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Tips:
Repairing Vinyl Flooring |
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Q: I had
an expensive, name brand, top-of-the-line vinyl floor installed in
my kitchen less than three years ago that has all sorts of dents and
cuts in it from routine daily use. Now I hear advertisements which
claim that some flooring can withstand golf shoe cleats and blow torches.
Have things changed that much in three years?
A: This ad is an example of slick advertising at its best, and refers
to a single name brand top-of-the-line flooring which comes with a
one time no-questions-asked replacement guarantee. Years ago, many
vinyl flooring products were quite tough because they contained asbestos.
When federal regulations forced manufacturers to remove the asbestos,
the whole industry had to virtually start over and vinyl flooring
was soft, causing it to tear and dent easily. Though the quality of
vinyl flooring in general is improving all the time, no floor can
withstand the kind of treatment described in this particular ad. As
with any floor, one should use caution always when moving, rolling
and sliding appliances, chairs, etc. across flooring.
Q: I cannot afford to install all new flooring in my home. Can anything
be done about the dents and cuts?
A: Yes, all vinyl flooring can be repaired by patching the damaged
area, with excellent results. That is why it is so important to keep
scrap material left over from the original installation, to use for
future repairs.
Q: The seams in my vinyl flooring seem to be coming loose and collecting
dirt. Is there anything I can do short of getting a whole new floor?
A: Possibly. First, a knowledgeable licensed installer should be contacted
to determine why the seams are coming apart. Depending on the vinyl
and condition of the underlayment or concrete, more adhesive may be
applied and the seam re-sealed from the top, so as to prevent moisture
or dirt from getting in.
Q: You can see the seams in my large kitchen floor and when I complained
to the company that sold me the floor, they said I should have picked
a different pattern. Is that just an excuse, or is that true?
A: Most sheet vinyl flooring has a pattern resembling tile which looks
like it has a grout line along which the seams can be successfully
done almost invisibly. Some flooring which does not have these grout
lines often comes in 12 foot widths in order to be installed seamlessly,
depending on the size of the room. One should avoid choosing one of
these patterns for a large room where it cannot be installed without
a seam, because it will show. Whatever the case, the company that
sold you the flooring should make arrangements to come and inspect
it and resolve the problem.
Q: You can see cracks from the concrete slab under our vinyl flooring.
Is there anything I can do to correct the problem?
A: Whatever type of vinyl flooring was installed, if the cracks existed
while the flooring was being installed, they should have been filled
and patched at that time. If they have occurred since, you will probably
have to have the flooring removed, the cracks repaired and new flooring
installed.
Q: I am considering replacing my vinyl floor with ceramic or wood
tiles, but was told it would be a problem if I ever wanted to remove
my dishwasher. Why would that matter?
A: Putting ceramic or wood flooring down will raise the level of the
floor. So there generally will not be enough clearance between the
height of the dishwasher and the counter once the floor tiles are
installed. You might be able to leave the dishwasher, trash compactor,
etc. in place over the original floor and install the new flooring
in front of it, but if you ever needed to remove these appliances
to make repairs, you might not lift them up and over the new floor.
Measurements must be carefully taken before new flooring is installed.
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