Basic Book Repair: What to Fix at Home and What to Leave Alone

Everyday reading copies take a beating: torn pages, loose hinges, covers coming away, spines cracking. Many of these problems can be fixed at home with a few inexpensive materials and some patience. The golden rule comes first, though.

The golden rule: don’t repair valuable books yourself

If a book is old, rare, signed, a collectible first edition or simply important to you, don’t attempt a home repair. Amateur repairs, especially with tape or household glue, can permanently reduce a book’s value and make professional conservation harder. Store it safely and consult a book conservator or professional binder. Not sure if it’s valuable? Check with the Book Value Estimator first.

The techniques below are for ordinary reading copies.

Materials for a basic repair kit

• Acid-free PVA glue made for bookbinding
• Archival document repair tape (thin, acid-free) or Japanese tissue with wheat starch paste
• Wax paper to stop glue sticking where it shouldn’t
• A bone folder (or a smooth plastic ruler) for creasing and smoothing
• Small brushes for glue
• Weights or a book press: heavy books on a board work fine
• Bookbinding cloth or mull for spine repairs

Avoid household sticky tape, packing tape, super glue, rubber cement and hot glue.

Repairing a torn page

1. Align the torn edges carefully on a clean surface.
2. Apply a strip of archival repair tape, or Japanese tissue with a thin layer of wheat starch paste, across the tear.
3. Place wax paper on both sides, close the book and weight it until dry.

Tipping in a loose page

1. Apply a very thin line of PVA (2-3 mm) along the inner edge of the loose page.
2. Slide it into place, aligned with its neighbours.
3. Put wax paper either side, close the book and weight it overnight.

Tightening a loose hinge

When the cover moves loosely but hasn’t detached:

1. Open the cover. Using a thin knitting needle or a strip of card, work a small amount of PVA into the gap along the inside hinge.
2. Close the book, insert wax paper, and use rubber bands or weights to hold the hinge firmly while it dries.

Reattaching a detached cover

This is a bigger job. In outline, a strip of cloth or mull is glued along the spine of the text block, extending onto both sides, then the text block is glued back into the cover through this hinge material, and the endpapers are pasted down. The video below demonstrates a low-cost spine repair, and our video library has more repair demonstrations from library preservation labs. Take your time and test on a book you don’t mind practising on.

Spine repairs

For a worn or split spine on a reading copy, a strip of bookbinding cloth can reinforce the spine, overlapping the covers slightly. Keep it neat and use as little glue as possible. For a fully detached spine, a “reback” replaces the spine with new cloth; it’s an advanced repair best learned from demonstrations before trying.

Know when to stop

If pages are brittle and crumbling, if there’s mould, or if the book is valuable or sentimental, stop and consult a professional. Good conservation is reversible and preserves as much of the original as possible, which is exactly what DIY repairs struggle to do.

Prevent damage in the first place

Most damage comes from poor storage and handling. Shelve books upright and supported, don’t pull them by the headcap, don’t leave them open face-down, and keep them cool and dry. Our storage guide covers the details.