Cut out the damaged patch, cut a matching piece from spare carpet, and fix it in place with carpet tape.
CR-01Check the damage and find spare carpetLook closely at the burn or tear to see how deep it goes. If only the tufts are singed, you may just need to trim them. If the backing is damaged, you'll need a patch. Find an offcut from when the carpet was fitted, or take a piece from inside a wardrobe or cupboard where it won't be seen.
CR-02Gather your tools and materialsYou'll need a spare piece of matching carpet, double-sided carpet seam tape, a sharp utility knife, a metal ruler, and a small stiff brush. Clear the area and vacuum the carpet so you can see the damage clearly.
CR-03Cut out the damaged sectionPlace a small container, like a jam jar lid, over the damage and trace round it lightly with the knife to mark a neat circle or square. Cut straight down through the carpet and backing along this line, keeping the knife upright. Lift out the damaged piece and check the underlay beneath is undamaged.
CR-04Cut a matching patchPlace the cut-out damaged piece on top of your spare carpet as a template, matching the pile direction so it lies the same way as the surrounding carpet. Trace round it and cut the patch out carefully, always cutting from the backing side so you can see exactly where the blade is going. Check the patch fits the hole before moving on.
CR-05Fit the seam tapeCut a piece of double-sided carpet seam tape slightly larger than the hole. Push it down into the gap so it sticks to the underlay or subfloor beneath, sticky side facing up. Make sure the tape sits flat and reaches the edges of the hole all round.
CR-06Press the patch into placePeel the backing off the seam tape and lower the patch in, matching the pile direction with the surrounding carpet. Press down firmly around the edges first, then across the middle, so the patch sticks fully to the tape below.
CR-07Blend the joinRun a stiff brush or the edge of a coin across the join to lift and mix the pile from the patch with the pile around it. This hides the seam line. Vacuum gently over the area once the pile has settled.
CR-08Tidy upVacuum the whole area to remove loose fibres and dust. Check the patch has bedded down and the edges aren't lifting. Leave heavy furniture off the repair for a few hours to let the tape bond fully.
Some links may earn us a small commission at no extra cost to you.