How to Fix Bubbled Vinyl

Newly installed vinyl should lie smooth and flat on the subflooring. Occasionally, bubbled areas appear soon after installation. The bubbles represent trapped air, which can be caused by a range of problems, including insufficient adhesive or poor rolling technique after the vinyl was put down. Trapped air can also be caused by excessive moisture from the floor below. Warmer air from below also can cause newly applied adhesive to soften and relax its grip on the vinyl. If the bubbled areas are less than a few inches in diameter, they can often be fixed without the aid of a professional.

Utility knife
Rented floor roller or towel and iron
Heavy book or weight
Vinyl adhesive
Wax paper

Instructions

- 1
  Cut a small 'X' in the center of the bubble with the utility knife. This allows trapped air to escape from beneath the vinyl.
- 2
  Roll over the space with a rented floor roller to flatten it. Alternatively, place a towel and warm iron on the spot for a few minutes to soften the adhesive, so that it can form a more secure bond between the vinyl and subflooring.
- 3
  Place a heavy book or full paint can on the area to maintain contact between the adhesive and the vinyl.
- 4
  Check the repair in about an hour. If the vinyl has not completely flattened, carefully widen the hole slightly with the utility knife and place a small bead of vinyl adhesive into the hole. Place a piece of wax paper on the area and then weigh it down as described in Step 3. The wax paper prevents the book or weights from sticking to the vinyl.

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