How to Repair Linoleum Damage From Moving Furniture

Highly trafficked areas can wreak havoc on a linoleum floor. It’s not necessary to replace the entire linoleum just because you managed to dig a hole in your linoleum by moving furniture. With the right tools and technique you can repair your damaged linoleum.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Utility knife
• Piece of replacement linoleum
• Hot water
• Linoleum adhesive
• Putty knife
• Linoleum sealant

1. Cut out the damaged area. This is the trickiest part of the repair process. If the linoleum has a pattern, cut the linoleum along the least conspicuous of pattern lines. Busy linoleums are a little more forgiving.

2. Place a container of hot water over the damaged area. Placing the container of very hot water over the damaged area will serve to loosen the bonding glue that is holding the linoleum in place. Depending on how old and how long the linoleum has been on the floor, you might have to practice a little patience before the glue is loosened enough to remove the damaged linoleum.

3. Remove the damaged area of linoleum. Now that the glue is soft and the piece is easy to remove, insert a putty knife beneath the damaged linoleum and gently work the linoleum until you can pull it up. Place the damage linoleum glue side up on top of the replacement piece of linoleum and trace the outline.

4. Cut out the traced shape from the replacement piece of linoleum using a utility knife. Take your time to ensure that you cut it to properly fit into the available opening.

5. Apply linoleum adhesive and glue the replacement piece in the formerly damaged spot.

6. Place a weight on top of the newly repaired linoleum until it adheres.

Tips & Warnings

• Once you place the linoleum down it's best to put a sealant around the edges to make sure the perimeter stays put. The sealant stops the moisture from getting beneath the linoleum, which causes the edges to curl and pull away from the floor.

[akendall]

on 1/20/2009 I have nailed the new piece on top of the old by placing the nails in the black areas. Then I take a utility knife and cut through both pieces of linoleum. I remove both the new piece and the old piece and glue the new piece in. This is faster but it leaves nail holes that I fill with linoluem glue. I found that if you replace the sub-flooring and put linoleum tiles, they last a lot longer than the linolum rolls.