How to Fix a Hole in a Trampoline

As with any other piece of material, trampoline mats also tend to sustain some frays and tears with use. If and when these issues arise, there is the need to restore the jumping mat to a proper working condition. Using a trampoline with a hole in the mat can be dangerous and is not recommended. Safety should be observed at all times when dealing with trampolines (see How to Put a Net on a Trampoline). Fixing the hole in the trampoline is an important step in ensuring it is in working condition at all times.

If you have an annoying hole in your trampoline, read below to learn how to fix it without too much trouble. The steps outlined below should work fine on almost any trampoline (outdoor trampolines or exercise trampolines), but it is always advisable to consult with the manufacturer. Depending on the size of the trampoline that has the hole, some steps may not be applicable.

Steps to Repair a Hole in a Trampoline

Tools and Materials

Start out by gathering the following tools and materials:

Glue
Scissors
Razorblade
Tape measure
Lighter (optional)
Flat table
Chalk
Pin
Needle
Thread
Extra tarp cloth

Patching the Hole

Step I: Identify and mark out the extent of the tear

Start it out by identifying and marking out the extent of the tear. Chances are that several portions of your tarp have tears. You have to inspect each and delineate them appropriately. Then, using some chalk, draw circles around and about the tears to aid with the handling at a later date.

Step II: Cut a patch that is slightly wider than the tear

Cut a circular patch that is around 2 inches larger in diameter than your tear using the scissors. The purpose of this is to give you some room for overlap.

Step III: Cut out a similarly-sized patch

Cut out a similarly sized patch of the extra tarp. You will have to take your tape measure and mark out the dimensions of the current hole. Then, translate these dimensions to the new piece of cloth and cut them out slowly and meticulously as well. Take the time to compare and contrast these dimensions too!

Step IV: Pin the patch in place

At this stage, you should pin this patch that you have cut to the hole you intend to fill up. Use some pins to hold the patch in place.

Step V: Sew this patch with a needle and thread

Get to the core business now of sewing the patch using a needle and a piece of thread. Start out with the tacking stitches and then move to the running stitches. Make several passes to ensure that the ends are stronger and resistant to tears. If you so wish, you may embroider the patch by using cross stitches.

Step V: Clean the apron of the patch

After you are through with the stitching of the components, you should now clean the area. This is in order to prep the area for the subsequent task of gluing. Use some damp piece of cloth to eliminate the trash and the hidden dirt debris.

Step VI: Glue over and around the hole

Follow the above procedure by gluing over and around the hole. Make this glue about 1.5 mm thicker and spread it out at an area of about 5-8 mm out and around the cut hole. Leave this glue intact for around 10 hours to let it dry, harden and settle firmly.

Alternatively

Just in case you do not have the glue, you may use the lighter or the match in its stead. In this case, you should run the lighter or the match carefully along the perimeter of the patched edges. The purpose of this, just as is the case with the glue, is to slow down the fraying of the sewn area in the future.

Final Words

After you are through with fixing the hole, we caution against using the trampoline too soon. Instead, we urge you to let it stay untouched for a slightly longer duration of time. This is to let the patch and the glue fasten together tightly and prevent the hole from enlarging. Ensure that you keep a careful watch on the hole in the future, as they can easily reopen or come loose. If that’s the case, take the time to repair it again, or alternatively, it may be a good idea to purchase a new jumping mat for a seamless (ahem) jumping experience. As always, Happy Jumping!