Colorful Carpeting
Carpet warms our feet and can set the mood in our homes. It's the place to cuddle with the kids and play a game or where the guests spend the night. Wear, age, rips, tears, spills, burns, and stains--there are many reasons why a carpet becomes damaged, but here's good news. If there is a small (or big) spot of damage, with a few tools, a replacement patch, and some time, most homeowners can handle carpet repairs. Does this Spark an idea?
Instructions
Repair Your Carpet Yourself
1. For noticeable holes, burns, tears, and/or permanent stains, you will need to find a matching piece of carpet to use as a patch for the damaged area. If any carpet was saved from the original installation, use that. If not, try obtaining a piece from a closet or other out of sight location. Another option is to get a replacement piece at a local remnant distributor, but ask for a sample to check for color compatibility before purchasing.
2. Cut the carpet scrap to a size somewhat larger than the damaged area. Use a template as a guide in order to provide a more precise cut if you wish, but it is not necessary for smaller repairs. Make sure to note the direction of the "nap" (or pile) on both the installed carpet and the repair segment. Patch pieces that are cut in square or rectangle shapes may be easier to work with than circles and triangles.
3. Tack or nail around the damaged area of the installed carpet so it will not shift when repairing large areas. Center your template or the carpet scrap over the damaged area. Check that the "nap" is going in the same direction on both the patch and existing carpet. Tape in place with masking tape to help hold. Using the razor knife with a fresh blade, cut out the damaged area of carpet using the template or patch as a guide. Try not to cut into the carpet padding. Remove the damaged piece. If the carpet was bonded to the subfloor, use a putty knife to remove any dry adhesive.
4. Cut a piece of carpet tape and place into the opening in the damaged carpet with the sticky side up. The tape needs to be long enough to lap the bottom side of the existing carpet a couple inches on each side. For larger repairs, run a few strips of tape around the perimeter 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 carpet adhesive in a squeezable bottle instead of tape.
5. Install the carpet patch, making certain that the nap on both the new piece and the existing carpet line up. Press firmly. Clip any strands of carpet that may be higher than the surrounding area. Use the scissors flat on the surface to achieve an even appearance. If any of the fibers are wedged around the edges of the repair, use a toothpick or a small screwdriver to pull them out. When you're happy with the way it looks, place a heavy item on the repaired area to help the adhesive set permanently.
Tags: damaged area, existing carpet, piece carpet, area carpet, carpet patch, carpet scrap
