On the linoleum, tears, scuffs, and scratches can occur during operation. Because of this, the floor loses its neat appearance. A complete replacement is not always suitable, especially if the damage is single and small, so another solution to the problem is needed. There are several effective methods for closing a hole in linoleum. The best of them are presented in the article.
Why do holes form?
Linoleum, even strong and high-quality, will eventually become soft and prone to mechanical stress. Most often, coatings that are laid on an uneven base are torn. Although linoleum is elastic, it does not fill in the small voids of the rough floor, but only disguises them. It is enough to press with something sharp, for example, pass on stiletto heels, and a hole is formed. In the places where the tubercles appear, tears gradually appear, since the coating wears out more and wipes.
Due to a violation of the laying technology, linoleum damage also appears. For example, a very thin or thick layer of glue or mastic, uneven application of an adhesive, a damp base - all this becomes the cause of peeling and deformation of the canvas. Waves appear on the surface, which worsens comfortable movement around the room. In rooms with high traffic, folds occur, on the bends of which linoleum cracks first.
Another mistake is laying the coating on a thick soft substrate in rooms with increased floor load. Due to heavy furniture, legs of tables and chairs, dents appear when used actively. Holes are sometimes pushed to the subfloor. Usually this applies to household low-grade linoleum.
Other reasons
Often holes form due to negligence. Fallen cigarettes or charcoal from the hookah will leave marks on the linoleum. They rarely become end-to-end: the protective and decorative layers, and sometimes the PVC layer, are damaged. It depends on the class of coating and the degree of wear. At first, these shortcomings can be invisible, especially in the presence of a small motley pattern. But during operation, dirt gets in the holes. All this will subsequently lead to the fact that the edges disintegrate, as a result of the hole will become larger.
Inaccurate rearrangement of furniture also leads to consequences, because of this there are noticeable scratches. And if you hook strongly, then a whole piece of the coating can be torn out. It is not possible to completely eliminate the risks of damage, but you can minimize them. To do this, you need to choose a coating in accordance with the operating conditions, adhere to the installation technology and care tips. And if the damage still appeared, you should know how to seal a hole in linoleum to eliminate the consequences.
Small hole removal
How to seal a hole in linoleum, if the damage is not more than 1 square. cm? You will need a polymer mastic or putty and a pigment suitable in color. Ready-made kits for repairing these coatings are sold, which include mastic, color pigment, putty knife and solvent.
The procedure is as follows:
- The damaged area must be cleaned and the edges wiped so that there are no burrs. Degreasing is also performed.
- In the mastic, you need to add a pigment that matches the color of linoleum. Thorough mixing is required.
- The finished mastic is dialed using a plastic narrow spatula, and the notch on the coating is filled, the excess is eliminated. Linoleum near the hole should be wiped with a rag soaked in solvent.
- When the mastic area has dried, carry out polishing with a dense material.
Linoleum usually has a non-uniform color, so after sealing the damage, the mastic will stand out a bit against the general background. To make the restored place indistinguishable, a little mixture is applied on top of the dot, slightly changing the shade. Perform it more conveniently with a cotton swab.
If there is no such repair kit, you can use ordinary mastic for linoleum or type “cold welding” glue. To get the necessary color of the repair mixture, you need to take a piece of the coating that remains after installation. The edge of the knife scraped off the colored chips from the surface. It is mixed with glue. The resulting agent treats the damaged area with a spatula. If there are no scraps of linoleum, then you can cut a piece where it will not be noticeable, for example, under the baseboard.
Do not do this work by eye. It is necessary to measure the area of damage in order to create a suitable patch for it. An important point is the combination of the picture.
Patch
How to fix a hole in linoleum on the floor, if the damage is more than 1 square. cm? Mastic in this case will not work. Depending on the type of damage, two methods are used to eliminate the defect - with and without a patch. Each method has its own characteristics.
Patches are used when the coating area is torn out or there is a through burn on the surface. They can be glued over the entire area or only around the perimeter. How to patch a hole in linoleum with a patch? There are two effective methods, consider them below.
