Hand repairing a colorful traditional rug with needle and thread.

Rug Binding and Edge Repair in San Diego

Rug binding and edge repair at Zeytounian Rugs is done by hand in San Diego. We machine bind raw cut edges, hand serge wool sides in single through quadruple weight, and rebuild split selvage on handmade rugs. Countywide pickup and a written estimate before any work starts.

  • ✓ 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.


Rug Binding and Edge Repair, Done by Hand in San Diego

Rug binding is the finish that seals the two long sides of a rug, and when it frays or wears through the edge starts to open and the rug loses its shape. At Zeytounian Rugs we rebuild that edge by hand. The trade came to San Diego with Nicholas Zeytounian, and today his sons Anthony and Alexander work the sides and selvages of rugs at the same bench, third generation, the way the family has since 1956. If you are comparing repair shops, our guide to choosing a rug repair service in San Diego lays out what to check.

An edge can fail in more than one way, and each way asks for a different repair. A raw-cut area rug needs its cut side sealed so it cannot ravel. A handmade oriental rug has a woven selvage that has to be rewrapped or rebuilt in the same kind of yarn it started with. Knowing which is in front of us decides everything that follows.

We begin by reading the rug: how it was made, whether the side cord is wool or cotton, how far the wear runs, and whether the foundation underneath is still sound. That reading tells us whether the side needs a simple rewrap or a longer rebuild, and you hear it plainly at the free estimate. Pickup and delivery covers San Diego County.

Hands knotting new fringe onto the edge of a red and blue rug

Machine Binding, Hand Serging, and Rebuilt Selvage

The right method depends entirely on how a rug is built. Three approaches cover almost every edge we see, and part of the work is choosing the one that fits your rug instead of forcing a single finish onto everything.

  • Machine binding: a folded tape stitched along a cut side, common on raw-cut area rugs
  • Hand serging: yarn wrapped over the edge by hand, also called overcasting
  • Selvage rebuild: the original woven side cord rewrapped or rebuilt on a handmade rug
  • Wool side cord matched in weight and tone on Persian and oriental sides
  • Cotton binding yarn used where the original edge was cotton
  • Heavier multi-pass wrap for edges that take hard daily wear

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Before & After Edge Repair

Rug Edge and Binding Services

Frayed fringe and woven signature panel on the edge of a blue and cream rug
Handwoven traditional rug with intricate patterns and fringes.
Short worn fringe on the edge of a beige floral rug before replacement
New white fringe sewn onto a beige floral rug on the workbench
Before and after of a corner repair on a red rug with a woven calligraphy border

Machine Binding

A clean, durable finish for cut edges.

Machine binding suits rugs with a raw, cut side, most often area rugs and broadloom that was trimmed down to size. A folded tape is stitched along the edge so the cut cannot ravel and the side lies flat. It is the honest fix for a piece that was never woven with a selvage of its own, and it wears well under foot traffic. We match the tape to the field of the rug so the border reads as intentional rather than tacked on. Common weights we bind:

  • Single Edge Binding
  • Double Edge Binding
  • Wide Tape Binding
  • Color-Matched Binding
Red rug edge with worn binding and grey foundation threads exposed
Close up of a red rug border with a freshly rebound edge
Worn selvedge along the edge of a red patterned rug
Hand holding the corner of a red rug with frayed fringe and navy selvedge

Hand Serging

Serging, also called overcasting, wraps yarn tightly over the edge by hand so the side ends in a continuous corded finish instead of a flat tape. It is the traditional way to protect a wool side, and the right call when a rug shows its edges or when a tape would look out of place beside a hand-woven field. We can lay a single line or build the wrap heavier where a rug takes more wear:

  • Single Edge Weaving
  • Double Edge Weaving
  • Triple Edge Weaving
  • Quadruple Edge Weaving
Hand repairing a colorful woven rug with a needle and thread.
Before and after of a pile repair, bare foundation patch then restored pile
Rug repair showing before and after restoration of frayed edges.
Wool rug repair with sewing needles and yarn on textured carpet.

Rebuilt Selvage

On a handmade rug the side is a woven selvage, the wrapped warp cords that lock the outer row of knots in place. When it splits, those knots begin to slip and the rug narrows from the edge inward. We rebuild the selvage in matching wool or cotton, anchoring to sound foundation and rewrapping the cords so the side holds the way the weaver intended. Cases we handle often:

  • Split or unraveling selvage
  • Loose or dropping outer knots
  • Cotton or wool side cord loss
  • Corner rebuilds where the side meets the ends

Why choose Zeytounian Rugs for Rug Binding in San Diego?

An edge repair looks simple and rarely is. Wrap it too tight and the side cups; wrap it too loose and it works free again within a season; use a yarn that does not match and you leave a line you notice every time you walk past. Seventy years on the same bench have taught us to finish an edge so it lies flat, holds under real use, and settles into the rug instead of standing out from it.

