Home Garden

How to Fix Ripped Linoleum

Environmentally-friendly linoleum is not as popular with homeowners as it was in the 1950s despite its many desirable characteristics. Linoleum is budget-friendly, comes in a wide range of designs and colors and is easy to care for. Linoleum is fairly durable however sliding furniture or appliances across the floor can cause rips or gouges. If the damage is fairly small, homeowners can make quick repairs without the aid and cost of a professional.

Things You'll Need

  • Utility knife
  • Contact cement or wood glue
  • Matching piece of scrap linoleum
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Instructions

  1. Small Rips

    • 1

      Gently lift the edges of the linoleum and place a small drop of contact cement inside of the rip.

    • 2

      Wipe off excess adhesive immediately.

    • 3

      Place a heavy object on the space so that it is undisturbed until it dries.

    Larger Rips or Gouges

    • 4

      Cut out a piece of linoleum to match the size of the rip or gash from a scrap piece. Use a leftover piece from the initial installation or use a piece of linoleum under an appliance or inside of a closet.

    • 5

      Cut out the damaged linoleum from the floor with a sharp utility knife.

    • 6

      Place a bead of contact cement on the back of the replacement piece and press it into place. Alternatively, shred the replacement piece into very small pieces, mix them with a few drops of cement and place it into the hole.