Last year alone, vinyl flooring brought in $2.2 billion. Vinyl is a popular choice when it comes to flooring, but it does require some upkeep. While it is durable, it doesn’t hold up as well as hardwood or ceramic tile, and damage is inevitable. That said, unlike hardwood or ceramic tile, it’s relatively easy to repair minor damage or even replace small sections of your vinyl flooring if it gets nicked, scratched, or otherwise damaged.
If your vinyl flooring gets damaged, fixing or replacing a small area is the fastest and easiest way to get your floors back to normal. Check out these common issues that come from normal wear and tear to vinyl and learn how to repair them.
Small Scratches and Nicks
Scratches or imperfections to your flooring are an eyesore, but they also leave vinyl flooring susceptible to further damage if the outer coating is compromised. Ignoring existing damage can leave room for the scratches to get worse and could allow water or dirt to get under the flooring. When repairing scratches and gouges, the main objective is to prevent further deterioration by filling or replacing the damaged area.
For minor scratches and knicks, filling the damage and resealing the top of the vinyl is often all that is necessary. To do this, clean the surface of the scratched vinyl of all dirt and debris, apply a wax or vinyl sealant needs to the top of the flooring. The wax or sealant should be applied liberally, and the excess sanded off once dry.
There are several repair kits specific to vinyl flooring on the market to help you figure out which product is best for you, but if you are unsure, our experts at Commercial Flooring Services can help.
Bubbles
One of the common problems inflicted on vinyl flooring is water damage. When water gets under your flooring, it can cause bubbles to form underneath the top layer that bulges out and ruins the flat surface.
To repair bubbling, once the surface is completely dry, simply make a small slit in the top of the vinyl where the bubble is. Next, apply more vinyl adhesive into the slit and the area underneath where the bubble formed, and apply pressure to get the vinyl to rebond to the floor where it was raised. If you would like, a towel can be placed over the vinyl, and a clothes iron can be used to go over the area to rebond the vinyl more quickly and effectively.
Raised Seams and Curling
With vinyl flooring, the adhesive may loosen in places over time and with wear and tear. This leaves the vinyl to curl up on the edges or shift, which not only ruins the look of your perfect floors but causes a tripping hazard and leaves the vinyl susceptible to further damage.
In order to fix raised seams or curling edges of your vinyl, the first step is to push down the vinyl that is raised to see if it will still fight snuggly in its original position. Then, use a putty knife to scrape off as much of the old glue from the lifted area as possible. Once the old glue is removed, simply apply new adhesive to the bottom of the lifted vinyl and put it back in its original position. To keep the vinyl in the correct position while the adhesive is drying, place something heavy like a pile of books on it while the adhesive sets.
Larger Issues
If more extensive damage to your vinyl flooring occurs, replacing the entire piece may be necessary. This process is similar to repairing, raising, and curling. However, you may need a heat gun to loosen the adhesive and remove the damaged piece if the adhesive hasn’t unbonded itself already. Once the adhesive is loosened, simply pry up the damaged piece and use it as a template to cut a new one. Since vinyl is thinner and more flexible than hardwood or tile, it is much easier to cut a new piece to the exact size needed. Once you have a new piece cut, apply adhesive and set it into place.
Replacing an entire piece of vinyl is doable and much easier than repairing small sections of other types of flooring, but it is more involved than minor repairs. If you have damaged vinyl flooring and would like to leave the repairs or replacements up to the professionals, contact Commercial Flooring Services today and our experts can take care of it for you.