SmartHomeOwners

When carpet becomes permanently damaged, many homeowners feel it's beyond repair.  They determine to either learn to live with it or replace the carpet for the entire room.  Permanent carpet stains can be caused by ink, tar, permanent markers, grease, pet urine/feces, etc.  Bleach spills can easily leave a ghastly discoloration in your carpet.  Carpet can also become torn, leaving an unsightly hole that will only grow larger in days to come.  But before you visit the nearest flooring company to order a replacement for the entire room, read the tips below to safely repair your carpet at far less expense.

Replacement Piece and Cutting Tips

Before getting started, you'll need to find a section of matching carpet to fit in the damaged area.  Perhaps you have a remnant piece stored away from when you first purchased your carpet.  If not, find an inconspicuous area of your carpet where you can cut a small piece to make your repair.  This could be from a closet or the corner of a back room where you rarely trod.  If you don't have an area such as this, you can contact a carpet dealer in your area and ask if they have a remnant piece for your specific type of carpet.  Be sure to get an exact color match. 

Once you locate a repair piece, use a cylinder-shaped item such as an empty jar or can to measure a perfect circle and cut the piece with a sharp utility knife.  Be sure to mark the direction of the nap for the area you've cut with a piece of masking tape marked with an arrow (pointing in the direction of the carpet's nap).  Use another piece of tape with an arrow drawn in the direction of the carpet's nap near the area that will be replaced.  Doing so will help you match the nap's direction for both areas so your repair will appear to be seamless.  Otherwise, the repair piece will stand out like a sore thumb.  Using the same cylinder object, cut out the damaged area.

Securing Your Repair Piece

To secure the new piece of carpet, use carpet tape (double-sided or single-sided) to hold it in place.  Handle the tape carefully because it will be extremely sticky.  Place the tape smoothly into the cut out area and then insert your new piece (in the correct direction of the nap) firmly onto the tape.

Make it Flush with Your Carpet

To make the piece flush with your older carpet, be sure it is pressed evenly on the tape.  Allow a few moments for the stickiness to take effect, and then use sharp, flat scissors to trim away any longer strands that appear awkward.  Before walking or vacuuming, place a flat, heavy object over the repaired area for a couple of days to secure the new piece in place. 

After a few days, your repaired area should appear flush with the rest of your carpet.  Congratulations....this simple carpet repair may have saved you thousands of dollars!