Note: Illustration A, Illustration B, Illustration C, Illustration D Materials: rags
utility knife (use a new blade)
finely notched trowel
putty knife
towel
clothes iron
tile adhesive
replacement tile
weight (toolbox, etc.)
Securing a Loose Tile - Lift the loose portion of the tile, and spread a thin coat of latex adhesive on the underside of it with a putty knife. If only a corner of a tile has come unstuck, loosen more of it until you can turn the tile back far enough spread the adhesive (illustration A, click above to view).
- Press the tile into place so that it is level with those tiles that surround it. Hold it down with a 20-pound weight for at least an hour.
Deflating a Blister - Following a line in the flooring pattern if possible, score then slice along the length of a blister with a utility knife (illustration B, click above to view). Extend the cut 1/2 inch beyond the blister at both ends.
- With a putty knife, spread a thin layer of flooring adhesive through the slit onto the underside of the flooring.
- Press the vinyl down; if one edge overlaps because the flooring has stretched, use it as a guide to trim the edge underneath. Remove the trimmed-off scrap, then press the edges together and put a 20-pound weight on the repaired area for at least 1 hour.
Replacing a Damaged Vinyl Tile Removing a Tile - Lay a towel on the tile, and warm it with an iron at medium heat until the adhesive softens and you can lift one corner with a putty knife (illustration C, click above to view)).
- Pull up the corner and slice at the adhesive underneath with the putty knife, reheating the tile with the iron if necessary, until you can take out the entire tile.
- Scrape the remaining adhesive from the subfloor.
Installing a Replacement - Spread a thin layer of adhesive--not more than half the thickness of your tile--on the subfloor with a notched trowel, then butt one edge of the new tile against the edge of an adjoining tile, aligning the pattern (illustration D, click above to view).
- Ease the tile into place. Make sure it is level with surrounding tiles. If it is too high, press it down and quickly wipe away excess adhesive before it dries; if the tile is too low, gently pry it out with a putty knife and add more adhesive beneath it. Rest a 20-pound weight on it for the length of time specified by the adhesive manufacturer.
Estimated Cost: Latex adhesive = $8.86
Notched trowel = $7.96
Replacement tiles = $5.00
Total = $21.82
RESOURCES :
HGTV's Complete Fix-It
Author: HGTV
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