Dry rot occurs when a rug gets wet and does not dry quickly enough. The mildew that is formed eats the foundation of the rug. A common cause of dry rot is when a plant is placed on top of a rug and water leaks from the pot onto the rug. The rug stays damp and dries slowly which causes a fragile area around the pot.

In this case, the carpet below was stored in a damp area and when it was removed from storage, there were several weak areas throughout the rug which tore easily. The corner was completely rewoven. However, if the dry rot is not as bad, this weak area can be secured instead of rewoven with what is called a “blowout patch.”