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Repairing Damaged Vinyl Flooring
by Pamela Cole Harris
So you got the perfect refrigerator. For the perfect kitchen. Miles and
miles of virgin stainless steel. Perfect width. A virtual soda fountain
in the door. And as your husband (just a shade less than perfect) pulls
it across the floor to that perfect spot wayyyyy on the other side of
the kitchen, you hear a slight ripping sound. Can stainless steel rip?
Not likely. Your husband gives it another pull. The same sound. Looking
down to investigate (as any perfect homeowner would), you discover that
your perfect vinyl flooring now has a wide, perfectly-jagged tear.
Yikes!
Here is how you can make the perfect repair:
1. Measure the extent of the damage. Width? Length?
2. Is your vinyl flooring relatively new? You should be able to find the
pattern at your local home-improvement or flooring supply store. If your
pattern is unavailable, you may have to replace the entire floor.
3. Buy enough of the flooring to repair the damaged area and a little
extra to save for future repairs.
4. Cut a piece of the new flooring a bit larger than the damaged area. A
sharp utility knife should do the job (handle with care!). Use a
straight edge or ruler to help keep the blade vertical.
5. Match the pattern of the new piece with the old at each edge of the
damaged area.
6. Take out your handy dandy duct or masking tape and tape the new piece
to the floor below. You don't want the new tile to slip, so make certain
you have taped it securely.
7. Ok. This is tricky. Use your knife to cut through both layers of
vinyl. Cut around the damaged area (make certain you cut it just a bit
bigger so that you will remove all the damage).
8. Now remove the new vinyl on top and the piece of damaged vinyl
beneath. If you have difficulty removing the old vinyl, a hair dryer
works great to soften the adhesive!
9. Scrap away all of the old gunk (Gunk. That's a technical term!) with
a putty knife or an old mismatched table knife (not a steak knife!). Be
sure to sweep clean!
10. Using your putty knife, apply adhesive to the back of the new piece
of vinyl. Make sure your kitchen is well-ventilated. That stuff can be
harmful!
11. Press the new piece into place. It's best to start at the center and
work towards the edge to make certain all those little air bubbles are
worked out.
12. If you have excess adhesive around the edges, wipe it up with a
clean, damp sponge.
13. This is the fun part! Take your rolling pin (you DO have a rolling
pin, don't you?) and roll the patch firmly. You will have to wipe the
excess adhesive again.
14. Now you can let the adhesive dry (no dancing on it for about 24
hours!).
Zowie! Now your perfect kitchen has returned! Wait! Is that a perfectly
awful footprint I see?
About the author
Pamela Cole Harris is an editor and writer with 35 years experience.
Visit her website,
http://www.homeandgardenmakeover.com for a free newsletter with
remodeling, home improvement and decorating ideas for the financially
challenged, creatively deficient and technologically illiterate.
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