How to Repair Frayed Carpet Edges in 5 Easy Steps

Fraying edges can quickly make a nice carpet look tacky.

This article will show you the steps to repair your carpet without spending an arm and a leg. Make sure you take a look!

Taking care of the beloved carpet.

To repair frayed carpet edges do the following:

1. Remove the frayed edges from under the threshold
2. Trim off the frayed edges
3. Trim the carpet pad (if necessary)
4. Cut and install the new threshold
5. Attach the carpet to the new threshold

Is it your first time repairing a frayed carpet edge? If so, then take a look at the guide below. The guide will talk you through the steps one-by-one so that you can achieve the best results.

How to Repair Frayed Carpet Edges

I’m sure you would agree with me when I say that frayed carpets edges stick out like a sore thumb. Everyone else in the house seems to have warmed to them though. The cat loves your frayed carpet edges. Well, actually, he may be the reason why they frayed in the first place. The frayed edges are fun for him to play with. And as for the kids, they love them too. They love pulling on the frayed edges and making them worse. They are always tugging at them as if they haven’t got enough toys in their rooms to entertain themselves with. 

Don’t despair as you won’t have to put up with the frayed edges for much longer! Repairing a damaged carpet is an easy job. With the right tools and a little oomph, you’ll have your carpets looking brand new again.

Are you ready to see how you can go about mending frayed carpet edges? Then make sure you check out the following step-by-step guide!

#1 Remove the Frayed Edges From Under the Threshold 

The threshold is the long piece of metal that keeps the carpet fixed in place. Wedge a flat-edged screwdriver under the threshold and then use it to pry the threshold from the floor. Be careful when prying the old threshold to avoid doing more damage to the carpet’s edges. 

Once you have pulled the threshold up from the floor you can remove the carpet from the threshold. You should tease it from the teeth of the threshold using pliers.

#2 Trim off the Frayed Edges 

Trim long loose strands of carpet using sharp scissors or a carpet knife. Never pull on them as doing so will unravel the carpet more. 

Cutting the carpet the right way.

If your carpet edges need a lot of trimming, proceed to step 3. If not, stretch the carpet back and tack it into place using carpet tacks. 

Run heavy-duty carpet adhesive under the edge of the carpet. Pull it taut and then press the carpet into place. This will stop the edges from fraying easily in the future. Allow the adhesive to dry for a day before moving on to the next step and before walking on it.

#3 Trim the Carpet Pad (if Necessary)

If you’ve trimmed your carpet back more than an inch, you may need to consider trimming the carpet pad too. This is so that the carpet pad does not cover the pins when you install the new threshold.

You should cut your carpet pad using a carpet knife and a straightedge. Once you’ve done this, complete any tasks you missed from step 2.

#4 Cut and Install the New Threshold 

Start by measuring the gap where you would like to install the new threshold. Use those measurements to cut the new threshold to the correct length. You can use metal snips or a hacksaw to cut it. 

How you install your new threshold largely depends on the kind of floor you are working on. Listed below is the method to install a threshold on wooden and concrete floors.

#5 Attach the Carpet to the New Threshold

Use a knee kicker to kick the carpet towards the threshold. For edges and fine details, use a stiff knife to push the carpet under the threshold and baseboards. 

Pound the threshold into place using a strong rubber mallet. This will lock the edges of the carpet under the threshold. 

How Do You Stop Carpet Edges From Fraying?

To stop your carpet edges from deteriorating, it is important to work out why they are fraying. Which of the following is causing your carpet edges to fray?

• Pets clawing at and pulling on the edges of the carpet
• Poorly installed carpet
• General wear and tear

Take a look at the solutions to your carpet problems in the following carpet guide:

Pets Clawing at and Pulling on the Edges of the Carpet

Having pets around the home is great. Especially when they are young as they are playful and adorable. That is, of course, until they start pulling up your expensive carpet. And you know what it’s like. Once your furry friend has been hooked on the feel of your carpet between its claws, there’s not a scratching post on earth that can get him off it.

What? I can’t just scratch the carpet all day?!

So, what can you do to step in and save your carpet before it’s ripped to shreds? There are a couple of things that you can do to discourage your pet from pulling at your carpet. Take a look at some of them:

• Spray the carpet with a pet repellent spray. Pet repellent sprays are not harmful to your pets. They simply work to deter them from areas you don’t want them to play in. Pet repellent sprays can come in many pleasant fragrances such as the following:
  • Lavender
  • Citronella
  • Orange
  • Bitter apple
  • Lemon
  • Peppermint and more
• Place heavy-duty double-sided tape over the fraying edges. The double-sided tape should be sticky and unpleasant for your furry friend. They will not like getting their paws stuck to the tape and will stop playing with the carpet.

Once you start using one of the above-mentioned methods, give your pet an alternative. Provide them with a scratching post that they can use instead of your carpet.

Poorly Installed Carpet

Another reason why your carpet may fray easily is that it has not been installed properly. This could mean that any of the following happened when it was being put down:

• The carpet was not tacked down properly at the edges.
• The carpet was not kicked under the new threshold. 
• The thresholds were not left to dry properly before the carpet was walked on.

These are all problems with the installation of your carpet. So what can you do to right these issues now? Unfortunately, there’s no super quick fix for a badly laid carpet. But, you should tend to small fraying edges as soon as you see them. Trim them back to stop the problem from getting worse quickly. 

How can you go about doing repairs to more serious damage done to your carpet? See the steps mentioned in this article to repair frayed carpet edges.

General Wear and Tear

Your carpets may also start to look a little doggy eared because of simple wear and tear. Carpets don’t last forever, but the price of replacing yours might make you wish they would! 

So, instead of ripping out the whole lot, what can you do to fix general wear and tear on your carpet? Take a look at the following tips:

• Follow the steps listed to repair frayed carpet edges in this article. 
• Shampoo your carpet with white vinegar and bicarbonate of soda.
• Move your furniture periodically to ease the strain on your carpet.
• Steam your carpets periodically.

Steaming your carpet can help keep it clean and healthy.

Conclusion

Carpet that has frayed at the edges looks unsightly. And the longer you leave it, the trickier it becomes to repair.

I hope that this article has shown you a simple method to trim and tidy up your carpet without calling an expert. If this article has been useful to you, then why not consider checking out some of our other articles and free guides? 

Have a great day!

-Craig