Traditional Craftsmanship
Rug Repair & Restoration
Wahi Rugs & Carpet offers expert hand-repair and full restoration services for fine antique, Persian, and Oriental rugs across Norfolk, Virginia Beach, and Hampton Roads. Their master artisans handle complex rug maintenance including fringe re-weaving, edge side-binding, hole patching, color restoration, and moth damage repair.
Our Craft
Repairing Rugs Worth Saving
Most rug damage is fixable when handled by someone who understands traditional reweaving and reconstruction techniques. Wahi Rugs & Carpet has repaired and restored rugs across Hampton Roads for over 50 years, working on pieces ranging from everyday area rugs to museum-quality antiques.
What We Repair
Our repair work covers the full range of common rug damage:
- Fringe repair and replacement — whether a small worn section or a full re-fringe along the entire edge. See our fringe repair guide for what to expect
- Edge binding and serging — rebuilding the selvage that keeps a rug's sides from unraveling. See our edge binding and selvage repair guide
- Reweaving of worn or damaged areas — hand-knotted holes and thin spots rebuilt knot by knot to match the surrounding pattern. See our guide to how rug reweaving works
- Antique and heirloom rug restoration — careful, conservation-minded work for rugs with real age or sentimental value
- Moth damage repair — patching and reweaving sections eaten through by moths, plus advice on preventing recurrence
- Color restoration — using organic, dye-matched color to blend sun-faded or worn areas back into the original palette
Materials We Work With
We regularly repair wool, silk, cotton, and blended-fiber rugs, as well as jute and other natural-fiber pieces. Wool is by far the most common material we see, since it makes up most hand-knotted rugs, but silk repairs require a notably gentler hand given how delicate the fiber is compared to wool. Each material takes a different approach to matching thread weight, dye absorption, and knot tension, which is why we assess every rug individually before quoting a repair.
Our Process
Every repair starts with an in-person or photo-based assessment, where we look at the type and extent of damage, the rug's construction, and whether the original wool or silk can be closely matched. From there we provide a written estimate before any work begins. Most repairs are completed at our Norfolk facility using traditional hand tools rather than machine methods, which is what allows a well-executed repair to blend seamlessly into the original rug rather than standing out as an obvious patch.
Serving Hampton Roads
We repair rugs for customers throughout Norfolk, Virginia Beach, Chesapeake, Portsmouth, Suffolk, and the wider Hampton Roads region, with pickup and delivery available across our full service area. Whether your rug was purchased from us or somewhere else entirely, our team can assess it and give you an honest opinion on whether repair makes sense.
Wondering if your rug is worth restoring versus replacing? A professional appraisal can help you decide.
A repaired rug, back in its home
Get in Touch
Reach Us Directly
Call Us
(757) 457-1857
Free repair estimates
Lifetime Trade-In
On Rugs Purchased From Us
Confidence in your investment
Visit Our Showroom
836 Poplar Hall Dr, Norfolk
Bring your rug in for evaluation
Watch: Rug Reweaving at Wahi Rugs
A look at how our team hand-reweaves damaged sections to match the original rug.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can antique rugs be restored?+
Yes. We specialize in restoring antique and heirloom rugs using traditional techniques that preserve their original character.
Do you repair rugs purchased elsewhere?+
Yes, we repair and restore rugs regardless of where they were originally purchased.
How long does a rug repair take?+
Timelines vary based on the extent of damage and technique required. We'll give you an estimated timeline after inspecting your rug.
Can hand-knotted rugs be rewoven if damaged?+
Yes. Because hand-knotted rugs are built knot by knot, a skilled weaver can reweave damaged sections so they blend seamlessly with the original pattern — something that isn't possible on hand-tufted or power-loomed rugs. See our full guide on how rug reweaving works, or learn more about hand-knotted construction in our rug construction guide.
What causes most rug damage?+
The most common issues we see are fringe wear from vacuuming, edge fraying from foot traffic, moth damage in rugs stored without regular care, and color loss from prolonged sun exposure. Most of it is preventable — see our rug maintenance basics guide for simple habits that extend a rug's life.
Do you have pages specific to certain repairs or rug types?+
Yes. See our dedicated pages for Persian rug repair, fringe repair, and rug repair in Norfolk for local details.
How much does rug repair typically cost?+
Cost depends entirely on the type and extent of damage — a small area of fringe repair costs far less than reweaving a large hole or rebinding a full edge. Bringing your rug to our Norfolk showroom, or scheduling pickup, lets us give you an accurate, honest quote rather than a rough estimate over the phone.
Should I clean my rug before or after repair?+
Generally repair first, then clean. Soiling can mask the true extent of damage, so cleaning afterward often reveals a clearer, more accurate result. We can assess and quote both cleaning and repair in the same visit.
What does edge binding or selvage repair actually fix?+
The selvage is the wrapped edge along a rug's sides that keeps the outermost knots secured. See our edge binding and selvage repair guide for a closer look at why this matters and what the repair process looks like.
Visit Our Norfolk Showroom
Let Us Restore Your Rug
Call (757) 457-1857 or visit our Norfolk showroom.
