Words Can (Get) Hurt -- The Most Common Types of Damage to Books

book binding repair

The printed word still holds a place in the hearts of many around the world. Though e-reading devices are getting more affordable over time, we all know that there is something irreplaceable about a physical piece of text. Unfortunately, these living documents are highly vulnerable to damage. These types of damage vary widely, as do their fixes. Whether you work for a museum or are simply an avid reader, you may have come across some of these wear and tear woes.


  • Crunched Corners

    It happens. Someone somewhere along the way dropped your favorite novel, and now one of the corners is smushed. Fortunately, this guide details precisely how to erase all evidence of the tumble using inexpensive materials.

  • Water Damage

    This one is tough. If a book has only been lightly damaged by water, the pages can be placed between two sheets of parchment paper and carefully ironed or steamed. This will help to remove wrinkles -- any more serious damage, such as bleeding ink, and the best you can do is hope to find a cheap replacement!

  • Cover Damage

    Book repair tape is your best friend when it comes to a damaged cover. Simply use clear, wide tape to strengthen or reattach a torn or completely removed cover. Anyone familiar with the art of book binding repair, cover reattachment, and any other number of literary fixes should have clear glossy label protectors on rolls handy to prevent damage from reoccurring. If you want to be extra safe, you can acquire heavy duty label protectors to ensure no further damage can take place.

  • Wrinkled or Creased Pages

    Often in a book's life, a page will get bent somewhere along the way. One may typically resolve this issue by flattening the creased page by hand, then placing a heavy object atop the closed book. If this does not work, the aforementioned ironing technique may be used.

  • Damage to Binding

    A damaged binding is a serious threat to a book as it can result in pages falling out completely. On average, novels have between 280 and 320 pages. If just one manages to go missing, you could lose crucial elements of the plot. Fortunately, there are myriad book binding repair solutions available, most using either tape, glue, or a combination of the two.

If you find that your favorite sci-fi trilogy is finally starting to show its age, visit ChromaLabel for all of your book repair needs

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