Patch a vinyl floor

PROFESSIONAL COST: $200

YOUR COST: $30

SAVINGS: $170

COMPLEXITY

Simple

TOOLS

Straightedge

Utility knife

Paint scraper or putty knife

Small notched applicator

Rolling pin

MATERIALS

Patch of flooring

Vinyl flooring adhesive

Seam-sealing kit

You can usually fix a small slice or tear in your sheet vinyl floor by lifting the loose edges, applying a little vinyl flooring adhesive and then placing a weight over the repair. But for burns or major injuries, a transplant is the solution. Get everything you need at a home center or a flooring store for less than $30.


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1. Using a straightedge and sharp utility knife, carefully cut out the damaged area. If your flooring design has faux grout lines in it, as most do, cut along the edges of the lines.

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2. Peel up the damaged section and remove the old backing and adhesive with a paint scraper or putty knife. A hair dryer or heat gun (set on “low”) will soften the adhesive.

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3. Matching the pattern precisely, tape the cut-out damaged piece over the scrap, and use the damaged piece as a template for cutting the new patch to size. Test the fit of the patch.

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4. Spread adhesive on the floor with a small notched applicator.

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5. Set the patch in place and use a rolling pin to force out any air pockets under the patch. Give the adhesive time to set, then apply a vinyl seam sealant to the seams. Different adhesives and seam sealants require slightly different treatment; be sure to follow the manufacturer’s directions for both.

CAUTION: Some sheet vinyl floors are glued down only around the perimeter and can’t be repaired using the method shown. To determine how your vinyl is glued down, cut a 1/2-in. slit in a hidden spot (at least 8 in. from the floor’s perimeter) and probe the underside with a screwdriver. You’ll be able to feel if it’s attached.

pro tips!

If you don’t have a leftover scrap of flooring gathering dust in the basement, you’ll have to cut the patch material out of your floor—from the back of a closet or under the fridge, for example.