Hand repairing a colorful traditional rug with needle and thread.

Rug Hole Repair and Reweaving in San Diego

Hole repair and reweaving at Zeytounian Rugs happens in three stages at our San Diego workshop. We read what caused the damage, rebuild the warp and weft foundation across the opening at the original tension, then reknot the pile in matched wool and shear it level with the field.

  • ✓ Pickup and delivery across San Diego County
  • ✓ Full immersion hand washing, never surface scrubbing
  • ✓ Third generation family craftsmen since 1956
  • ✓ Free written estimates before any work starts
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No obligation · pickup & delivery countywide

The facts, in brief

Zeytounian Rug Cleaning & Repair is a family-owned rug cleaning and repair company founded in 1956.

Zeytounian Rug Cleaning & Repair cleans and restores Oriental, Persian, Turkish, wool, and silk rugs in San Diego, California.

Zeytounian Rug Cleaning & Repair washes every rug by hand at its Kearny Mesa storefront at 7343 Ronson Road, Suite U.

Zeytounian Rug Cleaning & Repair is run by the third generation of the Zeytounian family, brothers Alexander and Anthony.

Zeytounian Rug Cleaning & Repair cleans rugs through a nine-step full-immersion wash rather than surface steam cleaning.


Holes Rebuilt Knot by Knot Since 1956

Rug hole repair starts with two questions: what made the hole, and how much sound weave is left around it? An ember from the fireplace, a puppy’s teething months, a caster that ground against the same spot for a decade, a tear from a move, moth larvae working under a couch. Each leaves a different wound, and at Zeytounian Rug Cleaning & Repair each gets the same remedy done well: the hole rewoven by hand at our Kearny Mesa workshop until it belongs to the rug again.

Reweaving is the difference between hiding a hole and healing one. A glued patch or a piece of tape stops the unraveling for a season. A rewoven area rebuilds what the loom built originally: the warp and weft foundation first, then new pile knotted into that grid, matched to the color and character of the wool around it. Nicholas Zeytounian did this work when the shop opened in 1956, and his grandsons Anthony and Alexander do it today.

The evaluation is free, and it is honest. Most holes can be rewoven. A few should not be, because the rug around them is too far gone or too plain to justify the hours, and we say so. One hole is a repair; damage across the whole field is a restoration, and simpler edge problems are covered under rug repair. Pickup and delivery runs countywide.

Frayed fringe and woven signature panel on the edge of a blue and cream rug

What a Proper Hole Repair Involves

A hole is not missing pile. It is a break in the structure the pile hangs on, and repairing it in the right order is what makes the repair last. Work that skips the foundation fails at the edges within a few years of vacuuming. Ours is built from the bottom up:

  • Warp and weft foundation rebuilt across the opening
  • New pile hand knotted to match color, wool, and knot count
  • Pile sheared level with the surrounding field
  • Edges of the repair secured so the loss cannot creep
  • An honest recommendation when reweaving is not the right call

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Reweaving Work at the Workshop

Hole Repair, Step by Step

Handwoven traditional rug with intricate patterns and fringes.
New white fringe sewn onto a beige floral rug on the workbench

Reading the Damage

The cause decides the plan.

Before anyone threads a needle we work out what made the hole and whether it is finished making it. A burn is done the moment it happens. Moth damage is not, and reweaving over an active infestation wastes everyone’s time, so those rugs are washed through first. We read the fiber, the dyes, the knot count, and the condition of the foundation around the opening, because every one of those facts sets the boundaries of the repair. Then we lay the options out plainly, with a written estimate, before any work begins.

Red rug edge with worn binding and grey foundation threads exposed
Worn selvedge along the edge of a red patterned rug

Rebuilding the Foundation

Every knot in a hand-knotted rug is tied around warp threads and locked in place by the weft. A hole breaks that grid, and new knots have nothing to hold to until it is restored. We anchor new warp threads into sound foundation on either side of the opening, then weave the weft back through them, recreating the grid at the same tension as the original. Tension is the quiet skill here: strung too tight, the repair puckers the field around it; too loose, and it sags into a soft spot underfoot. Done right, the rebuilt foundation is indistinguishable from the loom’s work.

