Carpet repair: a guide for pros

What customers ask, how to win the job, and what to put on your profile.

Offering carpet repair

Carpet repair is judged on whether the patch disappears and whether the stretch holds, and the customer decides by the look of the seam. Win the job by checking the matching piece, planning the seam location and showing the result before you cut.

What customers ask

  • Will the patch show, and can you match the pile and color?
  • Why is my carpet rippling, and will it come back?
  • Can you fix the seam in the hall without it showing?
  • What happens if you cannot find a matching piece?
  • How long does the repair take, and can I walk on it the same day?

How to win the job

  • Look for a matching piece in a closet, under a stair or in a hidden area on the first visit, and show the customer the match before any cut.
  • Check the subfloor and the tack strips for the cause of the ripple, and write the finding into the proposal before the restretch.
  • Show the patch layout on a sketch with the seam line marked, so the customer sees where the cut will be and why.
  • Name the seam tape and the adhesive in the quote, along with the set time before the room is used.
  • Quote the restretch as its own line, with the number of stretch points and the tack strips included.
  • Explain what the repair can and cannot fix, such as a stain that will come back or a burn that needs a larger patch.
  • Clean the area and check the repair in the room's light before you leave, and walk the customer through it.

What to put on your profile

  • Before and after photos of carpet repairs with the patch and the seam visible in close shots
  • Photos of patch matching, showing the piece and the pile direction
  • Photos of a restretch with the tack strips visible before the carpet is trimmed
  • A list of the carpet fibers you can match and the sources you use for matching pieces

Follow-up that helps the customer

  • A care sheet for the repaired area, with the traffic guidance for the first weeks
  • A check visit after a few months to look at the patch and any new ripple
  • A quote for a larger carpet replacement, offered only if the customer asks

Licenses and permits

Carpet repair commonly does not need a license, but subfloor and structural repair may need a permit or qualified contracting. Confirm your business registration and insurance in your state and locality before you take the job.

Questions

Should I warranty the patch?

Warranty the workmanship on the patch and the seam, and state the limits. A patch can only match as well as the piece available, so tell the customer the match may not be perfect.

What if the carpet is too old to repair?

Tell the customer plainly. Show the wear, the fiber condition and the match options, and recommend replacement when repairs will not hold.

About this guide

This national guide is written and checked by infinibell. Rules and conditions differ by place, so local pros are credited on guides for the cities they serve, not on national ones.

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