How to Patch a Vinyl Tile Floor

If your vinyl tile floor is damaged, it is a good idea to repair it as quickly as possible. If your floor is in poor condition, a small liquid spill can end up causing big problems by seeping into a crack. Fortunately, getting your vinyl floor back into good working order does not necessarily involve paying for expensive repairs. If you know where to begin, you can repair your own vinyl floor without any trouble, saving yourself money both in the short term and in the long term. What follows should give you enough information to fix any damage to your vinyl floor on your own.

What You'll Need:

• New Matching Vinyl Tile
• Aluminum Foil
• Iron
• Stiff Putty Knife
• Adhesive
• Rolling Pin
• 1/8 Inch Trowel

Step 1 - Match a Tile

If you can buy a tile identical to the one that is damaged, this step should be very easy. However, you may not be this lucky. In this situation, simply try your best to come close. However, if the results are not satisfactory, you can use the steps listed below to remove a tile in a less visible location, and use that tile to replace your damaged one. If you do this, use the unsatisfactory match you found to replace the tile you removed from your floor, so that it is not very visible.

Step 2 - Preparing the Damaged Section

Before you install your new vinyl tile, you must remove the damaged section. Doing this is straightforward, but you must do it carefully and correctly to avoid causing further damage.

To begin, heat up your iron as if you were going to use it normally. While it is heating up, place aluminum foil flat on top of the damaged tile, being sure to cover it completely with extra room to spare.

Finally, use your heated iron on the aluminum foil to heat up the tile and adhesive.

Step 3 - Removing the Damaged Section
Use your stiff putty knife to lever the damaged tile away from the floor. It should be loose enough to remove now that you have heated it. Once it is completely separated from the floor, discard it and begin scraping away at the substrate that is left behind. Continue once you have all of it removed.

Step 4 - Replacing the Tile

Using the adhesive according to the manufacturer's instructions, spread it in the empty space on your floor. Use a 1/8 inch trowel to do this. Next, place your new tile in the correct position. Finally, use your rolling pin to flatten the tile once it is placed. This will also ensure that the adhesive is spread evenly.

Step 5 - Finishing Up

Be sure that you do not leave any of the adhesive behind to dry on your floor. If there is adhesive left behind in a visible place when you are finished installing the tile, the manufacturer's instructions should tell you how to get it off. Usually wet adhesives can be removed with ordinary water and a sponge, but many will require a specific solvent, which the manufacturers instructions should list.

Source: www.DoItYourself.com