Patching Vinyl Floors, by Jim McClain

[cproader]

jefh328ic said yeah, I just found this forum today while browing, hope to be participating in the pro forums soon

Atta boy.

[TFP Admin]

Hi Jef,

I answered your email. I hooked you up with access to The Professional Forums. Thanks for joining and for participating. Please take a moment to add some info to your profile - just click the profile link in my signature area.

T

[Jerry Thomas]

Welcome Jef ... what trade are you in?

[Nick Arrera]

Welcome Jeff , You will like it here ..

[JimB]

I have repaired floors both your way and double cut with good results.
However, I was sent out to fix a floor quite some time ago, and I went into quite the detail with the customer of what I was going to do, and after I was done talking he told me to get my little ditty bag and my butt out of his house, I was at a loss. Asked him what the issue was, and he told me that I used a word that he just couldn't stand. I never "patched" a floor again....all repairs from then on.

[Jim McClain]

Hmmm, so it's the terminology. I been wonderin' why ever'one else gets lotsa stars (as in Rate Article drop-down at top of thread) an' I got none. Maybe if I change it to Repairing Vinyl Floors...? Naw, heck with it.

Thanks for the comments, I appreciate it.

Jim
PS: and welcome to the site.

[Daris Mulkin]

We aren't using "Patch" in carpet either now. Its "Bonded Insert."

Daris

[Carpet Bagger]

Jim McClain said Many vinyl repairs are done the double-cut method. I think that leaves a small gap -true, only the thickness of your blade, but a small gap none the less. My method makes the patch very tight. No gaps. In fact, my method, if using the compression method I describe in the article, makes the patch slightly larger than the cutout, creating a fit so snug you can't hardly see it has been patched even before you seal the seams. As shown in the article, and even better in the photo essay, aligning the pattern is critical for an invisible patch. However you do this is your decision, but experience has shown me that it is best to acclimate your patch, just as you acclimate the new material. If the saved material has been rolled felt side out, I ask the customer to re-roll the material face-out and leave it rolled for about 2 hours. Then I want them to unroll the material and leave it on a flat surface over night. This will allow the patch to shrink or expand to wherever it is it will go after I have done the patch anyway. This eliminates any surprises. As I have shown in the article, photo essay and above, I used tape to prevent any seam contamination and to keep the edge of the adhesive at least an eighth of an inch from the seam edge. If you feel the ridges are still too high and might cause "squish-over", then gently reduce them with a throw-away brush, or even the tip of your finger while the tape is still in place. The tape is to help prevent exactly what you mentioned. Thank you all for your comments. I'm sure the article and your comments will help any pro or do-it-yourselfer make a great patch when they need to. If you haven't tried this method before, give it a whirl on your next repair and see if it doesn't make a really nice patch. Jim

Jim the Vinyl you patched was so old it must have come off the Ark Carpet Bagger

[Jim McClain]

Carpet Bagger said Jim the Vinyl you patched was so old it must have come off the Ark Carpet Bagger

Yes, you're right. The whole idea of patching is being able to repair a floor, no matter how old it is. If there is scrap available, then a patch can be done. Of course, this particular method applies to glue-down sheet vinyl. Vinyl of other types or other installation methods would require different repair techniques.

Thanks for your comment.

Jim

Hello Jim,

Your article about patching vinyl flooring is very impressive and shows a lot of experience. It looks like I will not be able to see the seams even if I tried looking close-up. Am I correct? I need to do it on a very new installation where the refrigerator installer ripped it. The vinyl is Earthscapes by Carpet One and the pattern is Dahlia which looks very similar to the pictures in your article. I want to follow your instructions and do it myself but I do not have any confidence since I have never done this before.

Will you suggest for me to just hire a professional to do it? Do you know anybody around the San Francisco area?

Sincerely,
Willie

[Jim McClain]

WILLIE said Hello Jim, Your article about patching vinyl flooring is very impressive and shows a lot of experience. It looks like I will not be able to see the seams even if I tried looking close-up. Am I correct?

Thanks for your comments, Willie. That repair was done several years ago, just a few doors down from where I live. To this day, the seams are unnoticeable to the average person. If you know there is a patch, you can find the seams, which are very faint and hard to detect unless you get down on your knees and look. That is as it should be.

I need to do it on a very new installation where the refrigerator installer ripped it. The vinyl is Earthscapes by Carpet One and the pattern is Dahlia which looks very similar to the pictures in your article. I want to follow your instructions and do it myself but I do not have any confidence since I have never done this before.

Confidence is key to being able to do just about anything. If you don't have it, your chances of success are lessened. In this case, you don't need confidence. All you need is the refrigerator installer to agree to pay for the damage they caused - this their responsibility, not yours. Contact the company and arrange for them to provide the insurance or other financial responsibility so that you can have the material repaired by a competent flooring professional. Perhaps the company that installed the flooring would be a good choice.

Will you suggest for me to just hire a professional to do it? Do you know anybody around the San Francisco area?

Sorry, I don't know any flooring pros in SF - I live in California, but it's a huge state and I live in the real Northern California. You can ask for a flooring professional in our forum just for that purpose: Looking For A Flooring Professional or Product - The Best Floor Covering Information & Resources - just click the New Topic button and give it a good title, then provide some details in the message. That is visible to all, even non-members of TFP. You cannot leave your email address in messages though, because it would get you spammed mercilessly. Never leave your email address in a public message (the one you left in your message above was removed).

If you still want to try this yourself, please visit this forum: Vinyl Flooring Q&A - The Best Floor Covering Information & Resources and ask how to repair your product. Post pictures if you have them, but to do that, you will have to register a free account here. Explain there if the material was glued fully, only around the perimeter or just loose-laid. I never worked with Earthscapes during my installation career, so I couldn't tell you any specifics about that material. We have plenty of flooring professionals that do that every day though, so you will be able to find help there.

Thanks again for your nice comments and good luck with your floor.

Jim