how to care for your carpeting between cleanings

A nagging stain that will not go away, a burned spot where the vacuum got stuck, or a rip caused by a pointed heel — these are common problems with carpet flooring. If your carpet gets a spot of damage that you cannot mend through cleaning or trimming fibers with a pair of sharp scissors, carpet patching is something to be considered. However, a lot of homeowners have no idea that carpet patching is something that is offered by a lot of professionals. If you have an area of your carpet that is damaged beyond repair, you may want to know a few things about carpet patching. 

How is carpet patching done?

Carpet patching is performed just as it sounds; a piece of carpet is cut out and a patch is installed in the newly opened spot. A special type of adhesive tape called carpet seam tape can be used to secure the patch in place around the perimeter, but many repair professionals will also use another type of adhesive on the back of the patch to secure it to the padding beneath as well. Carpet patching sounds easy, but it actually takes a lot of finagling to get the piece to fit properly. 

Will you be able to see the patched area?

You may be able to see the patched area slightly, but this can depend on the type of carpet being patched. If you have a basic shag carpet with looped fringe, it will be fairly easy to get the patch to blend with the rest of the carpet fibers. If you have something like sculpted carpet, it can be difficult to make the patch line up perfectly. Every effort will be made to get the new piece to blend in with the old piece of carpet. 

Where can you get the patch of carpet for repairs?

If you have a rather new carpet or carpet that is a common style, you may be able to get a patching piece from a remnant at a local carpet store for a really inexpensive price. The repair professional often has several remnant pieces to work with as well. In some cases, a section of carpet can be harvested from somewhere else in the house. For example, if you have the same type of carpet in a closet, a patch can be harvested from there because it is an inconspicuous spot that most people will never see.