How to Reglue Vinyl Tile

Heat the surface of the tile with a hair dryer before attempting to remove it, if it's still partially stuck down. Don't get the hair dryer too close to the vinyl to avoid melting it. Once the tile is warm, slip a wide putty knife under the edge of the tile and begin carefully working it loose from the floor.

Check the floor underneath the tile once it is removed to make sure you don't have a leak or drainage problem that's keeping the floor damp. You'll have to repair that before you replace the tile.

Scrape the area with the putty knife, vacuum up loose pieces of glue and dirt and wipe the floor with a rag dampened with paint thinner. This will remove any remaining glue residue. Dry the surface with a towel and allow the floor to air out for a few hours so any dampness in the pores of the concrete underneath evaporates completely.

Clean the back of the tile with paint thinner and a rag or steel wool to remove any bits of glue that remain. Make sure the temperature in the room is warmer than 70 degrees.

Spread the vinyl tile adhesive with the notched mastic trowel leaving little ridges in the glue. Wipe any overspread off surrounding tiles with a thinner-dampened rag. Let the adhesive set for about 30 minutes till it is dry and tacky to the touch.

Press the vinyl tile back into place and weigh it down. Press on the center of the tile and work toward the outer edges. Any glue that is squeezed out should be wiped away. If the tile is curled at the edges or has a wave in it, reheat the tile gently till it's warm and then lay a sheet of wax paper over it.

Lay some heavy books on top of the wax paper and let the adhesive dry and cure for at least 24 hours with the weight left in place. Check the edges of the tile after you remove the weight to make sure there is no gap between the replaced tile and its neighbors. If there is, lay a bead of clear silicone caulk in the cracks and wipe the rest off the surface of the tile. The sealant caulk will prevent water from seeping under the edges of your newly repaired tile.