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Home Repair Flooring DIY

How do I replace these floor planks with others beneath my carpet?

6 years ago

I have vinyl flooring that has been damaged when I trimmed the carpet on top of it. While I can't find the same planks anymore, I can swap them with other planks that are still under the carpet.

What's the best way to do so? Do I need to hire someone for this? Can someone point me in the right direction?

Thanks!

Featured Answer

kudzu9

6 years ago

last modified: 6 years ago

Since the planks typically interlock it's quite challenging to get pieces out after they are installed as the tongues need to be cut along at least one side and one end, and the replacement pieces must also be modified. Even for someone highly skilled, the result can be less than perfect. If it were me, I'd live with it, or put down a throw rug to hide it.

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Comments (11)

Vith
6 years ago
last modified: 6 years ago
If you have matching planks, you should hire someone.

If you dont have matching planks, it is a fantasy. Would have to replace whole floor.
Olychick
6 years ago
Sand and refinish vinyl planks???

Sorry, I don't know the answer to your question, but if no help here, maybe the flooring forum?
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The herringbone is going to come in at a 45 degree to the planks, no? So you will need to cut each one of those anyway. If you cut them, you can route them. The plank will have a tongue straight across the door unless you run it from that wall into the opposite, in which case you just put a spline in. And if you have routed the herringbone, you just slip them over the spline. I do it all the time. If you've never routed anything, just go buy a router and table. You can get them both for $150 or less. No need to go top quality since it's not your life work. Just get a good 1/4 inch bit and remember that the wood is made so that the tongue or groove has more wood on top than on the bottom. Take a look at any piece of flooring and you'll see what I mean - the groove is not dead center along the length. It's not that much extra work. Don't know how your transition is going to be - in other words is there a doorway or an arch or something? If so, you can put a strip in there to break it more cleanly visually. In my house, I had a lot of wood around, so I put in something like wenge, maple, birch, walnut, or something similar. They are at the same level so you don't have something raised between the two. I hate not having the 2 tied in. Some people don't go thru the effort I mentioned, but for me it's the best solution by far.
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qam999
6 years ago
Flooring contractor or very skilled handyman.
jamieoutlaw
6 years ago
Is this peel & stick vinyl or is it glued down? if peel & stick, you may be able to gently pry up the damaged pieces and replace them with another piece, but you'll have to be very careful not to break them. You may need to use some glue when you replace them, however. If it is glued down, I think anyone would have a difficult time getting them up in one piece. Are the smudges the damage you are referring to or the scratches?
Vith
6 years ago
last modified: 6 years ago
Sigh, I replied late last night, looked at the picture... NVM no you cant sand vinyl LOL thought we were talking about laminate or real wood.

The mess you would make taking up the carpet and getting scrap pieces and trying to piece it all back together would be more work than just redoing it all from scratch.
PRO
User
6 years ago
You are unlikely to find a contractor for such a small job. If you do, you will pay a small job premium. I'd suggest putting a rug over it until you are ready to replace it all.
PRO
Cinar Interiors, Inc.
6 years ago
IF the carpet is laid over the vinyl plank, simply use a pair of pliers and pull back a corner of the carpet to retrieve planks that are in better shape.
You will need a carpet installer to reinstall the carpet properly...unless you have the required tools to do so.
toxcrusadr
6 years ago
How hard have you looked for matching planks? Are you sure they are not made anymore or just haven't found them at a local store, etc.?
nicolediane
6 years ago
If it is glue that damaged the vinyl have you tried using Goof Off to remove it?
PRO
Cancork Floor Inc.
6 years ago
My suggestion is this: remove the carpet - COMPLETELY. Remove ALL THE VINYL from underneath the carpet (as it *should have been done in the first place). While the vinyl is being removed, you can pull out some of the damaged planks and replace them with the salvaged planks.

Fix the vinyl floor and then reinstall carpet. Voila. Done. You will have salvaged an entire room full of vinyl planks = plenty of planks to choose from. And you will have created a flat/even surface for the carpet to sit on.

Excellent. Both objectives will have been achieved (carpet installed and vinyl floor repaired). Good luck. Hopefully the vinyl underneath the carpet will not have been damaged by the carpet pad/backing.

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