I have wall-to-wall carpeting in my home that is over 20 years old, but it’s starting to pucker and wrinkle in places. Am I going to have to replace it because of its age?

– Lyla Mae

Hi Lyla Mae,

Carpet can, indeed, start puckering as it gets old! The main reason can be attributed to movement from furniture over the course of the years. If the carpet was attached with tack strips, rather than adhesive, the problem can be easily remedied by restretching the carpet.

While a pro would be better suited to handle this job, restretching carpet can be tackled as a DIY project, with carpet stretchers and knee kickers available to rent at tool rental stores.

Before restretching your carpet, start by removing all the furniture in the room. Next, pull the carpet out from under the baseboard on two adjoining sides of the room, and stretch the carpet to remove the puckers, using carpet stretching tools.

Finally, rehook the carpet on the tack strips attached to the subfloor, trim off any excess carpet around the edges, and slip it back under the baseboard. Replace the furniture in the room, and you’re good to go!

Good luck with your project,


    If your carpet is too far gone, read our informative article for a step by step guide on how to remove old carpet.

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    Danny Lipford

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    Danny Lipford is a home improvement expert and television personality who started his remodeling business, Lipford Construction, at the age of 21 in Mobile, Alabama. He gained national recognition as the host of the nationally syndicated television show, Today's Homeowner with Danny Lipford, which started as a small cable show in Mobile. Danny's expertise in home improvement has also led him to be a contributor to popular magazines and websites and the go-to source for advice on everything related to the home. He has made over 200 national television appearances and served as the home improvement expert for CBS's The Early Show and The Weather Channel for over a decade. Danny is also the founder of 3 Echoes Content Studio, TodaysHomeowner.com, and Checking In With Chelsea, a décor and lifestyle blog.

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