How Do You get Lumps Out Of Vinyl Flooring

There isn’t much else more satisfying than a freshly laid floor. Your home looks like a brand new place and everything feels new and clean. But then you notice that your brand new vinyl flooring has bubbles in it. How did they get there and how do you get lumps out of vinyl flooring?

Bubbles normally appear in vinyl flooring because of moist air rising from underneath. But this can be fixed using a quick DIY method that involves piercing the bubble and flattening it out. How you do this will depend on the size of the bubble. 

The problem with vinyl flooring is that it is not solid compared to things like laminate flooring so it is possible for bubbles to show up. Even if your flooring has been professionally laid, there is still a risk of these bubbles appearing. 

It’s nothing to do with the competence of the fitter as this is something that is unavoidable. Your floor might look perfect for weeks, months or perhaps years before you notice the first bubble appearing. It can be very frustrating but there’s no need to rip up the floor just yet. There are ways you can remove the bubbles without damaging your floor. 

Will Bubbles In Vinyl Flooring Go Away?

If you have noticed bubbles forming in your vinyl flooring then they won’t just go away on their own. Since they’re caused by moist air (more on that later), there’s nowhere for this air to go. So, the solution involves a little bit of DIY on your part. But don’t worry, you don’t need to be a flooring expert to get the job done. 

In a few easy steps, you can remove bubbles in vinyl flooring and have it looking as good as new. Just keep in mind that different sized bubbles will need slightly different treatments. 

Small Bubbles

If the bubble in your vinyl flooring is no more than an inch in diameter, the process is very quick and easy. You will need to start by prepping the floor to ensure that it is clean and free from any debris. A simple vacuum and mop job will do the trick. 

You will then need to piece the bubble but that doesn’t mean cutting up the floor. Simply take something like a strong sewing needle or the point of a utility knife and press this into the centre of the bubble to make a small hole. 

Next, place a towel over the area to protect the vinyl and, using a hot iron, flatten out the surface until the bubble is removed. To prevent it from coming back, it’s a good idea to place something heavy like a stack of books on the area for around 24 hours. 

If you find that the bubble doesn’t go away then you might need to inject some vinyl flooring adhesive using a small syringe. Once injected, you’ll then need to flatten the area. 

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Large Bubbles

Larger bubbles can be removed using a similar method but there are a few differences regarding what you’ll need to do.

Before doing anything else, you must again make sure that the floor is clean. The last thing you want is any debris getting into the bubble once you’ve made a hole. Depending on the size of the debris, this could make an imperfection in the floor. 

This time, you will need to begin by heating up the area. This can be done using the towel and hot iron method that we used previously. You want to make sure that the vinyl is as hot as possible so keep going over it for a good few minutes. 

When it’s ready, the next step is to create an X shape in the bubble. You can do this using a stanley knife but be very careful not to tear the surrounding vinyl.

Now gently peel back the vinyl on the affected area and smooth on some vinyl flooring adhesive. It’s so important to be careful at this stage so that no other part of the tile or plank is affected. Now stick the edges back down and smooth them out. The best tool for this is a rolling pin but you’ll also need a cloth to remove any glue that seeps out. 

Pop some wax paper onto the area and weight it down using something like a stack of books or a heavy pan. After 24 hours, you can then reseal the vinyl using an appropriate sealer. You’ll normally find details of this on the manufacturer’s instructions for the floor; a good reason to always hold onto them!

What Causes Vinyl Plank Flooring To Bubble?

Even if you have had your vinyl floor down for a very long time, there is still a chance that bubbles may occur. The reason for this is that moist air rises up from the subfloor. It has nowhere to go and so becomes trapped between this and the vinyl. 

While it does look unsightly, especially when there are a lot of bubbles. It is a project that can be easily handled by the homeowner so there’s no need to call in a professional flooring expert. 

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Conclusion

VInyl flooring is a popular choice in homes around the world thanks to how seamless it looks and how durable it is. Not to mention, it’s very affordable. However, unlike hard floors, there is a risk of problems with air bubbles forming under the surface of the vinyl. 

These may pop up as soon as the floor has been installed or could take years to appear. But with something as simple as a sewing needle and an iron, you can have your floor looking as good as new once more.