We bind and serge area rugs and machine made pieces and rebuild the selvage on hand-knotted Persian and oriental rugs, and the same patience applies to both. We serve La Jolla, Del Mar, Rancho Santa Fe, Carmel Valley, Coronado, and communities across the county. Pickup and delivery means you never fold a large or fragile rug into a car or risk more damage in transit. We collect it, do the work, and bring it back.

Edge work often travels with other repairs. If the ends are going as well, our rug fringe repair in San Diego resets them at the same time, and you can see the full bench of services on our San Diego rug repair page. Zeytounian Rugs has been the county’s trusted rug cleaning and repair specialist since 1956, and an edge job gets the same careful hands here as a full restoration would.

Rug Binding Questions, Answered

Binding usually means a tape stitched along a cut edge, which is common on area rugs. Serging, or overcasting, is yarn wrapped over the edge by hand, the traditional finish on wool and handmade sides. Which one a rug needs comes down to how it was built, so we look before we recommend.

Usually, yes. A raw-cut area rug that is starting to ravel gets a fresh bound or serged edge that seals the cut and stops the loss. Caught early it is a straightforward repair.

It can be. The selvage holds the outer knots in place, so once it splits the rug begins to lose pile from the side in. Rebuilding it early keeps a small edge problem from turning into full reweaving later.

We match the yarn weight and color to the rug so the finished side reads as part of the piece. On an antique with faded, uneven tones the match takes extra effort, and you hear exactly what to expect before the work starts.

No. We collect and return rugs anywhere in the county. Your rug rides to our Kearny Mesa workshop, gets its new edge at the bench, and comes back to your door when the work is done.

We read the rug first. A raw-cut machine-made piece with a straight clean side usually takes machine binding, the folded tape finish. A hand-knotted rug whose original edge was wrapped yarn gets hand serging so the repair matches how the rug was built.

The side cord matters too. Wool cord wears differently than cotton, and if the foundation under the edge has gone soft, a rebuilt selvage comes first. You hear the reasoning plainly at the free estimate before any work starts.

Authentic handmade rugs with intricate patterns and vibrant colors.

Testimonials from Our Clients

All Testimonials

Excellent
5.0
Casandra Anders
19 hours 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
2 days 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
3 days 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
6 days ago
Amazing experience from start to finish. Tight communications & fast service. Great value.
James Endicott
6 days 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
1 week 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
1 week 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!
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
2 weeks ago
Linda Beach
2 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
3 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
3 weeks 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
4 weeks 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
4 weeks 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
1 month 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
1 month 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
1 month 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.
Vincent Carson
2 months ago
Knowledgeable, hardworking, kind, and professional. What else can I say.
Response from the owner:Thank you, Vincent. That's plenty to say, and we appreciate you taking the time.
patricia arbaugh
2 months ago
I had three rugs cleaned and service was outstanding! Very professional and personable. My rugs look brand new! Repaired fringe on one of my rugs and did an excellent job. Pick up and drop off is so convenient! Would highly recommend!!!
Response from the owner:Thank you, Patricia. Fringe repair is slow work and it's the detail most people notice afterwards, so it's good to hear it came out right. Glad the pickup and drop off made it easy. Three rugs at once is our favourite kind of day.
Krisg123
2 months ago
You never know who you’ll encounter when searching Google for a professional service, but these brothers were an incredible find! They are among the kindest, most efficient, and trustworthy service professionals I’ve ever met. They treated our rug as if it were their own and completely eliminated every sign of staining. Thank you so much for the outstanding service. I’ll gladly recommend you to anyone in need of professional rug cleaning!
Response from the owner:Thank you. Picking a rug cleaner off a search result is a leap of faith, so we're glad it paid off. Treating a rug like it's our own is the only way we know how to do it. We appreciate the recommendation.

Machine Binding, Hand Serging and Rebuilt Selvage Compared

Which edge finish your rug takes
  Machine binding Hand serging Rebuilt selvage
What it is A folded tape stitched along the edge so the cut cannot ravel and the side lies flat Yarn wrapped tightly over the edge by hand, ending in a continuous corded finish The wrapped warp cords that lock the outer row of knots, rebuilt in matching wool or cotton
Which rug it suits Rugs with a raw, cut side, most often area rugs and broadloom trimmed down to size A wool side, or a hand woven field where a tape would look out of place A handmade rug whose woven selvage has split
Why it matters The honest fix for a piece never woven with a selvage of its own, and it wears well under traffic The traditional way to protect a wool side Once the selvage splits the outer knots slip and the rug narrows from the edge inward
Weights we work in Single, double, wide tape and color matched binding Single, double, triple and quadruple edge weaving Split or unraveling selvage, loose or dropping outer knots, cotton or wool side cord loss, and corner rebuilds where the side meets the ends
Zeytounian Rugs gold ZR monogram with olive branch

Contact Us for Professional Rug Binding and Edge Repair

★★★★★ 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.

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