How to Fix Vinyl Flooring
Vinyl flooring comes in tiles or a sheet that is cut to cover the entire floor. Floors with individual tiles are much easier to repair because you can simply remove the old tile and install a new one. Repairing a sheet of vinyl, however, can be more difficult. Unless the damage is very slight, a replacement patch is required. Does this Spark an idea?
Things You'll Need
- Spare vinyl
- Utility knife
- Putty knife
- Tape
- Paint scraper
- Floor adhesive
- Rag
- Wax paper
- Seam sealer
Instructions
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1
Cut a patch from a spare piece of vinyl with a utility knife. The patch should be square and slightly larger than the damaged area.
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2
Place the patch over the damaged area, and make sure it matches the pattern of the damaged area of the floor. Tape the patch to the floor.
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3
Use a utility knife to cut through both layers of the flooring.
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4
Cut a diagonal slice in the damaged area to avoid damaging the surrounding areas of vinyl. Insert a putty knife and pry out the damaged square from the middle.
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5
Remove the old adhesive from the floor with a putty knife or paint scraper. Stubborn tar-based adhesives can be softened first with mineral spirits. Continue scraping until the floor is smooth.
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6
Apply a new coat of adhesive to the floor with a putty knife.
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7
Place the replacement patch on the floor, and wipe away any adhesive that comes out of the sides with a rag.
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8
Place wax paper over the patch. Place heavy objects on the wax paper for 24 hours.
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9
Remove the heavy objects and wax paper. Apply seam sealer along the edges of the patch.
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Tips & Warnings
A framing square can help you cut a perfect square.
Heat the vinyl with a hair dryer if you are having trouble cutting it.
If you don't have an extra piece of vinyl, remove one from an area of your floor that is hidden.
Air out the room when applying the adhesive. Check the labels of the adhesive and seam sealer for specific instructions.
