How to Repair a Small Rip, Scratch, or Gouge in Vinyl Flooring
Although vinyl flooring is known for its durability, this does not mean that it is completely immune to damage. As a result of everyday wear and tear and the occasional breakdown, you may begin to notice minor stains on your once clean floors. The good news is that repairing a small tear, scratch or gouge in vinyl flooring is often a fairly simple task. I enlisted the help of three flooring and home care experts to tell me what steps to take when renovating vinyl floors.
How to Repair Scratches, Scuffs, and Dents on Vinyl Flooring
While major vinyl floor repairs are usually best left to professionals, scratches, tears, and gouges in the surface of vinyl flooring can be relatively easy to fix yourself. The damage may be minor, but as Sean O’Rourke, a 30-year flooring industry veteran and national director of merchandising for Floor Coverings International , notes, it “can be unsightly because it’s usually in a visible place.” region.”
Repairing deep scratches, tears, and gouges often requires removing and replacing the damaged portion of the vinyl floor. But if you’re only dealing with shallow surface stains, try one of these methods:
Delete this
Brett Labeka, a building maintenance expert with home improvement app Frontdoor , recommends applying a small amount of WD-40 or jojoba oil to the scratched area, then gently rubbing it in in a circular motion with a cloth. “Wipe off any excess oil and let it dry completely,” he says.
Apply a light coat of varnish
O’Rourke recommends repairing a small pothole with a little varnish: “Something as simple as a light coat of clear acrylic varnish around the torn edges is enough,” he says.
Use a hair dryer
Rotem Eilor, CEO and founder of Republic Flooring , suggests using a hair dryer to repair light scratches and scuffs on vinyl floors. “Turn on the hair dryer, hold it a couple of inches away from the scratch, and wave it back and forth,” he says. “The heat softens the vinyl and helps it expand, which can reduce the appearance of the scratch.”
Get the kit
Repair kits are also available online and include the backing cloth, dye and varnish needed to repair the scratch.