How To Fix Carpet Edge Coming Up

How to Repair Pet-Related Damage to Carpet

by Super | 07 February 2018

Time: 60 minutes

Pets bring great joy to your life, but they can also do a real number on your floors. Sometimes carpet damage goes well beyond stains as cats find a favorite scratching spot and pups dig into flooring. If your carpets have been damaged by your pets, you may be able to patch and repair the worst spots.

What's in it for you?

More attractive floors
Improved property value
Reduced risk of trips and falls

Cut away loose threads. Sometimes animal claws get stuck in the weave of your carpet and pull out threads, leaving behind frizzy loops and loose ends. Use sewing shears to trim these down so they're level with the rest of the carpet. If it blends well, this may be all it takes to love your floors again.
Replace missing fibers. If you have small areas where pets have worn away carpet, you may be able to fix the issue by transplanting fibers. To do this, use a box cutter to cut away matching fibers from a low-profile spot like the back of a closet. Then dab waterproof adhesive to the visible carpet backing where you need to add fibers. Press fibers in place, taking care not to glue them together.
Repair loose seams and ends. Sometimes a pet will pull up loose ends of the carpet where there's a seam. To fix this, use hot-melt carpet tape and position it along the seam so that half is under one side of the carpet and half is under the other. Press firmly into place with an iron, melting the glue for a good seal.

Pro Tip: For larger areas or severe damage, a patch is the best solution. Cut a patch of matching carpet to the size of the damaged section. Place the patch over the problem spot and use it as a template as you cut away the damaged carpet. Remove the bad piece of rug and place carpet tape flat across the hole, making sure the tape extends under the old rug and across the area where the patch will be installed. Place patch over the carpet tape, check the position and press firmly into place. Use a rolling pin to secure the seal and to help blend the fibers.