Persian Rug Repair — Three-Generation Expertise, North Shore Chicago
Persian rug repair in our Skokie workshop: hand reweaving, foundation repair and custom yarn dyeing, with a free written assessment before any work starts.
Text (847) 440-1349 — estimate the same business day.
Persian rugs are our specialty
We specialize in handmade rugs, and in Persian rugs most of all. Persian rug repair is a specialty within our rug repair service, carried out in our Skokie workshop with the same capabilities: hand reweaving, foundation repair, side-edge and binding work, color correction and custom yarn dyeing.
Repair work varies with the rug, its age, knot density and materials, and Persian weaves differ widely in density. A Tabriz rug can run 120–850 knots per square inch; a Kashan, 100–400. Our guide to rug knot density explains how those counts are read.
On a Persian rug we tie the new knots knot by knot, in the original knot type, density and design of that rug. Where the original weave has depressed warps, the repair reproduces it.
Because no two Persian rugs present the same way, we do not follow one fixed procedure for all of them. Each project is evaluated on its own, to preserve the structure of the rug, its original character and its long-term integrity.
What happens before we quote
Each Persian rug that comes to us for repair is photographed front and back; we map every area of damage and test the foundation before we put a figure on the work. You then receive a free written assessment, before any work starts.
Repair begins with cleaning. The rug is washed in our workshop before any repair work, and on moth, pet or water damage that cleaning is the decontamination step that comes before reweaving. It is priced as its own line, separate from the repair; see our rug cleaning service for how cleaning is priced.
When an earlier repair needs to come out (a synthetic-yarn mend, a glued or sewn patch, a machine overlock), we remove it and redo the work. Existing damage and risks are communicated to you when we find them, and the scope and price are defined with you before we begin.
Foundation, pile and color
Restoration of Persian rugs, antique ones included, is carried out in our Skokie workshop. Our Persian repair is foundation-first: wherever the damage reaches the foundation, we rebuild the warp and weft before any pile is rewoven on it. On a water-damaged rug the order is set: mold remediation, foundation stabilization, drawing migrated dye back out, and only then reweaving the lost pile. Recovery of migrated dye is not promised to be complete.
Lost pile is rebuilt by hand reweaving. On silk Persian rugs we reweave the silk pile itself, not only the binding, and the repair is rebuilt in the construction the rug was woven in. For the method in more detail, read our rug reweaving guide.
Replacement yarn comes from the stock we keep and dye in our own workshop, matched to the original materials of the rug. Where the rug was dyed with natural dyes, we dye its replacement yarn with natural dyes as well. Where faded or bled color is the problem, our rug color correction service takes it on. How close a match the rug allows is part of the scope we agree with you, and we do not promise a match in advance.
Localized repair, extensive restoration
We sort Persian work into three kinds. Repair is localized, such as a single hole, a worn end or a side edge. Restoration covers extensive damage across the rug. Conservation stabilizes and documents a rug with as little intervention as possible.
Which of the three your rug needs is decided at inspection. When the damage is widespread, the work becomes rug restoration, and for older pieces see antique rug repair. We do not promise that every rug can be returned to its original condition, and a repair can be reversed if you ask us to.
Three generations of rug craftsmanship
Ahmadi Rug is a family-owned business in its third generation of rug craftsmanship, with a craftsmanship history that dates to 1984.
Between 1984 and 1993, Ghorban Ahmadi, our Principal and Master Conservator, performed conservation work for the State Hermitage Museum, the Musée du Louvre, and the British Museum.
That background gives our Persian repair work a conservation-informed approach, in which the amount of intervention is set for each rug individually.
What Persian rug repair costs and how long it takes
Persian rug repair is quoted after inspection. Across our rug repair service, repairs start from $65; the full list of starting prices is on our rug repair page.
Your preliminary estimate is complimentary. Prices are not final until we have inspected the rug, and if the scope changes once work is under way, we ask for your approval first.
