Carpet Emergency!

Action Carpet & Floor Covering:  "Good Afternoon, Action Carpet & Floor Covering, this is Sandy, how may I help you?"
Caller:  "I JUST SNAGGED MY BRAND NEW BERBER CARPET, IT'S AN EMERGENCY!"

Action Carpet & Floor Covering:  "Okay, take a deep breath, I will walk you through this..."

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Some berber, or loop, carpet pulls are actually quite easy to fix.  Unlike the one shown above, when a pull is just one loop that got raised or yanked out of place, all you need to do is take a pair of scissors and cut the snag down low -- almost to the base of the carpet.  If you have a hot glue gun, (regular glue will do) with a very small dab of glue, secure that loose end down to the base of the carpet.  Fluff the other fibers around it and, "VOILA!" a successful "surgery." 

If the pull is more like a run where several loops get yanked out of place, the "surgery" is a little more involved.   

Materials You Will Need:

• Hot glue gun, (Carpet Repair Adhesive or regular all-purpose glue like Elmer's will do in a pinch)
  

• Crochet needle or jeweler's screwdriver
  

• Sharp scissors
  

• Weight to hold fibers in place once they're set
  

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See where the old adhesive appears on the fiber?  Use that as your loop guide.  

Apply a dab of the glue ONLY to the base of the carpet and not on the fiber.  (A dab of hot glue will form an adhesion quicker than a wet glue.) When a fiber gets pulled out of place, the strand untwists a bit. Using your fingers, slightly twist the fiber.  In the other hand, using a firm somewhat pointed object like a crochet needle or narrow screwdriver like a jeweler's screwdriver, push the loop at the old adhesive mark down into the glue and hold.  Continue to slightly twist and replace these loops one at a time until they are all back in place.  If there is a "tail' of extra fiber sticking up, clip it down as low as you can and apply a small dab of glue on it.  Do NOT use too much glue throughout this entire process or you'll just end up with a mess.  If need be, put a weight (a heavy book) on top of the area you worked on to keep the fibers in place until they completely set.  

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Hopefully you are pleased with the results of the operation.  It may not look completely perfect but, it should look MUCH better than a gaping hole in your carpet.   

NOTE:  Hand-woven berber carpets and area rugs are not glued; they must be re-woven by a professional.  Call Action Carpet & Floor Covering for a referral.