If your home has vinyl flooring, it may be that, at some time or the other, you’ll have to deal with some minor vinyl floor repairs. Thankfully, these are nothing to be alarmed about. Even if you are already busy with your job and your family, if you’ll take the time to read through this material, hopefully, the idea of repairing vinyl flooring won’t seem so intimidating to you.
If making these types of repairs yourself doesn’t appeal to you, or you don’t feel like you have the time or capabilities to repair your vinyl yourself, you can always call in a
professional flooring expert to make the repairs. But, before you decide, read through this material — it may be that after doing so you’ll feel more confident in attempting your vinyl floor repair yourself.
How To Repair Your Vinyl Floors
There are generally three specific types of damages that can occur to vinyl floors.
- Tears or rips to vinyl flooring: Even though vinyl flooring is known for its durability and toughness, it can sometimes rip or tear. Most often, the cause of this type of damage is due to dragging something heavy — like a piece of— across the floor, causing a small rip or tear to the vinyl. This can often happen when an accumulation of water under the vinyl flooring causes it to bubble up, making the vinyl more susceptible to rips and tears.
- Burns to vinyl flooring: While dropped cigarettes are the usual culprit when it comes to burns found on your vinyl flooring, burned floors have been known to occur from all kinds of objects, from dropped curling irons to a hot-off-the-stove pan falling on the floor.
- Scratches to vinyl flooring: Believe it or not, one of the primary causes of vinyl flooring scratches is from common dirt. The dirt acts as an abrasive agent that, left on the floors for long periods of time, can cause scratches. Another common cause of scratched vinyl flooring is due to the nails of pets that have grown too long and become sharpened.
Whatever the damage to your vinyl floors, there are a couple of proven ways DIY ways you can deal with the damage.
1. Use a Vinyl Floor Repair Kit
For around $30, you can purchase a vinyl floor repair kit that will take care of small tears and rips — even gouges — as well as minor burns. Following the process below you will be able to successfully repair many of the small damages your floor experiences.
- Remove any loose vinyl. First, apply masking tape around the damaged vinyl. Make sure and cut away all loose fragments and then clean any dirt and debris with a damp cloth. Use the sandpaper contained in the kit to smooth out any rough edges.
- Mix paint from the kit to match the color of the vinyl. Paint the inside surfaces and the edges of the area that is damaged. Clean any excess paint from outside the damaged area with a damp cloth. Allow the paint to dry naturally or use a hair dryer to accelerate the process.
- Apply filler and bond to the damaged area. Pour the powdered filler from the kit into the hole in the vinyl. Apply the enclosed bonding agent to the powder until it is wet. Allow about 15 minutes for the compound to harden.
- Apply the acrylic finishing agent. Use the sandpaper to smooth any rough edges after the bonding agent dries. Use the enclosed brush from the kit to apply the clear acrylic finish. It may take up to two hours for it to dry.
2. Using a Vinyl Patch
In some cases, you may find it makes more sense to use a section of new vinyl that exactly matches the existing flooring to make repairs.
- Cut Your Patch. Cut the new vinyl slightly larger than the area to be repaired. Place it on top of the damaged section and tape it loosely with masking tape. Cut through both layers of vinyl, the new and the damaged section, with a utility knife and a straight edge.
- Remove and dispose of the damaged vinyl. As you remove both of the sections of vinyl you have cut, you can toss the damaged portion underneath the new one in the trash.
- Apply the new vinyl. Place strips of double-sided tape on top of the sub-flooring. Position the new vinyl on top of the tape and press at the edges to secure it.
If You Don’t Want to Do It Yourself
If you don’t have the time or energy to repair your vinyl floors yourself, a professional with a solid reputation for expertise here in the Puget Sound area will make your existing floors look as good as new.
Carpet To Go has been repairing and replacing vinyl floors for Puget Sound homeowners and businesses for over 20 years, earning a reputation for their dedication to professionalism and a job well done. To learn more,
contact Carpet To Go today.
