How To Do A Carpet Repair
By: John Murray

It's almost inevitable that at some time you will need to do a carpet repair. There are two common types of carpet repairs that professionals will do for you or that you might do yourself. They are restretching and cut and plug. Find out how to do a carpet repair.

Restretching your carpet will give it a face lift removing the wrinkles. It will also extend the life of our carpet which would otherwise wear along the buckling. You will need a knee kicker which you can rent. The steps to restretching your carpet are as follows:

- Unfasten carpet from the walls remove baseboard
- Use your knee kick to kick the carpet tight in one direction
- Tack it down then kick the carpet in the other direction and tack it down.
- Any excess can be trimmed away
- Replace baseboard.

Cut and plug is used when small areas of a carpet have been stained, burned, or damaged some other way. The damaged piece is cut out and a piece of matching carpet is put in to replace it. Before you begin you will need matching carpet remnant , utility knife, empty can, utility knife, work gloves, single-sided carpet tape, painter's tape, marker, and scissors. Then follow these steps to do a cut and plug job.

1. Cut out the damaged area - put your gloves on to protect your hands, then use your empty can to cut a nice round cut out with your utility knife

2. Find a new piece of carpet that matches

3. Cut out to fit the area you've removed. Put your gloves on to protect your hands, then use your empty can to cut a nice round cut out with your utility knife - called the plug.

4. Use tape marked with an arrow to mark the direction of the carpet's nap on the piece you cut out. Then use another piece of tape to mark the nap just outside the cut out on the regular carpet.

5. Place the adhesive tape on the back of your new piece.

6. Remove the protective cover on the new cut out and align it correctly into the cut out.

7. Once you're sure everything fits well and aligns properly place the balance of your adhesive tape on the new piece.

8. Lay into place and apply firm pressure to assure the adhesive sticks.

9. Now you'll notice the new piece looks like it has a higher nap. That's because it isn't worn. You'll want to place a heavy stack of books or something similar on the repair to flatten the carpet. Leave there for at least a few days.

10. Remove the heavy objects and check for any loose or fraying edges. Trim away if necessary.

11. Check to make sure your adhesive has taken hold especially around the edges. If you require more now is the time to do it.

12. Sit back and relax. You've done a fine job.

That's it. Not too hard at all. Just follow these simple steps and you'll have your carpet repaired in no time.