Edge Binding & Selvage Repair Explained

The selvage — the tightly wrapped edge along the sides of a rug — does more work than most people realize. It's what keeps the outermost knots from loosening and the rug's structure from unraveling over time. When it wears through, it's worth repairing sooner rather than later.

Why Edges Wear First

Edges take more abuse than the field of a rug. Furniture legs, foot traffic along walkways, and vacuum cleaners all put extra stress on the selvage, which is why edge fraying is one of the most common repair requests we see, especially on older rugs.

Watch the Process

What Happens If Edge Damage Is Left Alone?

Once the selvage wraps start to come loose, the knots along that edge are no longer secured, and the unraveling can gradually spread further into the rug. Catching it early, while the damage is still limited to the edge itself, generally means a simpler and less costly repair than waiting until it's affected the body of the rug.

Rebinding vs. Full Re-Selvage

A small worn section can often be rebound without touching the rest of the edge. More extensive wear across a full side usually calls for a complete re-selvage to keep the finished edge consistent. We'll assess the extent of the damage and recommend the right approach rather than defaulting to the more expensive option.