The easy maintenance of vinyl and linoleum flooring makes it ideal for bathrooms, kitchens and other busy areas. However, heavy, hot or sharp objects can damage this tough material, and nothing looks worse in the middle of the floor than a conspicuous blemish. The Vinyl Floor Repair Kit allows you to repair those unsightly burns, cuts and gouges in your vinyl or linoleum flooring. It'll disguise imperfections up to the size of a quarter. The kit is available at hardware stores or online. Prepare the surface for patching as shown in Photo 1. Keep the tape 1/2 in. back so the repair adhesives don't glue it to the floor.
Mixing the special paint to match your flooring color is the trickiest part of the fix (Photo 2). The included color-matching guide will help you determine basic colors, but a closer match will require a little trial and error. An exact color match may not be possible, but if it's close, it'll be virtually indistinguishable at normal viewing distances.
Check the color mix by dabbing test samples on a piece of clear packing tape laid on the floor. Add small amounts of color to the mix until you find a close match. Dark colors will lighten slightly and light colors will darken slightly after the hole is filled.
The filler and floor bond level the hole flush with the rest of the floor (Photo 3).
If the surface appears rough after the bond dries, lightly sand it smooth with the enclosed sandpaper (be careful not to scratch the surrounding floor surface). Protect the repair with clear acrylic finish (Photo 4).
Have the necessary tools for this DIY project lined up before you start—you’ll save time and frustration.
Avoid last-minute shopping trips by having all your materials ready ahead of time. Here’s a list.