Is It Easy to Replace Just One Square of Kitchen Vinyl or Linoleum?

Matching the Tile

• When purchasing vinyl or linoleum flooring, the tiles come in boxes; therefore, you don't buy the exact number of tiles you need for the flooring. These extra tiles are handy to replace damaged ones. If you don't have any tiles left over from the installation, purchase another box. Patterns are often discontinued and no longer available. If this is true in your case, lift up a tile from inside a closet or another area that is covered by a piece of large furniture, and use that.

Lifting the Damaged Tile

• You'll need to heat the damaged tile to remove it. You can do this by holding a hot blow dryer a few inches away from the tile surface until the tile glue warms up and softens. Other options are to run a warm iron over the damaged tile or use a heat gun until the tile is pliable. Cut the damaged tile through the center at a diagonal with a utility knife, which enables you to lift the tile up without damaging the flooring around it. Slide the edge of a putty knife under the cut section of the warm tile. Work the putty knife around until the tile loosens, and then lift it out.

Preparing the Surface

• Cleaning the floor surface of the old adhesive ensures that the new tile adheres well. Scrape the adhesive up by using the edge of the putty knife. If there is a lot of adhesive, wet a cleaning cloth with mineral spirits. Rub the area with the wet cloth until the adhesive starts to dissolve, and use the putty knife to remove the softened adhesive.

Adding the New Tile

• Some vinyl and linoleum tile are available with self-adhesive backing. Simply peel off the backing, and press the new tile in place with your fingers. If the type of tile you have requires tile adhesive, add it to the back of the new tile with a trowel. Set the tile in place, and roll a rolling pin over the tile to remove any air bubbles. This action may cause some of the tile adhesive to ooze out. If so, wipe it up with a cleaning cloth dampened with mineral spirits to prevent dirt and pet hair from sticking to it.