Carpet Repair vs Replacement: When It’s Time For New Carpet
Most of the time, your carpet can be repaired. What it really comes down to is how long the repair will last, which depends on factors like wear, age and carpet type. We recommend replacement when those factors outweigh the benefits of a carpet repair, or when the cost of repairing gets close to (or exceeds) the cost of replacing.
So how do you know when your carpet is too far gone?
Age and Wear
The biggest factor is usually age and wear. We can repair quite substantial damage, as long as the carpet still has life left in it. But once the carpet has started to delaminate, and the threads are fraying and breaking down in the surrounding area (not just where the damage is), any joins or repair work simply won’t last.
We understand that sometimes you just need it to look good for a sale or to get your bond back. In those cases we’ll still do the work, but we’ll be upfront about how long the carpet repair is likely to last before we start.
When Repair Costs More Than Replacement
We’ll also suggest carpet replacement when the cost of repair outweighs the cost of replacement, or comes close enough that replacing is clearly the better value. For example, if damage covers half a room, the repair would take longer, cost more and look worse than simply replacing the carpet.
Carpet Stretching
Stretching is a different story to patching. Carpet can usually be re-stretched even when it’s fairly deteriorated. There are some caveats: small creases may remain due to delamination, and older carpet can pick up minor damage from the stretching equipment.
One common issue that can really limit us is sun damage. Sun-damaged carpet can’t be stretched in those areas, because power stretchers and knee kickers will tear it. We can usually work around this by stretching towards the other side of the room instead.
Colour Matching for Carpet Patches
Beyond general wear, carpet can change colour quite a lot, even when it isn’t that old. The patch pieces we use usually come from wardrobes or rolled-up offcuts, which have been kept away from sunlight and foot traffic and still hold their original colour. That means a patch can stand out.
This isn’t a big problem if you’re happy to wait for the new piece to wear in and blend with the surrounding carpet. But if you have an inspection or sale coming up, replacement may be the better option.
Tip: If you’re getting new carpet installed, keep the offcuts and use them as mats around the house. That way they’ll fade and wear at the same rate as your carpet, giving you well-matched pieces for any future carpet patch repairs.
Repair or Replace? We’ll Give You an Honest Answer
In most cases your carpet can be repaired. It comes down to weighing up the result you need, why you need it, and what you can expect from each option. Whether it’s a repair or a replacement, we’ll always recommend what’s best for your situation.
Express Carpet Repairs works throughout Brisbane, the Gold Coast and the Sunshine Coast, offering top-quality carpet repair, installation and cleaning work.