Vinyl Floor Repair

Tools:

cardboard
heavy book (such as a large phone directory)
portable vacuum
5-in-1 painter's tool
putty knife
utility knife
scissors
tape
square
towels
gloves

1. First cut out a large enough piece of vinyl to cover the damaged area. Be sure to match the piece of flooring and line up the pattern exactly before taping it into place (figure A). Use as small a piece as possible to cover the damaged area and still match up the pattern.

2. Tape all along the edge of the patch, securing it firmly to the floor (figure B). Use a straight edge to make lines where you'll cut through both the new patch and the original flooring.

3. While a friend holds the straight edge firmly to the floor, take the utility knife and carefully trim along each straight line, pressing firmly and cutting through both the patch and the original vinyl at the same time (figure C). This results in a new piece with exactly the same lines as the old area.

4. Remove the patch and the tape, and gently remove the damaged piece of flooring. If it does not come free in spots, use the utility knife and carefully follow along the original cut until the piece comes free (figure D). Scrape up any residual adhesive from the floor. Vacuum the area to remove all dust and dirt. It's important that the floor is very clean so the new adhesive sticks.

5. Set up a work area using some scrap cardboard, and spread an even layer of adhesive on the back of the patch using the putty knife (figure E). Place the new piece in place and use the five-in-one painter's tool to press in the edges.

6. Tape the patch along the edges, and place a heavy item such as a really big book on the patch (figure F). Let it set for an hour. Remove the book and carefully peel back the tape. Use a bit of seam cleaner to clean away any excess adhesive from the top of the floor.

7. Fill in the cut with seaming compound (figure G). This seals the seam and prevents dirt from collecting in the crack and also helps prevent the patch from coming loose.