Vinyl floors are beautiful when new. But soon, normal wear, and
things that happen here and there, leave rips and gouges, burns and
tears, that need attention and repairs. If you've got one or more tiles
to replace, removing vinyl tile -- one or a whole floor -- can be
difficult and messy when you use a heat gun and chisel. Instead, lay a
cloth down over one tile at a time, and iron with slow, firm strokes. In
a minute or two, the tile will easily lift up. Then repeat as needed. If
you're replacing with self-stick tiles, they'll go in easier and hold
better if the adhesive is activated with heat. Use a hairdryer or warm
sunlight (if available) until they're pliable. Then, peel and stick. For
holes, gouges and tears in tile or linoleum, shave a thin top layer off
a matching scrap, grind or chop it into tiny pieces, mix with clear
urethane paint, fill in the damage and let it dry. And that's the On The
House tip for today.