Short worn fringe on the edge of a beige floral rug before replacement
Before and after of a corner repair on a red rug with a woven calligraphy border

Reweaving the Pile

With the grid restored, the pattern returns one knot at a time. We match the wool for color and character, follow the design across the gap, and tie each knot in the same style the original weaver used, at the same density. Direction matters as much as color: pile leans the way it was knotted, and catches light accordingly, so a rebuilt area knotted against the grain announces itself even in a perfect color match. The new pile is then sheared level with the field:

  • Wool matched to color, sheen, and age
  • Knot style and density follow the original
  • Pile direction kept consistent with the field
  • Sheared and finished level with the rug

Why choose Zeytounian Rugs for Hole Repair and Reweaving in San Diego?

Reweaving is slow work that cannot be rushed and cannot be faked. The repair sits in the middle of the rug where every guest can see it, and it either disappears or it does not. Three generations at the same bench since 1956 is our answer to that test. We know how Persian, Turkish, Moroccan, and Chinese rugs are constructed, which is what lets a rebuilt area lie level and read true instead of sitting on the rug like a patch.

Holes rarely arrive alone. A rug that took a burn usually needs a wash; one the dog chewed may need its fringe repaired too; moth holes always mean treating the infestation before the weaving starts. Because washing and weaving happen under one roof in Kearny Mesa, the whole job is planned once and handled by the same hands. Clients bring us work from La Jolla, Rancho Santa Fe, Del Mar, Coronado, and across San Diego County, and we pick up and deliver.

You get a free written estimate and a straight answer about whether reweaving makes sense for your rug. Zeytounian Rugs has been San Diego’s trusted rug repair specialist for three generations. For rugs with damage spread across the whole field rather than a single opening, our rug restoration service is the deeper version of the same craft.

Hole Repair and Reweaving Questions, Answered

Almost any, provided the foundation around the hole is sound enough to anchor new warp and weft. Even large openings can be rebuilt if the surrounding weave holds. The free evaluation tells us that within minutes, and we tell you before any work starts.

The goal is a repair that reads as part of the original weave. We match the wool, the color, the knot count, and the pile direction, and on most rugs the rewoven area is very hard to find once it is sheared level. Antiques with faded or uneven dyes take more effort to match, and we are honest about what to expect.

Yes. Burns and chewed areas are two of the most common holes we reweave. The scorched or shredded material is cleared back to sound weave, the foundation is rebuilt across the opening, and new pile is knotted in to match the pattern.

A patch covers or fills a hole with separate material and shows its edges sooner or later. Reweaving rebuilds the rug’s own structure: foundation first, then hand-knotted pile matched to the original. It takes longer and it lasts, which is why it is our standard for hand-knotted rugs worth keeping.

Not by itself. Moth eggs survive surface treatments, so we wash the rug through our full immersion process before any weaving, clearing out larvae and eggs. Repairing first and washing never is how moth holes come back a year later.

No. We pick up and deliver anywhere in San Diego County, or you can drop the rug at our Kearny Mesa shop during open hours. Either way the reweaving is done in-house by our own craftsmen.

Authentic handmade rugs with intricate patterns and vibrant colors.

