A marmoleum floor is an attractive and inexpensive choice for your home. It is also an easy floor to install. This is because it doesn’t require a high level of skill or specialized tools. The floor is available in a wide variety of patterns and colors, which allows you to create a stylish kitchen or bathroom. Marmoleum floors keep in good shape for several years. However, it sometimes becomes necessary to undertake repairs. The tiles may crack when a heavy item falls on them. Some tiles may also become loose with time. Quick repair helps to protect your entire floor. Obtain replacement tiles that match yours from a flooring supply center. Be sure to purchase an extra amount to cater for future repairs.
What You'll Need
What You'll Need
- Replacement tiles
- Tile adhesive
- Plastic putty knife
- Grease pencil
- Margin trowel
- Cold chisel
- Hammer
- Scraper
- Masking tape
- Vacuum, with hose attachment
- Damp rag
- Damp sponge
Step 1 – Mark Damaged Sections
Carefully inspect your floor to identify the damaged tiles. Use a grease pencil to circle the damaged or loose tiles. This ensures that you attend to all faulty tiles, which helps to restore the fine appearance of your floor.
Step 2 – Pry the Loose Tiles
Insert the edge of your trowel underneath loose tiles. Firmly pry the tiles off the subfloor. Remove the tiles and place aside.
Step 3 – Attach Masking Tape
Tape the edges of the adjacent tiles that are intact. This helps to protect them from damage while you work.
Step 4 – Remove Cracked Tiles
Place a cold chisel in the center of the cracked tile. If the tile is cracked along the middle, position your chisel in the middle of one segment. Hit the chisel firmly from the back with a hammer. Position the chisel at 3 to 4 different areas on the tile and hit with the hammer again. This helps to disintegrate the tile further. It also loosens the tile from the subfloor. Remove the loose pieces of tile from the subfloor. Remove all other cracked tiles in this way.
Step 5 – Scrape off Adhesive
Clear away as much adhesive as you can from the subfloor with a scraper. This step requires some effort so as to ensure that the substrate is as smooth as possible. A smooth surface ensures that the new tiles remain in place for longer.
Step 6 – Clean the Subfloor
Use a vacuum with hose attachment to clean out the subfloor. This gets rid of dust and fine debris which hamper effective attachment of the new tiles. Wipe the subfloor with a damp rag, to leave you with a clean surface.
Step 7 – Attach New Tiles
Apply a bit of adhesive at the back of a new tile. Spread the adhesive with a plastic putty knife, to create a light, even coat. Place the tile on the subfloor and press firmly in place. Install all the other new tiles in the same way. Clear away excess adhesive with a damp sponge. Let the adhesive dry overnight before the floor is used.
Source: www.DoItYourself.com
