Repairing Vinyl Plank Flooring: A Step-by-Step Guide

Method #1: Remove the floor and replace the damaged board

This method will only be effective with a name-brand, high-quality vinyl plank floor. “Anything that’s name brand, you can remove it and reinstall it 100 times, and it’ll be fine,” Gary Bernard of Holyoke Millwork says, unlike lower quality floors that will break. This can be a quick DIY project in smaller spaces. “If it’s in the middle of a 12×12-ft. room, it’d take about 25 minutes,” Bernard says to unclick the floor, replace the damaged board and reinstall the floor. However, “if the damaged board is in the middle of a large room or connecting rooms, you should call a professional,” Bernard says, because the project is more time-consuming and complicated.

Remove the baseboard

• Use a utility knife to score the top edge of the baseboard and cut the bond with the wall paint.
• Using a hammer and pry bar, carefully remove the baseboard along the wall where you’ll be removing the floor.
• Remove any nails and set the boards aside.

Pry up and remove the floor

• “Take a pry bar and get it under the last piece that was installed in the corner and pop it up,” Bernard says.
• Take out the remaining pieces in the row and place in a pile at the end of the row to easily reinstall when the time comes.
• Repeat this process until you have removed enough rows to access the damaged board.

Replace the damaged board

• During the initial installation of your floor, Bernard recommends keeping at least four full pieces of flooring to use for any repairs later on. “Keep them in a cool dry place,” he says.
• Remove and discard the damaged board.
• Install a new, undamaged board from your reserves.

Re-install the floor and baseboard

• Reinstall the flooring row by row in the reverse order in which you removed it. “The first piece you took out should be the last piece you replace,” Bernard says.
• Once the floor is reinstalled, replace the baseboard and secure with nails.

Method #2: Remove the damaged plank only

This method is an option to repair a damaged plank in a low-grade floor, or if you’re tight for money and time. I might use this method for a quick repair in a rental property, with plans to replace the floor down the road. While this method may come in handy, just know that it does have its limits and the repair may not last. “You have to decide what you’re comfortable with and what’s within your wheelhouse,” Bernard says.

Draw the cut lines

• Lay the straightedge on the damaged plank and position it from one corner to the opposite one along the length of the plank.
• Draw a line along the straightedge.
• Repeat the process for the remaining corners. You should have a large ‘X’ drawn on the plank when finished.

Cut the plank

• Set the depth of the circular saw blade to no more than 1/16-in. more than the thickness of the floor.
• Slowly cut along the drawn lines until you almost reach the end of the plank. Do not cut into the adjacent planks.
• Use the oscillating saw to carefully finish the cut to the edge of the damaged plank, avoiding adjacent planks.

Remove the damaged plank

• Using a pry bar, gently pry up and remove the triangular pieces of the damaged plank.
• To disengage the tongue and groove sections, gently wiggle the piece side to side, not up and down as this can crack the neighboring, undamaged board.

Prep the replacement plank

Before installing the replacement plank, you’ll need to remove some material from the tongue sections.

• Using a chisel, remove the raised lip on the tongue pieces on the plank until it is flat. This allows you to slide it into place into groove of the neighboring board.
• Use a utility knife to remove the grooves on the long and short sides of the board. Make several passes to score the piece and remove.

Apply adhesive

• Clean the area thoroughly with a vacuum and damp rag to remove sawdust.
• Apply Superglue along the edges of the surrounding planks that are still in place. Be careful not to overapply, so there’s not a lot of excess glue to clean.

Install the replacement plank

• Place the replacement board into place.
• Gently tap the plank into place with a rubber mallet
• Immediately wipe off any excess glue with a rag.
• Allow the adhesive to dry for 24 hours before walking on it.

FAQ

What causes tears in vinyl flooring?

Vinyl flooring can be torn by sharp objects, pet scratches or dragged furniture.

How do you prevent vinyl floors from degrading?

Use felt pads on furniture, keep pet nails short and minimize sun exposure to prevent fading. High quality vinyl floors will be more durable and long-lasting than inexpensive alternatives.

About the Experts

• Alex Ciocek is a project estimator at Summerlin Floors in Amherst, Massachusetts.
• Gary Bernard is the 3rd generation owner of Holyoke Millwork, a flooring retailer and installer in Holyoke, Massachusetts.

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