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How to Repair A Damaged Book Cover

Introduction

Text books face a lot of wear and tear and by the end of the semester their covers can be ragged. This simple and cheap fix will help those covers look like new again and prevent further damage.

What you need

  1. How to Repair A Damaged Book Cover, How to Repair A Damaged Book Cover: step 1, image 1 of 1

    • Lay the ConTact Paper on a smooth, clean surface.

    • Make sure the adhesive side is face down so that the white paper is facing you.

    • Place your book on the ConTact paper.

    Edit

  2. How to Repair A Damaged Book Cover: step 2, image 1 of 1

    • Wrap the ConTact Paper over your book, measuring out enough to completely cover the book.

    Edit

  3. How to Repair A Damaged Book Cover: step 3, image 1 of 1

    • Place a paperweight on the side of the folded paper to prevent curling. Or even the scissors you're using (as shown) to hold down the corner of the paper.

    • Flatten the edge of the ConTact Paper along the spine of your book.

    Edit

  4. How to Repair A Damaged Book Cover: step 4, image 1 of 1

    • Cut the ConTact Paper from the roll, keeping to the length measured to cover your entire book.

    Edit

  6. How to Repair A Damaged Book Cover: step 5, image 1 of 3 How to Repair A Damaged Book Cover: step 5, image 2 of 3 How to Repair A Damaged Book Cover: step 5, image 3 of 3

    • Once the extra ConTact Paper is discarded, cut the ConTact Paper diagonally towards the spine of your book.

    • Repeat this cut on the other side of the spine.

    • Your finished cut should have a 'v' shape pointing towards the spine of the book

    Edit

  7. How to Repair A Damaged Book Cover: step 6, image 1 of 3 How to Repair A Damaged Book Cover: step 6, image 2 of 3 How to Repair A Damaged Book Cover: step 6, image 3 of 3

    • With the cover of your book laying flat against the left side of the paper, peel back the right half of the paper from the laminate film.

    • Make sure to peel the paper back until the focal point of the 'V' is exposed.

    • Fold the edge of the laminate film onto the table to prevent sliding and bubbles.

    Edit

  8. How to Repair A Damaged Book Cover: step 7, image 1 of 3 How to Repair A Damaged Book Cover: step 7, image 2 of 3 How to Repair A Damaged Book Cover: step 7, image 3 of 3

    • Place the top edge of your book to the top edge of the center of the laminate film.

    • Using a rolling motion, slowly stick the rest of the spine to the laminate.

    • Using the same motion, slowly roll one side of the textbook over the exposed film.

    • Roll onto the laminate slowly and evenly to prevent bubbles in your lamination.

    Edit

  9. How to Repair A Damaged Book Cover: step 8, image 1 of 2 How to Repair A Damaged Book Cover: step 8, image 2 of 2

    • Unfold the laminate from the table and cut to the edges similar to Step 4

    • The finished edges will look like an inverted 'v'

    Edit

  10. How to Repair A Damaged Book Cover: step 9, image 1 of 3 How to Repair A Damaged Book Cover: step 9, image 2 of 3 How to Repair A Damaged Book Cover: step 9, image 3 of 3

    • Fold the edges onto the inside cover of the textbook. Start with the top of the book cover, folding the vertical edge of the book last.

    Edit

  11. How to Repair A Damaged Book Cover: step 10, image 1 of 3 How to Repair A Damaged Book Cover: step 10, image 2 of 3 How to Repair A Damaged Book Cover: step 10, image 3 of 3

    • Remove the rest of the paper from the laminate film.

    • Repeat motions from step 7 and slowly roll your book cover onto the laminate film.

    Edit

  12. How to Repair A Damaged Book Cover: step 11, image 1 of 3 How to Repair A Damaged Book Cover: step 11, image 2 of 3 How to Repair A Damaged Book Cover: step 11, image 3 of 3

    • Repeat steps 8 and 9 to cut and secure lamination.

    • Trim any remaining lamination film to complete the project.

    Edit
Conclusion

If you have followed the previous steps, your textbook should now be mended and resistant to further damage.

One other person completed this guide.

Author

with 5 other contributors

Stephaney Ferguson

Member since: 03/15/17

125 Reputation

1 Guide authored

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Team

Missouri Western, Team S40-G7, Kunkel Spring 2017 Member of Missouri Western, Team S40-G7, Kunkel Spring 2017

MWSU-KUNKEL-S17S40G7

2 Members

2 Guides authored

One Comment

The original cover was completely destroyed by water and am unable to follow your instructions. Can't I just purchase a new cover?

ryanmary - Reply

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