Option number 1: glue over the entire area
How can I fix a hole in linoleum? The following must be prepared:
- a piece of linoleum of the same color;
- sharp mounting knife;
- metal ruler;
- construction tape;
- mastic for linoleum and glue "cold welding";
- notched trowel;
- hard roller.
Linoleum must be cleaned of dirt and dust. A patch is placed on the prepared area over the defect, combining the lines of the picture. Then the correct position is selected, linoleum is fixed with tape along the perimeter.
Then a ruler is applied to the coating and both layers are cut through to the bottom of the floor. It is necessary to remove the upper piece, set it aside.
It is necessary to try on the patch to the cut out area in the coating, check the density of joints and the compatibility of the pattern. Mastic is applied in a thin layer on the base with a spatula with small teeth. To securely fasten the edges of the coating around the perimeter, you need to raise it with your fingers and coat with mastic under it.
The patch is laid on the site, while it is necessary to monitor the location of the picture. The material is smoothed by hands, pressing along the edges, and then rolled out in all directions. Then you need type “cold welding” glue, type A, the tip is inserted into the seam and lead along the perimeter. It is important that the glue is evenly distributed in the joints.
Before drying, do not touch the patch, step on it, otherwise there is a risk of displacement and deformation. It is advisable to lay a piece of plywood on it, press down with a load and leave for several days.
Second option: around the perimeter
How to seal a hole in linoleum in another way? If the patches are small, you can only glue along the perimeter, using "cold welding" type C. The procedure is performed according to the following instructions:
- It is necessary to choose a piece of linoleum according to the drawing.
- A double-sided tape is glued from the back to the workpiece, then it is attached to the coating.
- It is necessary to determine the boundaries of the patch and cut through both layers of linoleum.
- It is necessary to remove the scraps, remove the patch and the damaged bottom layer.
- Base clean. A thin continuous strip of glue is applied around the perimeter of the cutout.
- You should lay the patch, squeeze, removing the air, roll it out along the edges with a roller. Remove excess glue with a damp cloth.
Patches can have any geometric shape, it all depends on the area of damage and the supply of material. It’s easier to work with a coating that imitates tiles: you need to cut a square along the lines. When simulating a laminate, rectangular or triangular blanks are used. This procedure will help seal a burnt hole in linoleum.
Without latki
How to patch a hole in linoleum without patches? This method is used when not a whole piece of coating is torn out, but hangs with a rag. To avoid noticeable traces, it is first straightened. To do this, press it with something heavy, leaving it for a day. It is more effective to stroke with a hot iron, but through wet gauze. To protect against melting of the protective layer, the gauze is folded into 10-15 layers. After straightening the material, you can proceed to the termination:
- Clean the base from dust and dirt.
- The gun applies glue "liquid nails" on the damaged area.
- The flap must be put in place and pressed firmly by hand, and then rolled out with a roller.
- The glue that has appeared is cleaned with a damp cloth.
Thus, it will even turn out to close the hole from the drill in linoleum. It takes at least a day to dry, so it is important to protect the repaired floor from stress. Replace liquid nails with mastic or glue for linoleum.
Elimination of slits and open joints
Consider how else you can seal a hole on linoleum with your own hands. If the defect was formed due to a cut, it will be easy to remove. This also applies to the seams between the canvases. To work, you need a double-sided tape, roller, primer. The procedure is as follows:
- The edges of the canvas must be slightly unscrewed to the sides, dust and debris should be cleaned.
- The rough base must be primed and dried.
- Double-sided tape should be placed in the gap and fixed to the base along the seam.
- Then the protective coating is removed, the edges of linoleum must be pressed, ironed with a roller.
If the edges are loose and there is a gap of 1–2 mm, the weld must be treated with A-type cold welding. Then the cut will be invisible and the coating will last for several more years.
Output
Do-it-yourself hole making is a snap. Thanks to this procedure, the floor surface takes on a neat appearance. In addition, you do not have to completely change the flooring.