Carpet repair: what to know

What the job involves, what changes the price, and what to ask a pro.

What carpet repair is

Carpet repair fixes burns, tears, loose seams, ripples and stains by patching in matching pieces, restretching the carpet, re-gluing seams and securing edges. People need it when a damaged spot is easier to repair than to replace the whole room, provided a matching piece or a good stretch is possible.

Signs you need it

  • A cigarette, a heater or a pet has burned a hole or a scorch mark into the pile
  • A seam has come apart or a section has lifted from the tack strip near a wall
  • The carpet ripples across the room, and a walk across it shows bumps or waves
  • A tear has opened in a traffic area or where the furniture was moved
  • A stain has set into the carpet and will not come out with cleaning alone

What the pro does

  • Assess the damage and check the carpet for a matching piece in a closet, a stair or a hidden area
  • Cut out the damaged section in a clean square or a patch shape that hides the seam line
  • Set the patch with seam tape and the adhesive the carpet calls for, and align the pile direction
  • Restretch the carpet where it has lifted, and reattach it to the tack strips at the wall edges
  • Re-glue or re-seam any loose seams, and press them flat so the seam line is not visible
  • Trim the edges, clean the area and check the repair in the light the room gets most

What changes the price

Every job is different, so we do not publish prices. These are the things that move the quote up or down.

  • Size of the damaged area and how many patches are needed
  • Whether a matching carpet piece is available or a new piece must be sourced
  • Carpet fiber and pile, since a loop or a high-twist fiber is harder to match than a cut pile
  • Restretch of the room, including the number of tack strips and the stretch points
  • Seam repair and re-gluing work, and how many seams are affected
  • Access to the area, such as a stair or a room with furniture that cannot be moved easily

What a written quote should spell out

  • Each repair listed by location with the damage type and the method named
  • Matching carpet source, whether from a closet, a stair or a new roll
  • Seam tape and adhesive product used, with the pile direction noted
  • Restretch and tack strip work listed separately, with the number of stretch points
  • Cleanup and the warranty on the repair, including what the warranty covers

Questions to ask before you hire

  • Do you have a matching piece of carpet, and can you show me the match before you cut?
  • How do you hide the seam line of a patch in a traffic area?
  • What happens if the ripple is caused by the subfloor and not the carpet?
  • Will the repair last, or will the seam come apart again within a few months?
  • Can you clean the stain out, or will the repair be needed after the cleaning?
  • Can you show me a repair you did that was similar in fiber and location?

Red flags

  • The pro cuts a patch from an unmatched carpet in a visible area without asking first
  • The pro restretches the carpet without checking the subfloor for the cause of the ripple
  • The pro uses too much adhesive, which will show through the pile
  • The pro says a burn can be fixed with no patch and no cutting

What you can do yourself

Carpet patches can be done by a homeowner who has a matching piece, sharp tools and time, using a seam tape and a patch in a hidden area first. Restretching and any repair in a high-traffic room, on stairs or on a subfloor with damage should go to a professional installer, because a poor stretch causes ripples that come back.

Licenses and permits

Carpet repair commonly does not need a license, but subfloor repair or structural work may require a permit or qualified contracting. Check with your state or local licensing agency about the rules for your work.

Carpet repair questions

Can a burn be fixed?

Small burns can be cut out and patched with a matching piece. Large burns or burns in a visible area may need a larger patch. Ask the pro to show the patch on the carpet before the cut is made.

Why does carpet ripple after a few years?

Usually the carpet has loosened from the tack strips or the pad has shifted, sometimes with humidity. A restretch often fixes it, but a subfloor problem needs its own repair.

Can I repair a seam myself?

A seam can be re-glued by a homeowner with the right seam tape, but the work is hard to do well. Ask the pro whether a re-seam will show and how long the adhesive takes to set.

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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