Arts >> Books >> Books Other

How to Restore a Book's Binding With Binding Tape

Favorite books take a lot of wear and tear—literally. Family heirlooms or books that have sentimental value may need to be professionally rebound. But if you simply want to keep a battered hardback or paperback in usable condition, you can quickly reinforce its binding with tape. Book-binding tape is usually cloth, although you can also find plastic tape made specifically for book repair. It’s highly flexible and won’t crack or discolor. Binding tape comes in many widths, thicknesses, colors and patterns to restore books of all sizes.

Things You'll Need

  • Ruler
  • Book-binding tape
  • Scissors
Show More

Instructions

    • 1

      Select tape that is at least one inch wider than the spine of the book.

    • 2

      Measure the depth of a page and cut a piece of tape to fit.

    • 3

      Open the front cover. Make sure the cover and flyleaf (or first page) of the book are touching. Center the tape between them and smooth it down. Repeat for the back cover.

    • 4

      Cut a length of tape slightly longer than the spine. (If you’re restoring a paperback, cut the tape the same length as the spine.)

    • 5

      Hold the book firmly with the spine facing up. Center the tape over the spine and smooth the excess down onto the front and back covers. (If you’re restoring a paperback, you’re done.)

    • 6

      Snip the tape that extends above and below the spine at the points where the cover hinges with the spine. This will create three tabs of tape. Tuck the center tabs, top and bottom, into the space between the spine and the text block and pinch them down. Fold the side tabs over the top and bottom edges of the covers.

+:
+:

Books Other

Related Categories