How to Repair a Leaky Raincoat

The saying goes that April showers bring May flowers. Those showers also bring the need for you to dig out your rain coat! Cloth coats and jackets merely absorb the rain water, so they can’t actually protect you. Wear one of those and you’ll end up feeling like a soggy sponge. But a rain coat actually sheds water, so you can stay warm and dry.

After wearing a rain coat for awhile, it’s bound to get a tear or hole in it. Maybe you caught it in the car door, or maybe the neighbor’s dog tried to take a bite out of you and missed your leg… fortunately. You don’t have to put it in the trash or donate it to Goodwill, instead, you can repair your leaky raincoat yourself, and it’s not that hard to do!

A rubber raincoat is, of course, the most durable coat you can buy to protect you from the spring rains. Think of rubber car tires or a rubber duckie. Both last a long time. Your rubber coat will keep you dry year after year. But, no matter how strong it is, rubber can be punctured or cut. If you get this type of damage to your raincoat, simply turn it inside out. You’ll want to make the repair on the inside so it won’t be as noticeable. Lay the coat down flat on a sturdy work surface.

Then, hold the puncture or cut together with your fingers while you apply a thin layer of clear, rubber glue to it. Make sure the glue extends a little bit beyond the damaged area too. (Follow the manufacturer’s directions on the glue container in order to achieve the best results.) Finally, let the raincoat set undisturbed and allow the clear glue to dry completely. Test the repair by gently tugging on it. You may need to apply more than one thin layer of glue to repair the puncture or cut properly.

If your cloth raincoat develops a tear or a rip in it, you can usually repair that with glue too. However, the glue needs to be made for fabric, not for rubber. Look around your local sewing supply shop to see what type of adhesives are on the market.

A raincoat that’s manufactured by using gabardine or some other type of waterproof fabric can be sewn if it becomes damaged. You’ll need a sewing needle and thread that matches the color of the coat material for this task. If you need to purchase the thread, take your raincoat with you so you can match the colors better.

Of course, you’ll need to turn your coat inside out so the repair won’t show up as easily. Then, thread the needle and pinch the rip or tear together with your fingers. Use small, even sewing stitches to repair the damaged area. The smaller you can make the stitches, the less noticeable they will be.

When your are done, turn your raincoat right side out and check the area you just sewed to make sure it is properly repaired.

A fairly large hole in a rubber raincoat can also be fixed relatively easily too. A black rubber raincoat can be fixed by using a tire repair kit. These kits are inexpensive, and they can be found at your local auto store. Again, follow the manufacturer’s directions on the rubber patch container in order to achieve the best results.

You’ll need to place the patch on the inside of the coat so it doesn’t show as much. Lay your coat on a flat, sturdy work surface. Use a sharp pair of scissors to trim any ragged edges that are around the inside of the hole. Then, measure and cut a rubber patch that’s large enough to completely cover the hole. Plus, that patch needs to extend beyond the hole a quarter of an inch or so all the way around. Apply a thin line of rubber glue around the edges of the patch. Then, position it over the hole and press the patch into place. Run your fingers around the patch and press it down securely.

Finally, allow the glue to dry completely. Then, test the patch to make sure it stays in place.

No matter what color your raincoat is, you can patch it with rubble glue and a patch.

And last, but certainly not least, let’s talk about repairing a hole in a leaky fabric raincoat. This type of damage needs to be repaired by using a patch as well. In order to come up with a patch that will match your raincoat exactly, you’ll need to find a piece of extra fabric somewhere out of sight on the inside of the coat. The fabric will need to be large enough to cover the hole. Use a matching color of thread and small stitches to sew the patch over the hole.

Or, you can use several fibers of fabric from your cloth coat and clear glue to repair a small hole too. To use this method, just mix several of the fibers with a dab of clear fabric glue. Lay the coat out flat and place a piece of wood or rubber underneath the hole. (The rubber or wood will help to keep the glue in place.) Then, dab the glue mixture into the hole until it is completely covered.
Again, you’ll need to extend the fibers and the glue a little beyond the perimeter of the hole.

Allow the glue to dry undisturbed, and test the repair to make sure it’s sturdy.