Testimonials from Our Clients

All Testimonials

Excellent
5.0
RJ Peterson
2 days ago
This company really knows their stuff! My rugs are cleaner than when I purchased them. Super professional and knowledgeable. Highly recommended!!
Cole Owens
4 days ago
These guys are awesome! They’re the only group we found that does home pickup and delivery, although we ended up taking advantage of a discount to drop them off ourselves. We have two big area rugs that had never been professionally cleaned before, and our home carpet cleaner just wasn’t making a difference any more. One of them is shag and was flattened down and full of years of tracked in dirt, and in addition to the cleaning they restored some life into the pile. The other one is regular polyester but huge and full of reminders of two puppies’ worth potty training accidents, that we just couldn't get the smell of out no matter what we did. Zeytounian actually sent that one through multiple extra rounds of their cleaning process to fully extract everything at no additional cost. FINALLY we won’t have to worry that our house smells like dog pee whenever we have guests! Absolutely grateful to them and highly recommend their service!
Jerman Ruiz
5 days ago
Five stars! They cleaned my rug perfectly. Fast, professional, and I’d definitely recommend them.
Casandra Anders
6 days ago
Exceptional service that surpassed my expectations! They did an amazing job on my 35+ year-old area rug. Older stains I thought could never be removed, are gone! My rug looks like new, great experience from start to finish.
Melisa Mitchell
1 week ago
They really know what they are doing. I wouldn’t trust my hand knotted wool rugs to anyone else. They wash them the right way and your rugs are CLEAN!!!
nicole wyne
1 week ago
My rug was pretty gnarly from a bad coffee spill. I guess the rug was also in the show room for some time because it looks even brighter than when I bought it👌🏼 Thanks fellas!
Andy Nickerson
2 weeks ago
Amazing experience from start to finish. Tight communications & fast service. Great value.
James Endicott
2 weeks ago
Let me add my recommendation for Zeyrtounian Rug Cleaning to the list of happy customers . Zeyrtounian brothers were recommended by the couple Wiazi who repaired a very old and in poor shape Turkish rug (they did an amazing job) that has been in the family for almost 100 years. Zeyrtounian brothers brought the rug back to life. They gave me a great deal and completed the cleaning in a timely manner. They are both very friendly and want their customers satisfied. Highly recommended. James
Leonardo Perez
2 weeks ago
They are great to work with, honest and helpfull. I made the right choice specially when they revealed my rug was an authentic persian rug. Thank you for helping me out
Response from the owner:Thank you so much for the kind words, Leonardo! It was a pleasure working with you and helping you learn more about your rug. Discovering that you have an authentic Persian rug is always exciting, and we're glad we could share some of our knowledge with you! We take great pride in being honest, transparent, and helpful with every customer. We truly appreciate you choosing our family business and trusting us with your rug. We look forward to helping you again in the future!
Caitlin Kaplan
2 weeks ago
We had six rugs cleaned (including a large Persian Hamadan) plus new rug pads, with pickup and delivery. We hit some scheduling challenges on our end, and they were so understanding and helpful working around them, and never made us feel like a bother. The rugs came back beautiful. Really glad we went with a family business that clearly takes pride in the work. Highly recommend.
Response from the owner:Thank you so much for the thoughtful review, Caitlin! It was a pleasure working with you and caring for your beautiful rugs, especially your Persian Hamadan! We're so happy to hear that you're pleased with the cleaning and new rug pads. We understand that schedules can get hectic, and we're always happy to be as accommodating as possible. As a family-owned business, we take great pride in both our craftsmanship and the relationships we build with our customers. Your kind words and recommendation truly mean a lot to us. Thank you again for trusting us with your rugs!
Sharon Wasserman
2 weeks ago
The brothers are great. Service was very professional and within my budget. Highly recommend them.
Response from the owner:Thank you so much for the kind words, Sharon! We’re happy to hear you had a great experience with us. We truly appreciate your support and recommendation. It was a pleasure working with you, and we look forward to helping you again in the future!
Sharon Duke
3 weeks ago
Linda Beach
3 weeks ago
I can't enough about the brothers that own this business. Alex and Anthony are 3rd generation rug sellers, cleaners and offer repair services. Their knowledge of the various rugs is extensive. The business itself is a vast improvement over the prior vendor who serviced my rugs. They have a 9-step process for cleaning the rugs and the drying system ensures a good, dry, flat rug, without any evidence of trapped mildew or moisture. I have a lot of pets, my rug came home from the cleaning looking almost new. I've referred friends and neighbors, who want to maintain and preserve their Persian, Turkish, Afghani rugs to Zeytounian. Everything about the business it top of the line.
Response from the owner:Thank you so much for this incredible review, Linda! It truly means a lot to both of us that you recognize the care, knowledge, and attention to detail we put into our work. As a third-generation family business, we take great pride in continuing our family's tradition of caring for fine rugs. We're so happy to hear how pleased you are with the results! Your trust in us and your referrals to friends and neighbors mean more than you know. Thank you again for your continued support, and we look forward to caring for your rugs for many years to come!
They did a great job cleaning two of my Karastan rugs, I would highly recommend
Photo from customer review
Response from the owner:Thank you so much, Leticia! We're happy to hear you’re pleased with how your Karastan rugs turned out! We take great pride in caring for every rug that comes through our shop, and we truly appreciate you trusting us with yours. Thank you for your kind words and recommendation. We look forward to helping you again in the future!
Louise McDevitt
4 weeks ago
Zeytournian has been cleaning our area rugs for the last 30 yrs of pet stains, odors, and spilled drinks Have always been highly satisfied.
