Unlike carpet cleaning, which is typically priced by the square foot, carpet stretching is priced by the room. The cost depends on the size of the room and where the bubbles or ripples are located in relation to the furniture.

The most accurate way for us to price a stretching job is to see the space. A quick video consultation allows us to understand the layout, furniture placement, and scope of work so we can give you a firm price upfront. If you have an iPhone, we can use FaceTime. For Android users, we can arrange a Zoom video call.

During the call, we’ll review what needs to be done and let you know exactly what the cost will be before scheduling the work.

Carpets loosen and develop bubbles primarily because the carpet backing naturally relaxes over time. Changes in humidity, temperature, and everyday use allow the backing and fibers to expand and contract, which gradually reduces tension across the room.

While poor installation can contribute—especially within the first year or two—most carpet loosening we see occurs years later and is simply part of how carpet behaves as it ages. Stretching corrects the problem by re-tensioning the carpet and securing it properly so it lies flat, wears evenly, and remains safe to walk on.

The main reason we prefer to do a video consultation before scheduling is to accurately price the job and, just as importantly, to see where the bubbles or ripples are located within the room. Carpet must be stretched in a specific direction, and whenever possible we plan the stretch so the least amount of furniture needs to be moved.

During the consultation, we’ll review the room layout and explain the best approach. If light furniture can be moved ahead of time, that’s often the simplest option. If not, we can move furniture for an additional charge or, in some situations, cut and re-seam the carpet to achieve the best result. Our goal is to make the process as painless and effective as possible while giving you clear options to choose from.

Carpet stretching, when done correctly using a mini-stretcher or power stretcher, is designed to be a long-lasting solution and often lasts for the remaining life of the carpet.

That said, the same factors that cause carpet to loosen in the first place—such as humidity changes, temperature fluctuations, and, most importantly, the type and condition of the carpet backing—continue to be at play over time.

We warranty our stretching work for one year. Over the years it is extremely uncommon for us to be called back to stretch the same carpet a second time but it does happen occasionally

Lehigh Rug Service has been in business since 1958, and my own experience with carpet stretching and repair goes back to the 1980s. Based on that experience, there is no fixed limit to how many times a carpet can be stretched, as long as there is sufficient material and the backing remains in good condition.

In most cases, carpets do not need to be stretched repeatedly, and it is uncommon for us to see the same carpet require frequent re-stretching. If a carpet does loosen again over time, we’ll evaluate its overall condition and give you an honest assessment of the cost-to-value relationship—whether another stretch makes sense or if replacement would be the more practical option.

In some cases, carpet stretching may not be successful if the carpet backing has separated from the fibers. Stretching relies on the backing remaining intact so it can hold the carpet flat once proper tension is restored. If the backing has deteriorated or delaminated, the carpet will not hold even after stretching.

During the video consultation, we look for certain wrinkle patterns that can indicate possible backing separation, and if we see those signs, we’ll let you know in advance. The only way to confirm this with certainty, however, is to pull back a section of the carpet and inspect the backing directly.

If delamination is discovered on site, a service fee still applies, as time and labor are involved in the evaluation. The fee is charged at half the rate of the area that cannot be stretched. In many cases, even if one area is delaminated, other areas of the carpet can still be successfully stretched.

In many cases, carpet stretching will restore the carpet to a smooth, flat appearance. However, the final visual result can depend on how long the bubbles were present and how severe they were.

Softer, rolling ripples usually stretch out very cleanly. Tighter, sharper, or more choppy wrinkles—especially those that have been in place for a long time—may still show faint lines or texture changes even after the carpet is properly stretched and lying flat.

A good way to think of it is like folding a piece of paper: even when you flatten it back out, a light crease can sometimes remain. While stretching corrects the problem and improves both appearance and safety, older or more severe wrinkles may leave subtle visual traces.

Yes. If you’re not comfortable doing a video call, that’s completely fine. We don’t require it.

Some people worry that a video call will be complicated, but if you’d like to try, we can talk you through it and keep it very simple. If you’d rather skip it, we can still give you a basic room price based on what you tell us.

Without seeing the room ahead of time, we can’t promise the price will stay exactly the same if there’s more furniture than usual or anything else that makes the job more involved. We just want to be upfront about that so there are no surprises.

Whether we’re creating a patch or cutting a new seam, we take great care in how the repair is done. We use a modern microwave seam iron that sits on top of the carpet fibers and evenly melts the seam tape below, which allows for better control and cleaner results.

Unlike new carpet installations—where there is always extra material and perfect overlap to work with—repairs often involve tighter conditions. We may be working with limited extra carpet, existing seam tape, or carpet that has years of wear. In addition, when newer carpet is patched into an older area, differences in wear and fading can make the repair more noticeable even when the seam itself is done correctly.

If you don’t have extra carpet from the original installation or a suitable closet area, we’ll look at other practical options. In many cases, a sofa or other semi-permanent piece of furniture can provide enough hidden carpet to create a proper patch.

When we remove carpet from those areas, we can often seam in matching neutral carpet—such as gray or beige—under the furniture or inside a closet. This allows us to achieve the best possible visual result in the visible area while avoiding unnecessary replacement of a carpet that may still have years of life remaining.

Dyeing is usually the right option when the issue is color-related, such as bleach spots, fading, or certain stains that cleaning can’t remove. Because no carpet is replaced, dyeing avoids seams and differences in wear, and it often produces the most uniform visual result.

Patching makes more sense when there is physical damage to the carpet, such as burns, tears, or missing fibers. In those cases, the damaged area is removed and replaced with matching carpet.

Dyeing typically delivers a higher visual match—often in the 90–100% range—but it is usually more expensive than patching. When both options are possible, we’ll explain the pros and cons of each and provide pricing for both so you can choose the solution that best fits your carpet and your budget.

We typically service carpet stretching and repair jobs within about a 45-minute drive from our shop in Allentown, with no additional minimums or travel fees.

We’re also willing to travel farther depending on the type of repair, distance, and scope of the job. That’s something we’re always happy to discuss during the initial phone consultation so you know upfront whether we’re a good fit and what to expect.

It never hurts to ask — we do our best to be reasonable and accommodate when we can.