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How to Repair Resilient Floor Tile and Sheet Flooring

How to repair resilient floor tile and sheet flooring; read this article for suggestions.
To remove a tile you must work carefully so that you don't damage any of the surrounding tiles. Begin by applying heat until the tile's edge begins to curl. Then you can work a putty knife underneath and lift out the tile. You can use heat either from a hair dryer, a iron, or a propane torch. If the heat won't soften the tile you can always chip it out with a chisel. It is always best to use heat to melt the old adhesive so that you can scrape it up.

To install the new tile you have to make sure it will fit. You may have to trim the edges by sanding for a smoother surface. If the tile was an odd shape then for best results you should cut out a template out of heavy paper or thin cardboard to make sure you get a exact fit. Next you want to apply the adhesive to the floor by following the directions on the container. You want to soften the new tile with heat to make it plyable. Then set the tile on edge against a surrounding tile and lower it into place. You can use a ruler to smooth the surface of the new tile. Then finish by wiping off any remaining adhesive.

To repair worn or torn sheet flooring you must first cut a patch that will match exactly. You begin by taping a piece large enough to cover the entire section you want to remove, plus a bit more all around. Be sure to take enough time to get an exact pattern match with the existing flooring. You can use a pencil and a ruler to mark the patch on the top layer of flooring. The patch should be larger then the damaged area that you are replacing.

Next you cut through both layers of the flooring with a utility knife and a ruler. Be sure to use a new blade for a cleaner cut along the pattern lines to make the patch less noticable. Take the patch off and use heat to remove the cut section of the old, damaged flooring just like you would if it were a tile. Finally cement the patch in place and weight it down while the cement dries.

If you decide to remove the entire resilient floor don't forget that you should always wear gloves, goggles, and dust masks. You should start by cutting the flooring material into long 6 inch wide strips using a utility or flooring knife. It is best to have a ruler on hand as a guide for your cutting tool of choice. Next you can begin to pry up the first strip using a flooring chisel. As the flooring separates from the adhesive it is best to wet the back thoroughly with a spray bottle to reduce airborne fibers. You want to roll the strips into a tight coil as you go along so you can tie the strips securely and seal them in plastic bags. Make sure you check with the local health or sanitation departments to find out how to properly dispose of the materials. If you need to, don't forget you can use heat to melt the old adhesive so you can scrape it up.


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