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Home Repair Flooring DIY

Horrible vinyl glue down flooring installation. How can I fix it?

3 years ago

Not sure whether it was water or just poor installation, but there are quite a few pieces like this. This is my first home and refused to allow the seller to use "his guy" to fix this as I believe it was the person who poorly installed it in the first place.

Should I cut and glue down? Is it possible to fix myself? Thank you for everyone whom is reading this.

Featured Answer

PRO

G & S Floor Service

3 years ago

It looks like a product issue. The glue is failing. Take a exacto knife and surgically cut the adhesive. Use super glue for vinyl to adhere the joint.

There is also, vinyl tape available for the repair. But it will be tricky to insert the tape in the joint. The tape is super sticky.

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Comments (8)

Alex P
Original Author
3 years ago
The problem is the pieces don't lay flat at all. Not sure if this is just due to expansion or water damage.
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PRO
G & S Floor Service
3 years ago
If, you have extra planks, replace it.

Or you can press it with damp towel and warm iron. It will soften the adhesive at the joint. You will need to keep weights on it until it cools down. It won't be perfectly flat, but will get you through until. You're ready to update it.
SJ McCarthy
3 years ago
You keep mentioning water damage - why is that? Was there a leak? If so, how, where, when, how much?

And yes, vinyl can expand...but not normally enough to overcome the RIGHT glue. As mentioned above, it looks to be a glue issue.

The problem is, if it happened once, we MUST ASSUME it can and WILL happen again, and again, and again.
Alex P
Original Author
3 years ago
I am unaware of any leak or water damage as my home inspector did not find any upon inspection.

Well this has only occurred in the kitchen which is why I suspect it was due to water. But this picture shows the only two spots where this has occurred. The whole house has used this vinyl and there seems to be no issues.
SJ McCarthy
3 years ago
Have you closed on the home? Was this visible during walk through?

The fix depends on the 'issue'. Glue comes up for many many reasons. One of them being water. Another being 'inappropriate' use of adhesive, the 'wrong' adhesive or an inappropriate SUBSTRATE.

I mention the substrate because some people will try to be 'cute' or 'cheap' about their install and choose NOT to remove old flooring products (such as vinyl) or they choose to keep the 'wrong' subfloor product instead of removing/covering and resheathing.

The only way to know how to FIX this is to pull up the bad planks (has to be done anyway if they are overlapping at the short edges) to see what has happened underneath.

It is entirely possible the old owner left old vinyl in place (which is why it is only in the kitchen) or left old/contaminated plywood (or worse...OSB) in place and the adhesive has refused to stick.

Can you show more room photos please. There might be other hints to what has happened when viewed as a TOTAL install.
Alex P
Original Author
3 years ago
I have not yet closed. Judging by the sellers previous work he has gone the cheapest route every time to fix up this rental property so I wouldn't be surprised if this is what has happened. Will get the keys in two weeks.
SJ McCarthy
3 years ago
This is a clear case of 'Caveat Emptor' = Buyer Be ware. This is your big red flag. I would ASSUME this floor needs to be completely ripped out and done again. I hope your bid clearly reflects this.

If there are issues with the 'pretty' stuff (this is a big issue) then you can assume the 'bones' of the house have issues as well.

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