How to Fix a Loose VCT Tile With a Felt Underlayment

Cover the loose tile with aluminum foil, followed by a clean, flat cloth.

Set your iron on medium heat and run it over the tile. Heat the entire surface of the tile. Keep the iron moving for one minute. Try not to run the iron over the edge of the tile. You will loosen the adjacent tile's adhesive unnecessarily.

Wedge a plastic putty knife underneath the tile to lift it. Do not force the tile, so as not to rip the felt underneath. If necessary, re-heat the tile following the instructions in Steps 1 and 2.

Scrape the bulk of the old softened adhesive off the tile with your putty knife. Leave the adhesive on the felt as is.

Apply a thin layer of new VCT adhesive onto the back of the tile with a clean putty knife, according to the adhesive's instructions. Spread the adhesive from the middle to the edges of the tile. Provide full coverage. Do not leave any thin or bare spots.

Place the tile in place.

Drag a block of wood over the tile with medium pressure. Drag from the center of the tile out in four directions. Then, drag the wood block over each of the four edges. If any adhesive seeps out of the cracks between the tiles, wipe it up with a cloth moistened with warm water.

Place a heavy item or items on the tile. Leave them on the tile for the amount of cure time listed on the adhesive's label.

Remove the heavy items. The tile is now safe to walk over.