Response from the owner:Thank you so much, Louise! It truly means the world to us that you and your family have trusted ours with your rugs for the past 30 years! As a third-generation family business, we're incredibly grateful for longtime customers like you who have supported us throughout the years. We're so happy to hear that you've consistently been pleased with our work. Thank you again for your loyalty and continued trust in us!
Emily Cheney
1 month ago
Adore them. Never going anywhere else to have my rug cleaned
Response from the owner:Thanks Emily you're the BEST!
Jo\ Anne Hacker
1 month ago
Wow these guys are truly amazing. So friendly, competent, accommodating. Simply could not ask for more. And…my carpets are soooo clean!
Response from the owner:Thank you so much for the wonderful review, Jo-Anne! We're thrilled to hear how happy you are with your freshly cleaned rugs! We take great pride in not only delivering exceptional cleaning results but also making the entire experience as easy and enjoyable as possible. Your kind words truly mean a lot to us, and we're grateful you chose our family business. It was a pleasure working with you, and we look forward to caring for your rugs again in the future!
Shinar Zoldi
1 month ago
It was a medium wool area rug that needed cleaning as well as a repair in one of the corners. It’s an old repair that was unraveling and eaten by dry rot. Anthony and his crew were very upfront about what they can and can’t do, but it certainly exceeded my expectations. The rug looks beautiful. Thank you.
Photo from customer reviewPhoto from customer review
Response from the owner:Thank you so much for the wonderful review, Shinar! We're thrilled to hear that both the cleaning and corner repair exceeded your expectations. We always believe in being upfront and honest about what can realistically be accomplished, especially when working with older rugs that have existing damage. It means a lot to us that you trusted us with your rug, and we're so happy to hear how beautiful it turned out. Thank you again for your support, and we look forward to helping you in the future!
Jerry G
1 month ago
Brought in an Egyptian layer weave cotton rug to be treated prior to installation. The facility is run by the Zeytounian brothers, very friendly service and with suggestions for the care of the rug. I also purchased their recommended rug padding. They were helpful in unloading the loading the rug in my RAV4. Strongly recommend, no issues with the rug, it was beautiful. Photo attached. Any marks on the rug are from 3 and 5 year old grandchildren playing on it!!
Photo from customer review
Response from the owner:Thank you so much for the wonderful review, Jerry! It was a pleasure meeting you and helping you prepare your beautiful Egyptian cotton rug for your home. We're glad we could offer some helpful care recommendations and get you set up with the proper rug padding to protect it for years to come. We love hearing that your grandchildren are already enjoying it! After all, rugs are meant to be lived on and enjoyed. We truly appreciate your trust in us and your recommendation. Thank you again for supporting our family business!
Stewart Polk
1 month ago
I took our rug to Zeytounuan Rugs for cleaning after watching their short video. The rug is gold and ivory, and one foot on either side of the rug was dark brown from dirt. When I left it with Anthony I was hopeful that I may see some color where the walking paths were. Eight days after leaving the rug Anthony called to say the rug was ready for collection. I took it home and opened what looked like a new rug! The colors were bright and it is so, so very clean. You could never tell the rug is 20 years old. So happy!
Response from the owner:Thank you, Stewart. Twenty years of foot traffic on gold and ivory is about the hardest thing anyone hands us, so getting the colour back out of it was satisfying on our end too. Glad the video brought you in, and Anthony will be pleased.
Marcia Sorini
1 month ago
Zeytounian Rug Cleaning and Repair have been my go to rug cleaners for the past 25 years. Kind, courteous, timely and through. My rugs are beautiful and will last forever with the care the Zeytounian family gives them. Call them now!?♥️♥️♥️
Response from the owner:Thank you, Marcia. Twenty five years of rugs between us is something we don't take lightly. Looking after them so they outlast all of us is the whole idea. We appreciate you saying so.
Sarah Federman
2 months ago
Loved working with them. Not only did our rugs come back beautiful and clean, they taught us more about the history of the carpets. Ours was likely woven by two women over 100 years ago in Persia. They say it took them two years. I feel more connected to these women.
Response from the owner:Thank you, Sarah. Reading where a rug came from is half the pleasure of this work, and a piece like yours carries a lot of hours in it. Glad it came back clean and that you know a little more about it now. We appreciate you taking the time.
Adrian Montfort
2 months ago
This is one of those dying breed of amazing family businesses that make this country great. Friendly service, that old school way of doing business where you feel understood and appreciated. Cleaning service was great and delivered on time, communication was beyond great. I absolutely recommend this place for area rug cleaning.
Photo from customer review
Response from the owner:Thank you, Adrian. Three generations in, the old school way is really the only way we know. Glad the rug came back on time and that you always knew where things stood. We appreciate the recommendation.
Adam Salter
2 months ago
Zeytounian Rugs did a great job repairing and cleaning a Turkish rug I’ve had since I was a teenager. The corner has been chewed and damaged by my dog many years ago, but they fixed it right up. After the repair and a clean it looks like new, I’m so pleased. The guys are super friendly and knowledgeable, just a pleasure to work with.
Response from the owner:Thank you, Adam. A chewed corner on a rug you've had that long is worth repairing properly rather than hiding, and Turkish weaves take the repair well. Glad it looks like new again.
Reid Perry
2 months ago
Friendly, professional, hardworking brothers. Had two chinese ivory wool rugs cleaned. One large one smaller. One with a few spots i did not think they could get out, but they did. Very pleased. Would highly recommend them.
Response from the owner:Thank you, Reid. Ivory wool is unforgiving, so spots on it are the ones people assume are permanent. Glad we could prove otherwise on both. We appreciate the recommendation.

