Carpet repair and partial replacements are related tasks mostly discernible by the extent of the damage and amount of work to be performed. Buying a new carpet in general is another possibility, and there are certain instances when doing so will be in your best interest. You and your contractor should take into consideration a few factors when deciding if you need repairs, a partial replacement, or a new carpet in general:
- Extent of Damage - Minor issues from spills, burns, or isolated tears may need minimal repair, while extensive damage may require large sections to be replaced.
- Budget - Repairs are usually cheaper than partial replacements, but either option can be more cost-efficient than purchasing a new installation.
- Age and Condition of the Carpet - Repairs or a partial replacement could be a more viable solution if your carpet is fairly new and in decent overall shape. However, a new carpet will provide a longer-lasting solution if the carpet is past its prime and displaying marks of wear throughout.
- Future Plans - If you plan to remodel or make considerable updates in the near future, a relatively low-cost repair will be a suitable short-term solution.
- Timeline - Carpet repairs and partial replacements are typically finished quickly unless sourcing matching carpet becomes a problem. Think about settling for a new carpet if your schedule will not allow for finding or creating an exact match.
Enlisting professional help for your carpet repair or partial replacement will deliver better results than what can be achieved by the typical do-it-yourself approach. Dependable carpet repair contractors have advanced knowledge and skills to accurately assess your carpet's condition, identifying issues that can be addressed through these methods. Their expertise allows them to suggest the most effective means of repair suiting your needs and finances.
You'll have to match the existing carpet while conducting a carpet repair or partial replacement if you expect the finished results to be invisible. Partial replacements are difficult as there is a wider area that needs to be blended, but a professional will have the equipment and knowledge to pull it off. Trying such tasks without the right tools could lead to lackluster results in the overall aesthetic and durability.
Turn to a professional featured on Thumbtack who will help you enhance the appearance and performance of your carpeting sooner and without having to spend more on a brand new installation.
Repairing a carpet and conducting a partial replacement differ based on four primary characteristics of the project:
- Scope - Partial replacements are larger in scope and include replacing a considerable portion of the carpet. Repairs focus on minor imperfections resulting from spills, burns, and similar issues, and may include simple spot cleaning and minimal fabric replacement.
- Matching - Ensuring that the new carpet fits the existing one regarding color, pattern, and texture is the goal of both projects, though on a larger scale with partial replacements.
- Techniques - Techniques used in both carpet repair or partial replacement are practically the same but on a different scale and may involve plugging, invisible seams, edging, and more.
- Time and Cost - Partial replacements are typically more time-consuming and costly than localized repairs because of the larger area needing to be fixed.
Carpet repair or partial replacement have the same goal and deploy similar techniques, but the difference in scale leads to more time, effort, and cost to complete the latter. A professional carpeting contractor listed on Thumbtack will recognize your carpet's needs and how to achieve the best outcome.
Performing either carpet repair or a partial replacement should only take a few hours to a day at the longest. The hardest task can be sourcing a matching piece of carpet of sufficient size to replace the damaged portion. Without excess cuttings or a surplus roll of your old carpet in storage, discreet regions can be harvested, such as from under the bed or in a closet. A more expensive option will be buying the matching piece of carpet from a manufacturer, and this could also delay the project.
Once an appropriate piece is on hand, the remaining process is relatively fast and simple:
- Measurements and Cutting - Accurate measurements are taken so that the replacement piece will correspond precisely with the section of the damaged carpet being removed.
- Placement and Gluing/Joining - Adhesive is applied to the subfloor or seam tape beneath the carpet whether making a plug or combining two ends together to create an invisible seam. It will only take fifteen minutes for the adhesive to harden, and the process of repairing a small piece or creating a seam should move along quickly.
- Blending - The last step is to make ensure the replacement piece fuses seamlessly with the carpet by eliminating stray fibers and flattening it with a carpet seam roller.