DO-IT-YOURSELF : Warm Up to Restore Vinyl

Trapped moisture, poor adhesive and foreign matter on the subfloor can cause vinyl flooring to curl or bubble. By following a few simple steps, you can restore your floor and preserve its beauty:

* Heat. Use a hand-held dryer or heat gun to warm the blemished area, usually found along the edge of a tile or a sheet of vinyl. Heat softens the vinyl, making it pliable so that you can work with it without causing further damage. When excessive moisture is the problem, heating also dries the affected portion.

* Scrape. Once vinyl is softened, use a putty knife to gently pry it loose from the floor. Tiles can be completely removed and sheet flooring peeled back from the edges. Carefully scrape away all dried adhesive and dirt that would prevent the vinyl from fitting smoothly. (Be certain to scrape both the back of the vinyl and the floor itself.) Vacuum the area thoroughly to remove loosened particles.

If you need to replace a section of vinyl, you may be able to use a section from underneath one of your appliances.

* Cut. To eliminate blisters that sometimes appear in the center of tiles, cut through the softened bubble with a sharp knife; then scrape and dry the underlying area.

* Paste. To complete your restoration, spread a thin layer of adhesive on the floor. Then gently replace the vinyl and press it firmly into place. Finally, weigh down the area overnight (a stack of books works) while the adhesive sets.