Don Vandervort, Head Homeboy, has written more than 30 DIY home improvement books, been a segment host on HGTV, served as MSN.com's home improvement expert and written countless magazine articles.
Minor surface problems such as lifted corners can be fixed easily, but check first that they don't indicate problems with the subfloor. Before you try to repair or replace damaged sections of resilient flooring, you'll need to determine the cause of the damage and correct it. Then you can either touch up the surface to conceal the flaws or patch or replace the damaged area. If you must replace flooring, match materials and adhesives. As always, when installing a new floor, save some material or tiles for future repairs.
When tiles begin to curl, they most often need to be replaced. First find out if your flooring or its adhesive contains asbestos, known to cause cancer if inhaled. Consult an expert to determine if this is the case. Asbestos-control experts often recommend encapsulation rather than removal.
Once you have determined that your flooring is asbestos-free, you can reaffix a tile that's lifted at one corner in a few quick steps. Warm the tile that has begun to curl with a hair dryer, iron, or propane torch (be careful!), focusing the heat on the lifting corner. Peel up the tile, using a putty knife, and scrape off the old adhesive. Using a notched spreader or trowel, spread resilient tile adhesive on the subfloor and push the tile firmly into it. Wipe away any excess adhesive.
