Every once in a while a carpet edge comes undone or frays. When this happens, you need to repair it or replace it before the problem gets worse. Cut off any loose strands so that you have a nice even edge to work with. Never pull on the strings, because this unravels more of the carpet. After the edge is cleaned up, remove the baseboard or edging material that holds the carpet down around the damaged section so that you can work on the flooring.
Looking Over the Damage
Every once in a while a carpet edge comes undone or frays. When this happens, you need to repair it or replace it before the problem gets worse. Cut off any loose strands so that you have a nice even edge to work with. Never pull on the strings, because this unravels more of the carpet. After the edge is cleaned up, remove the baseboard or edging material that holds the carpet down around the damaged section so that you can work on the flooring.
Stretch and Tack
Carpet tacks help fix the problem. Push the carpet down and stretch it by hand toward the wall or edge. Tack it into place so that the edging or baseboard covers it again. If the fray goes farther out into room, use a carpet installation tool to stretch it farther so that it won't show when the edging is put back.
Professional Help
If it isn't possible to stretch the carpet so that the baseboard covers the fray, then replace the carpet or a section of it. Call a professional carpet installer to complete this job. If a matching piece of carpet is available, the installer will cut out a larger section of the carpet around the fray and sew in the new piece so that no seams show. The installer will remove and replace the entire carpet if a matching piece is not found.
Carpet Glue
In some cases you can apply carpet glue before tacking down the carpet if you feel the fray might occur again. Use this method in a high-traffic area or where pets pull on the carpet. After repairing, put the the baseboard or edging back in place.
Cheap Alternative
If the carpet cannot be stretched far enough to hide the fray but you do not have the money to pay a professional to repair it, use a scrap piece of carpet and some carpet glue. Cut the scrap piece so that it fits in the trimmed area where the fray was, and glue it in place. This will not last forever, but it solves the problem temporarily until a more permanent repair is done.
