Vinyl flooring, especially vinyl tiles are a good economic choice for doing up your floors – both resilient and tasteful. Being waterproof, most homeowners and even professionals consider vinyl tiles as the ideal material for kitchens and bathrooms.
Wondering what is so special about vinyl when you get the same benefits from ceramic tiles? Well, vinyl is really inexpensive; plus it allows you to save a lot of your unnecessary expenses on installation (as you can do the installation on your own). The ease of correcting flaws in vinyl tile installation and vinyl floor repair works have additionally endeared vinyl tiles to the ordinary homeowner.
I do not think that anyone will like to compromise with ‘perfection’; however, you cannot expect to be perfect at all times and especially in cases such as installing tiles, etc. which you usually do once in a while. Quite naturally, you need to be well equipped with all necessary tips for correcting flaws in vinyl tile installation or for that matter to attend to minor repair works.
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But before going ahead with all that detailing on repairing and correcting flaws in vinyl tile installation, it would be worthwhile to remind you that you will need to hoard spare tiles for emergency conditions. So, add a few extra boxes of vinyl tiles (at least a box or two) to your estimated list of materials and the ready supply will really help when you face a problem with your tiled vinyl floor.
(Note: When you have exhausted all the spare tiles and do not find a matching replacement, remove tile(s) from an area where it will be least noticed to fix the flaw).
One common flaw in vinyl tile installation (in general tile installation) is going wrong with tile alignment. A little alignment problem will show up in the asymmetrical edgings and spoil the beauty of the tiling; but as you know ‘To err is human’ you do not really need to have any worries about erring with tile installation.
Try to solve the problem with the help of a wood straightedge. If that does not work, remove the tile (as well as the adhesive) and redo it once again. (Given the low cost of vinyl tiles and the pleasure accompanying the job, you will not regret doing this).
Correcting flaws in vinyl tile installation also involves fixing problems such as re-installing bent or curled up, damaged, scuffed and wobbly, loose tiling. To fix a curled up, crooked vinyl tile, you will first need to heat up the bent area by covering it with an aluminum foil and hot pressing it with an iron on a moderate temperature setting. This will make the tile bendable and liquefy the adhesive, allowing you to lift the tile a bit and spread a fresh layer of adhesive (use a slender device like a putty knife).
This done, force down the tile into the place; press the edge and all the excess adhesive will spill out. Wipe away the excess adhesive and place a weight on the tile (for about 8 to 24 hours) to firmly fix it to the underlayment.
Defects like damaged or loose fit tiles can also be set right. Remove the defective tile using the same hot press method followed by scraping the tile with a stiff putty knife. Dig up all the tile pieces and all adhesive off the substrate. Apply fresh adhesive on the floor with a notched trowel and place the new tile. Press the tile gently and all the extra adhesive will ooze out. Clean with a moistened cotton cloth and cover the tile with a heavy weight for at least 8 hours.
A flaw like a hole can be patched up with a little artistry. First, you will need to cover the area with masking tape meant for painting. Then prepare a mixture with two-parts epoxy and one-part paint to achieve a tone matching the tile shade/color. Fill up the hole with the mixture and that should get your job done. Of course, you will have to steer clear of the place for sometime.
As said, correcting flaws in vinyl tile installation is not really tricky. All you need is some patience and precision. However before you attempt to do so I’d check whether your vinyl tiles are guaranteed or not, most of them are and they’ll be gladly replaced by the manufacturer, which of course is a much easier solution.
by Manuel Kupka
