A run in a Berber carpet can really ruin the look of the room. In this article I will share with you a few things that can help you understand your Berber carpet and what to do if you have a problem.
A note about your Berber carpet: It’s probably not really a Berber carpet. No, it’s probably looped carpet that people call Berber.
So there you are vacuuming your carpet and a loose thread gets caught up in the vacuum roller. Before you know it your carpet is unraveling like an old wool sweater. This also happens when a dog gets his nail caught or a child just can’t help pulling on a loose thread.
We use several different methods to fix a run like this. I’ll explain how to do a proper patch. This is only one of several methods.
Before you start you should gather some tools and materials.
– Slotted blade knife (keep a new sharp blade in it at all times, change it every few cuts)
– Glue gun
– Awl or knitting needle
– Small glass of water
– Blue painters tape
– Scissors
– Seam tape
– A scrap of carpet from the original installation or from a closet.
1) Start by isolating the problem. Use the blue painters tape to hold the undamaged part of the carpet out of the way. What you should see is the backing of the damaged part of the carpet and nothing else. By doing this you will avoid getting glue on the nap of the carpet. If you do get glue on the nap it’s going to feel hard to the touch. (and that’s not a good thing)
2) Use your slotted blade knife to cut away the damaged thread.
3) Use your slotted blade knife to cut out the backing of the carpet. The cut should be close to the row of nap but not so close that you will cut into it. Be very careful not to cut the nap. You will now be looking at the carpet padding.
4) If you did accidentally cut some nap, use your glue gun sparingly to glue it back into place.
5) Use your scissors to cut the amount of carpet you will need to place in the patch. Again, cut it close to the row but be careful not to cut the nap. Also be sure the piece of carpet you are using for the patch is running the same direction as the rest of the carpet.
6) Cut a piece of seam tape about an inch or so longer than the patch. Center it under the cut carpet.
7) Check to be sure that your patch is cut exactly perfect. There’s no going back after this step.
8) Use your glue gun to apply a moderate amount of hot glue to the first inch of the seam tape. Get the glue under the edges and across the field of the seam tape. Place the tip of the Berber patch where it belongs (in the glue) and push down hard enough to force the glue up into the backing. You should use enough glue so that it seals the edges all the way around without oozing up. Don’t be shy with the hot glue
9) Dip the awl into the water and use the wet tip to adjust the patch, pushing gently where it needs a little help. The water will help prevent the glue from sticking to the awl.
10) Continue along until you have glued the entire piece in place. Take it slow and use the wet awl.
If you do this properly, the color matches, it’s running the right direction and you don’t make a mess of it, then the patch should be invisible or at least nearly so. Good luck! Steve Gordon