How long a Persian repair takes depends on its scope, the materials and our workload, and complex work can run to weeks or months. We give you an estimated timeframe once the scope is set; it remains an estimate unless we agree a written deadline.
Before the rug goes back to you, it is inspected against the intake photographs, and before-and-after photographs come back with it. We let you know when it is ready.
We collect Persian rugs for repair from Chicago, the North Shore and the northwest and western suburbs, subject to route availability, including Evanston, Skokie, Oak Park, Glenview and Lake Forest. Persian rug repair for Lake Forest, as for every town on that list, is carried out in our Skokie workshop. Insured pickup and delivery is free within 5 miles of our Skokie workshop or our St. Charles location, and $75 round trip beyond. You can also drop off and collect at our St. Charles location; the rug travels to Skokie for the work.
If the damage is at the ends, see fringe repair; for holes and areas of lost pile, see rug reweaving.
Common questions
Can you repair a Persian rug with pile loss?
Yes. Hand reweaving is part of our repair work, and where the knots are gone the lost pile is rewoven by hand in our Skokie workshop. On silk Persian rugs we reweave the silk pile too. How closely the rewoven area will sit with the surrounding field is something we discuss with you when the scope is set, not something we promise in advance.
How do you match the colors on a Persian rug?
Replacement yarn comes from yarns we keep and dye ourselves, matched to the original materials of the rug, and color correction and custom yarn dyeing are both part of our repair work. If the original dyes were natural, the new yarn is natural-dyed too. How close the match can come is set out with you when the scope is agreed; it is not promised in advance.
What if the foundation is damaged?
Foundation repair is one of our repair services. We test the foundation when the rug comes in, before we quote. Whatever caused the damage, a damaged foundation is rebuilt first, warp and weft, and the pile is then rewoven on it. On a water-damaged rug, mold remediation comes before that.
Do you repair tribal rugs and kilims as well as Persian rugs?
Yes. We repair all types of handmade and hand-knotted rugs, Persian, Oriental, Turkish, Caucasian, tribal, kilim, antique and silk among them, and Persian rugs are our particular specialty. Hand-tufted rugs are repaired too. Machine-made rugs are not.
How much does Persian rug repair cost, and how long does it take?
Persian rug repair is quoted after inspection, and the cleaning that comes before the repair is priced separately. The preliminary estimate is complimentary and is not final until we have inspected the rug. Timing depends on scope, materials and our workload; you receive an estimated timeframe once the scope is set.
Serving Chicago and the North Shore
Ahmadi Rug provides Persian rug repair for homeowners and interior designers across Chicago and the North Shore. We offer insured pickup and delivery from Lincoln Park, Gold Coast, Evanston, Wilmette, Winnetka, Glencoe, Lake Forest, Highland Park, Northbrook, Glenview, and Skokie — as well as western suburbs including Hinsdale, Oak Park, and Naperville, and the Fox Valley via our St. Charles, Geneva, and Batavia drop-off. Insured pickup and delivery is free within 5 miles of our Skokie workshop or our St. Charles location, and $75 round trip beyond.
How long a Persian repair takes depends on its scope, the materials and our workload, and complex work can run to weeks or months. We give you an estimated timeframe once the scope is set; it remains an estimate unless we agree a written deadline.
To schedule a pickup from anywhere in our service area, call (847) 440-1349 or submit an estimate request online.
Send us photos of your Persian rug.
Photograph the rug and the damage, front and back. We respond the same business day, and a photo estimate stays preliminary until the rug is inspected.
Guides & Reference
How to Clean a Silk Rug
Daily care, spot cleaning, what absolutely destroys silk, and why professional cleaning is non-negotiable for the most delicate rug fiber.
Read guideHow to Clean a Persian Rug at Home
Weekly maintenance, spot cleaning, stain-specific tips, and the mistakes that cause the most damage — from a museum-grade conservator.
Read guideOriental Rug Cleaning Cost: Full Price Guide (2026)
What professional rug cleaning actually costs by construction and fiber, and why the cheapest quote is usually the most expensive rug you will ever own.
Read guide