Vinyl flooring is one of the most durable and economical floor coverings available to homeowners today. While vinyl offers easy installation and low maintenance, this material can sometimes peel or curl at the edges if it's not installed correctly. Fortunately, curling vinyl is fairly easy to repair. Depending on the extent of the damage, you can fix curled vinyl and restore the appearance of your floors in just a few hours using basic tools and techniques.
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Things You'll Need
Putty Knife
Vacuum Cleaner With Hose Attachment
Heat Gun Or Hairdryer
Sponge
Weighted Object (Like A Stack Of Books)
Notched Trowel
Mineral Spirits
Paint Brush
Resilient Flooring Adhesive
Vinyl Seam Sealer
Step 1
Heat your vinyl floor around the curled section to make it more pliable. Use a hairdryer or heat gun to warm the floor for about 60 seconds, keeping the heat gun moving constantly to avoid damage.
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Step 2
Peel the curled section of flooring up so you can access the space underneath. Use a putty knife to scrape away excess glue and debris that is stuck to the floor. You may need to bend the blade of the knife slightly to access some areas.
Step 3
Vacuum all loose adhesive, dirt and debris from under the loose section of vinyl. Use a vacuum with a hose or nozzle attachment to reach all the way under the vinyl without causing damage.
Step 4
Heat the vinyl once more if it has cooled down too much. If the vinyl is still fairly pliable, you can skip this step.
Step 5
Spread resilient flooring adhesive on the floor under the peeling section. Use a notched trowel or your putty knife to spread the glue.
Step 6
Press the loose section of vinyl firmly against the glue. Clean any adhesive on the surface of the floor using a damp sponge and mineral spirits. Wipe away the mineral spirits with a clean, damp sponge once all glue has been removed.
Step 7
Place a weighted object over the repaired section of flooring, making sure not to cover the seams themselves. Leave this object in place for 24 hours to hold the vinyl as the glue dries.
Step 8
Remove the weighted objects and apply a vinyl seam sealer to the seams around the repaired section. Many of these seam sealers come with their own applicators. If yours does not, use a small paint brush to apply the sealer. Allow the sealer to dry overnight before walking on it.
Tip
Consider using a metal transition strip to repair badly damaged vinyl floors. These strips are nailed to the floor at the seams in the vinyl to hold the flooring in place.