Vinyl Flooring Fix Ups

Most homes have a room or two that has vinyl flooring. Sheet vinyl is a large piece (like linoleum) that has been precut to fit a specific area. Vinyl tile floors are made from square pieces of vinyl that are available in different sizes. Repairing damage to a vinyl floor depends on which type of vinyl floor you have. Most savvy homeowners, who have laid their own vinyl tile floors, buy extra pieces in case repairs are needed. The simplest way to repair vinyl tile is to simply (and carefully) pry up the damaged piece being very careful not to damage adjacent tiles. Start from the inside of the tile using a utility knife and work toward the edges as you remove the tile. Using this approach, you will avoid making contact with the adjacent, undamaged tiles. When the damaged tile has been removed, inspect the floor and, if necessary, use a putty knife to smooth out any chunks of adhesive or small pieces of tile that you missed.

If the damage is minor (scratches or small cuts) the damage can be repaired with a liquid seam sealer that is available wherever vinyl flooring is sold. Make sure you have the right kind of gloves to protect your hands from direct contact with the lacquer thinner you will need to use to clean the damaged area. After using the thinner to clean the area and after it has completely dried, apply a very thin bead of the liquid seam sealer that will fill the scratch or cut. When it has dried, the repair will make the damage virtually invisible.

If you didn’t have the foresight to purchase extra floor tiles, you may have an area (such as under an appliance) with a piece of floor tile that you can remove and use as a replacement piece for the damaged tile. Unfortunately, most floor tiles are tightly bonded to the floor and chances are that you will not be able to remove the replacement piece without damaging it. If you’re lucky and the tile floor isn’t very old, you may be able to purchase identical piece(s) from where you purchased the original tile. Unfortunately, floor tile styles and patterns are frequently discontinued and replaced with newer styles so your chances of finding a match aren’t very good.

If your vinyl tiles were professionally installed, the installer may have left several scraps or complete tiles for you to use for repairs.

A technique called double cutting is used to repair sheet vinyl flooring (and sometimes, vinyl tiles). Again, you will need a piece of vinyl flooring that includes the pattern identical to the damaged area. Cut a patch that matches the section of flooring that needs to be replaced. Assuming that the damaged area is in a rectangular or square patterned area with borders, cut the patch on the outside of these borders. Using masking tape or something similar, tape the patch over the area that has been damaged making certain that patch is exactly lined-up with the damaged area and that the tape is not covering the edges of the patch. Place a straightedge on the top of the patch lined up with one of the borders (also called pattern lines). Using a utility knife with a new blade, hold the blade vertically and cut through the damaged area along the pattern line using the edge of the patch as a guide.

Be careful not to cut into adjacent, undamaged tile. Repeat this process for the remaining three sides of the patch. Remove the patch and peel up the damaged area with a putty knife or some type of scraping tool. Some tile will be easy to pry up while other sections that have been heavily glued won’t be so easy to remove. Be patient. When the damaged section has been removed, make sure that the floor surface is fairly smooth. You may need to use the putty knife or even some coarse sandpaper to smooth the area so that the patch will fit flush to the adjacent vinyl flooring. Insert the patch to make sure it fits perfectly. After removing it, spread mastic on the bare floor area and push a little mastic under the adjacent vinyl flooring if it can be lifted slightly.

Put the patch into place and clean off any mastic that may have seeped up through the seams of the patch. Cover the patch with waxed paper and then put a heavy object or two on top of the waxed paper and wait for at least a day for the mastic to completely dry. After removing the weights and the waxed paper, seal the joints around the patch with liquid seam sealer. This process should provide you with a repair that is virtually invisible.

Chuck Lunsford is the content manager for LightnBreezy.com, a well-known source for home improvement Westinghouse ceiling fans. If you have more questions about other home repair topics visit us at do-it-yourself floor repairs.