Tools & Materials 
Cookie-cutter tool
Knee kicker
4" wallboard knife
Utility knife
Seam iron
Seam adhesive
Replacement carpeting
Double-face carpet tape
Heat-activated seam tape
Weights
Boards
Burns and stains are the most common carpeting problems. You can clip away the burned fibers of superficial burns using small scissors. Deeper burns and indelible stains require patching by cutting away and replacing the damaged area.
Another common problem, addressed on the opposite page, is carpet seams or edges that have come loose. You can rent the tools necessary for fixing this problem.
Tools & Materials
Cookie-cutter tool
Knee kicker
4" wallboard knife
Utility knife
Seam iron
Seam adhesive
Replacement carpeting
Double-face carpet tape
Heat-activated seam tape
Weights
Boards
Stained or damaged carpet can be replaced with specialized tools and DIY techniques.
HOW TO REPAIR SPOT DAMAGE
Use a cookie-cutter tool to cut a replacement patch from scrap carpeting. Press the cutter down over the damaged area and twist it to cut away the carpet.
Remove extensive damage or stains with the cookie-cutter tool (available at carpeting stores). Insert double-face carpet tape under the cutout, positioning the tape so it overlaps the patch seams.
Press the patch into place. Make sure the direction of the nap or pattern matches the existing carpet. To seal the seam and prevent unraveling, apply seam adhesive to the edges of the patch.
HOW TO RESTRETCH LOOSE CARPET
Adjust the knob on the head of the knee kicker so the prongs grab the carpet backing without penetrating through the padding. Starting from a corner or near a point where the carpet is firmly attached, press the knee kicker head into the carpet, about 2" from the wall.
Thrust your knee into the cushion of the knee kicker to force the carpet toward the wall. Tuck the carpet edge into the space between the wood strip and the baseboard using a 4" wallboard knife. If the carpet is still loose, trim the edge with a utility knife and stretch it again.
HOW TO GLUE LOOSE SEAMS
Remove the old tape from under the carpet seam. Cut a strip of new seam tape and place it under the carpet so it’s centered along the seam with the adhesive facing up. Plug in the seam iron and let it heat up.
Pull up both edges of the carpet and set the hot iron squarely onto the tape. Wait about 30 seconds for the glue to melt. Move the iron about 12" farther along the seam. Quickly press the edges of the carpet together into the melted glue behind the iron. Separate the pile to make sure no fibers are stuck in the glue and the seam is tight. Place weighted boards over the seam to keep it flat while the glue sets. Remember, you have only 30 seconds to repeat the process.