Rug restoration
Rug Blocking and Stretching in NYC
A rug that ripples, curls at the corners or no longer lies square is uncomfortable to walk on and wears unevenly. Blocking sets it back into shape while it is damp, the way it was finished when it came off the loom.
Why rugs lose their shape
Hand-knotted rugs can come off the loom slightly uneven, and tension can shift with years of use, humidity changes, water damage or poor earlier cleaning. Common signs are waves along the sides, a bowed center, corners that curl and ends that are not the same width.
Beyond appearance, these problems create trip hazards and concentrate wear on raised areas.
How blocking works
Blocking uses the natural behavior of wool, which relaxes when wet and holds its shape as it dries.
On the frame
After washing, the damp rug is measured and stretched on a frame, then fixed along its edges at close intervals. It dries under even tension, gradually correcting ripples and squareness.
Correcting the cause
Some distortion comes from tight selvedges or old repairs pulling the rug. Where that is the case, we correct the edge or repair first so the rug stays flat.
Curling corners
Corners that curl are often treated with blocking combined with gentle sizing on the back of the rug.
Step by step
Our process
01
Measure
We record the rug's dimensions and where it is out of square.
02
Wash
The rug is washed so the fibers relax evenly.
03
Stretch and fix
The damp rug is stretched on the frame and secured.
04
Dry under tension
It dries slowly in place, then is checked and measured again.
Before you book
What to expect and turnaround
Blocking can make a large improvement, but rugs woven very unevenly may not become perfectly square. We will tell you what is realistic.
A good rug pad helps a blocked rug stay flat.
Blocking adds a few days of drying time to a wash. Most rugs return in one to two weeks, confirmed after inspection.
FAQ
Questions we hear often
Can every rug be blocked?
Most hand-knotted wool rugs, yes. Tufted rugs with glued backings and some silk pieces need a different approach.
Will the ripples come back?
Blocking resets the rug's shape. A proper pad and avoiding heavy dragging help keep it flat.
Do you block during cleaning?
Yes. Blocking is done while the rug is damp from washing.
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