Refix carpet that has come away at a doorway

Refit the gripper rod and stretch a carpet edge back down where it has lifted at a doorway.

RC-01Clear the doorway and check the damageMove any mats or furniture away from the doorway so you have room to work. Peel back the loose carpet edge and look underneath. Check whether the gripper rod (the thin strip of angled tacks along the edge) has come away from the floor, snapped, or whether the carpet has simply pulled off the teeth and the rod is fine.

RC-02Get your tools togetherYou'll need a bolster chisel or flat screwdriver to lift the old rod, pincers to pull old tacks and staples, a hammer, and a knee kicker to re-stretch the carpet. A knee kicker is worth hiring for the day rather than buying if this is a one-off job.

1 each · Knee kicker (day hire)

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1 each · Bolster chisel

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1 each · Carpet pincers

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RC-03Check for pipes and cables, and know your stopcock, before drillingYou're about to drill or nail into the floor, so check what's underneath first. Cables and pipes can run almost anywhere, not just in obvious places, so use a cable and pipe detector along the line of the gripper rod before you fix anything down. Even with a detector, still expect something could be there — detectors miss cables that are deep, in metal conduit, or under a metal-backed floor covering. Find your stopcock now, usually under the kitchen sink, and check it turns freely, so you can shut the water off fast if you hit a pipe. If you have any doubt at all, especially near a doorway where central heating pipes often run under the floor, isolate the relevant electrical circuit at the consumer unit and turn off the water at the stopcock before you drill.

1 each · Cable and pipe detector

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RC-04Remove the old gripper rod and old fixingsLever up the damaged section of gripper rod with the bolster chisel, working along its length. Pull out any old tacks, staples or nails left in the floor with the pincers so the new rod sits flat. Sweep or vacuum the area so you can see the bare floor clearly.

RC-05Fit new gripper rod — method depends on your subfloorOn timber floorboards, nail the gripper rod down with the fixing nails supplied, driving them into solid timber rather than gaps between boards. On solid concrete or screed subfloors, use gripper rod with pre-drilled holes and mark through them, drill with a masonry bit around 5mm, then fix with the correct plugs and screws or hardened concrete nails made for the job. Keep the rod's teeth angled towards the wall, about 10mm from the skirting, so it grips the carpet backing correctly.

1 each · Carpet gripper rod (1m length)

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1 pack · Masonry plugs and screws (if concrete floor)

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1 pack · Concrete nails (if concrete floor)

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RC-06Stretch the carpet back onto the gripperKneel back from the doorway and use the knee kicker's padded end against the carpet, a hand's width from the edge. Push the kicker firmly with your knee to drive the carpet forward onto the gripper teeth, working along the width of the doorway in short sections. Check the carpet is taut and even before moving on.

RC-07Trim and tuck the edgeTrim any frayed or excess carpet with a sharp utility knife, leaving just enough to tuck neatly against the skirting or door frame. Use a bolster or a flat carpet tool to push the trimmed edge down between the gripper and the skirting so it's hidden and secure.

1 each · Utility knife

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RC-08Fit a threshold bar over the joinLay a metal or timber threshold bar across the doorway to cover the join between the carpet edge and the flooring beyond, and to protect the edge from future wear. Screw it down through the pre-drilled holes into the floor beneath, following the same subfloor method as in step RC-05 for timber or concrete. Make sure the door still opens and closes freely over the bar once fitted.

1 each · Door threshold bar

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RC-09Tidy up and check the repairVacuum the doorway thoroughly to lift any grit or old tack fragments, then bin the offcuts and old fixings safely. Walk over the repaired area and open and close the door a few times to confirm everything is secure and nothing catches.

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