrounding area. Place a heavy item like a planter or a stack of books on the repaired area to help the adhesive set permanently. Vacuum after a few hours to remove any debris.

Tips & Warnings

• Patch pieces that are cut in square or rectangle shapes are easier to work with than circles and triangles.

• For larger repairs, run a few strips of double-sided carpet tape around the perimeter of the exposed area until there are a few inches on each side under the old carpet and on the exposed area where the patch will go.

• For very small holes, consider using liquid carpet adhesive instead of carpet tape.

• Before you start, be aware that if your carpet has faded or is very worn, the patch may be noticeable.

• Be careful not to cut the carpet pad when removing the damaged area. If you do, immediately fasten it with a big piece of duct tape.

References

• How to Repair Berber Carpet
• How to Repair Carpet
• Carpet Repair