how do you fix linoleum?

[lonelyfarmgirl]

so if something falls and gouges a hole in the linoleum, how do you fix it?

I think she said its a solid sheet. not the stick on squares.

[Common Tator]

My parents have linoleum. Their answer was to live with it for 20 years, and then put new linoleum over the top.

Mom refused to replace it because Dad refused to quit bringing car engines lawn mowers and other various and sundry things into the kitchen floor for repair. That floor was gouged, burned, acid stained, ugly, ugly, ugly! The occasion of the replacement was my wedding reception being held in the house! Mom finally did the repairs she always wanted, and she threatened Dad with an untimely demise if she saw him coming through the door with anything other than groceries!

[BillHoo]

One of my tenants had goughed a silver dollar sized hunk out of the kitchen.

Before showing to new tenants, I took the piece that had been gouged and stuck it back in using 15 minute epoxy.

If it had been a larger area and they did not keep the piece, I would cut the area out to a more standard piece (a square).

Then, I would open cabinet under the sink and remove the wooden board at the bottom, exposing the linoleum beneath it.

I would then cut out an identical square piece that would fit over the damaged part.

Using a good 15 minute epoxy, I would patch that in place.

Yes, there is nw a hole in the linoleum under my kitchen sink cabinet, but no one ever looks there.

[r93000]

How bad is the gouge/hole?

With some types of sheet linoleum you can remove the damaged section and piece in a new section and hide the seams fairly well. This will only work if it fairly new and has not worn or changed color from what it originally looked like. If it is a small tear and the edges did not stretch and go out of shape, you can generally glue the "flap" back down very carefully and neatly. Just be sure to get it puched down tightly, lined back up neatly, and all of the glue wiped up before it begins to dry.

Keep in mind that these seams will be more vulnerable to wear, dirt gathering in the edges, water seaping into the seam and mold growing under the edge, etc. Unless your linoleum says that you absolutely cannot use a sealer type of cleaning product on it, then I would do so after repairing linoleum to keep a barrier between the seams and any dirt/liquid spills, etc.

[Wolf mom]

For a quick repair you can melt a colored crayon (the color of the linoleum) in the hole, then cover it with waterproof clear glue or silicone.

[Shrek]

I use the apartment maintenace approach and if I dont have a patch scrap stored, I use patches harvested from under the refrigerator, stove or out of a closet.

Trim the hole to a border design edge nearest the burn or gouge, harvest a patch cut to the same design border to fit, glue and flat weight the patch in place with flooring adhesive.

After the patch is set and dried, paint the joint at the design border edge with brushed in clear acrylic seal coat or clear acrylic nail polish to prevent the patch edges from turning up.

If its a clean 2 or 3 edge torn flap, your dealing with , you can adhesive the flap using the above technique and then mop and glow wax the floor to camoflage the tear a bit. (worked for me to get my security deposit back in 1993 when my bed frame ripped the entry linoleum as I was moving out and my friend the maintenance man for the apartment complex saved me and taught me how to do it )

[Jalopy]

If you have a piece of linoleum that matches the gouge area and a l;iitle bit bigger just tape it over the scar and cut through both layers at the same time. That way the new piece will be exactly the same size as the piece that will be discarded. Then take the top piece off and then scrape out the original piece. Then use an adhesive of some type to place the new pioece in where the damaged piece has been removed.

[vinylfloorguy]

Just to add to jalopy's post you should put a seam sealer on, otherwise the edges will curl up over time. if it is an old floor and you are not to paticular, you could use superglue for the sealer or go to Lowe's and by a seam sealer kit made for the brand of floor for about $20.

[The Paw]

duct tape.

[Yvonne's hubby]

Originally Posted by The Paw

duct tape.

aww, cmon, duct tape wont last very long at all, but a tin can lid tacked down tite with roofing nails will. Just be sure to tack it down around the edges good so the sharp edge dont catch a bare toe.

[MELOC]

nah...it's the kitchen, so use a decorative yet disposable pie tin.

[Windy in Kansas]

True linoleum is extremely tough. Could this be vinyl sheet goods instead?

[o&itw]

If the gouged piece has not torn off, place a sheet of wax paper over it (wax down) and use a warm iron moving it from the "wrinkled part" of the gouge towards the cut. If you can get the wrinkle out, the heat will often soften the original adhesive enough that it will re stick. Not a perfect solution, but I have used it on my kitchen floor where the refridgerator feet dug in when it was pulled out, and except for a little brown in the seam line, it is all but invisible.

[lonelyfarmgirl]

sigh..there is no piece, there is no flap, yes it is real linoleum, less than 10 years old, and removing a section is not an option.
it is a gouge, similar to as if someone imbedded a silver dollar sideways in the floor.

I would like to add to this, is there a way to revive linoleum that has become dull in the high traffic areas?