changing from storage heaters to radiator - carpet issue

littleredhen

I have just applied for the ECO4 grant and will getting radiators to replace my storage heaters - unfortunately I had new carpets downstairs and couldn't get anyone to remove the storage heaters so will now have feet shaped holes in the carpet - I do have spare carpet but is it going to look a mess if I get someone to cut a length out - can't afford another new carpet

Green_hopeful

I had a carpet patched. A tenant spilled black nail varnish on a cream wool carpet. He cut about a foot square and replaced it with some spare. Worked really well. It was about £40 but that was pre Covid so I guess double that now. 

Jemma01

I saw some random clips of carpet guys on YouTube that make the patch appear seamless. I'd look for one and ask him to show photographs of his work

FreeBear

Jemma01 said:

I saw some random clips of carpet guys on YouTube that make the patch appear seamless. I'd look for one and ask him to show photographs of his work

Depending on the type of carpet, it is possible to sew patches in so that they appear almost seamless. Works best with hessian backed carpets.
You can also get iron-on hemming tape - I think it is possible to get a heavy duty version for carpet repairs.

TELLIT01

It depends on the type and pattern in the carpet.  We had a new carpet many moons ago and they actually had the wrong width, it was about 9" too narrow but the piece they laid in was invisible unless you knew where to look and looked very closely.

littleredhen

Thanks everyone -  very helpful - I have a great handyman who can do it for me - and the carpet is one colour, no pattern so I'll try to stop worrying about it! I need the work doing as it's free and my energy rating is e so it's a no brainer really although I had just had the decorating done too so the walls will need re-done!

ThisIsWeird

Well done - or lucky - you, having offcuts of the exact same carpet!
The other good news is that the locations of the repairs means it won't have any foot traffic.
If you want to try a repair without lifting the carpet from the skirting edge, then I reckon that should be very possible by cutting pieces of paper just a little larger that the holes, slipping it inside-and-under, and drawing the exact hole outline on it. Label each template, including which way is 'up', and which end is towards the wall.

Next, you need to match the pile directions. A few ways to hopefully do this;

You should hopefully be able to do this easily and accurately by simply working out where the offcut piece you plan to use was removed from - can you do this? Eg, if you have a piece that was removed from the main carpet as it went around a cupboard or corner, you should hopefully be able to say - 'that bit came off the carpet this way', in which case you will be able to match up the 'pile' directions. So mark this donor piece of carpet clearly to indicate how its pile matches the fitted carpet.

If you can't do that, then lay the donor piece on top of the carpet, and 'play' with it to determine which way the pile falls - you want the directions to match. Good chance you can at least reduce the 4 possible directions down to two by comparing their backings, whether Hessian or whatevs - see if it's directional. And then compare the way the piles lie by flattening and rubbing them in the same direction - does one way look right?

Once you've worked it out, add a label so you don't get messed up again! And ditto on each piece you are about to cut out so you don't have to keep on testing them.
Then transfer the templates to the carpet, and use a sharp craft knife to cut the pieces. I suspect this will be best done from the back as it'll be easier to accurately mark the template outline here rather than on top of a pile, but remember to turn the template the right way around to suit. 
When cutting through from the back - obvs on to a safe cutting board - stop when the blade cuts through the backing, so you don't also end up trimming away any pile that happens to have fallen over the cut line - you want the pile as complete as possible along the joining edges.
Then try a test fit. All good? Cool, put some double-sided 'carpet' tape down and jobbie jobbed. If fractionally too big, then use HD scissors to trim away a sliver of backing, but try and keep as much pile as possible away from being cut - Ie flatten the pile away from the edge whilst you trim.
I think you'll be astonished at how they will disappear