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How to Repair Rips, Tears and Holes in Carpet for the Home

Posted On : Nov-16-2011 | seen (318) times | Article Word Count : 733 |

Carpet for the home is an investment and one that you intend on keeping, at least for a while.
Carpet for the home is an investment and one that you intend on keeping, at least for a while. So if you’re faced with ripped or torn carpeting, there’s no doubt that you’ll be disappointed. Although carpeting is the top flooring choice for homeowners and offers softness and comfort throughout the home, carpet requires professional installation and repairs. With the wall-to-wall nature of carpeting, it can be difficult to handle installations and repairs on your own without harming the carpet at large.

Fortunately, repairing carpet for the home is not as difficult as you may think. Knowing how to fix rips and tears will be helpful in restoring your carpeting for your own peace of mind or when you go to the sell the home. Most importantly, repairing rips and tears while they’re small can prevent them from becoming more noticeable.

To start this project, gather your tools, including heat-activated carpet tape, a utility knife and a steam iron. As long as the rip is long enough, use the utility knife to lift the edges of the rip, otherwise you may need to lengthen the rip. Remove the old carpet tape using the utility knife, and take the heat-activated carpet tape and tuck it underneath the rip. You’ll want to secure the two edges of the seam together so that they match up over the tape.

Slide the steam iron into the seams so that it can heat the tape. Move the iron along the tape, and press down on the seams as you move along. You’ll need to hold the iron down for approximately 30 seconds before moving it up. When the whole seam has been patched up, place the iron back in its protective base and press down on the seams to make sure they’re secure.

Fortunately, rips and tears are the easier repairs to make, and catching them early can help prevent them from forming bigger problems. If you’re left with a hole in the carpet for example, the intervention is more involved. If you don’t have spare carpet, many people choose to take a small piece of carpet from an inconspicuous place such as the back of a closet.

You’ll need to cut out the damaged piece of the carpet using the utility knife, although it’s important that you don’t cut through the carpet pad. Use the cut out piece to trace your new piece using the fresh carpet. Spread adhesive on the back of the carpet, as well as on the corners of the carpeting surrounding the hole. Place the carpet patch in the hole and press firmly. Vacuum the area after everything is dry, usually about six hours.

Of course, these are quick repairs that can be done on your own without requiring professional assistance. Getting carpeting to look like new again can be difficult, but these quick fixes can help restore carpet for the home without having to spend much money. Chances are, you’ll always notice the spot, but no one else will.

If you live in a busy home that is bound to destroy the carpet, a safer bet may be carpet tiles. These self-stick tiles are inexpensive, come in an array of colors and can be laid without any professional help. Their adhesive on the back makes them easy to stick and go, completing a flooring project in as little as a day. And if you’re ever faced with a rip, tear or hole in carpet for the home, simply remove the tile for a fresh one. It always pays to have extra carpet tiles on hand for these scenarios, or you can try making a new pattern by inserting a new color tile.

Since flooring is considered the fifth wall of the home, flooring manufacturers are always looking for new and inventive ways to make flooring stronger, more attractive and easier to work with. Carpeting has always been a favorite for homeowners, and there is no other flooring that compares to soft, plush carpet. Yet with the challenges that wall-to-wall carpeting has, it has prevented some homeowners from having it installed. By knowing how to fix rips, tears and holes, you’ll have the tools you need to care for your carpeting. And if all else fails, try carpet tiles that will offer you the same comfortable flooring that can be repaired in one easy step.

Article Source : http://www.articleseen.com/Article_How to Repair Rips, Tears and Holes in Carpet for the Home_104934.aspx

Author Resource :
Darrell Potter writes out of Vancouver about a variety home decor tips, and gives advice on how to maintain carpet for the home. Always looking for the highest quality materials at the lowest cost possible, he tends to end up shopping at http://www.flooringcanada.ca/carpet.aspx more often than not.

Keywords : Repair Rips, carpet for the home, house flooring,

Category : Home and Family : Interior Design

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