The Three Stages of a Hole Repair

Hole repair and reweaving, stage by stage
Stage What we do Why it decides the result
Reading the damage We work out what made the hole and whether it is still making it, then read the fiber, the dyes, the knot count and the condition of the foundation around the opening A burn is finished the moment it happens, but moth damage is not, so those rugs are washed through first rather than rewoven over an active infestation
Rebuilding the foundation New warp threads are anchored into sound foundation on either side of the opening, then the weft is woven back through them at the original tension Strung too tight the repair puckers the field, too loose and it sags into a soft spot underfoot
Reweaving the pile Wool matched to color, sheen and age, knot style and density following the original, pile direction kept consistent with the field, then sheared level Pile leans the way it was knotted and catches light accordingly, so an area knotted against the grain announces itself even in a perfect color match
Zeytounian Rugs gold ZR monogram with olive branch

Contact Us for Professional Hole Repair and Reweaving

★★★★★ 5.0 · Google Reviews

Drop your rug off, or we can pick it up. Our shop is at 7343 Ronson Rd Ste U in Kearny Mesa, open Monday to Friday 9 to 4 and Saturday 9 to 2. By car we are a Highway 52 or Interstate 805 run for most of the county: about twenty minutes from Solana Beach or Coronado, twenty-five from Chula Vista, and thirty-five from Carlsbad.

Get Driving Directions to Zeytounian Rug Cleaning & Repair

What San Diego Clients Say About Our Repair Work

★★★★★ 5.0 · Google Reviews

★★★★★

Fantastic Job!
We have a 8’ diameter circular asian rug that ’s 40 years old. It was dirty and the fringe was torn off from vacuuming. We took it to Zeytourian Rugs for cleaning & restoration. They did a fantastic job bringing the vibrant colors back to life. They replaced the white fringe and the rug looks brand new. Wouldn’t take it anywhere else.

Peter Sorvas

1 month ago · Google review

★★★★★

We got our Persian rug professionally cleaned for the first time after nearly 20 years. It moved with us across the country several times and survived our college years and our first child’s baby/toddler years. Zeytounian Rugs did an incredible job! The colors are so bright and the rug is so soft. They hand-repaired the worn edges and the tassels are stark white. I’m truly impressed by the quality of their work. 10/10, would definitely recommend!

River Amin

3 weeks ago · Google review

★★★★★

This is the most amazing company. They do a fabulous job. They made my old beat up. Rug. Look like brand new. They are Reasonably priced andso nice to work with. I would definitely recommend them.

Babra Rosenberg

2 weeks ago · Google review

See all of our rug cleaning and repair services in San Diego.