Step-by-Step

Most resilient floor tiles lift out easily once you apply some heat to soften the adhesive underneath them. Lay a towel on top of the tile and use a medium-hot iron. Avoid heating adjacent tiles.

Slip a putty knife under a corner. Do not pry against surrounding tiles.

If you cannot raise a corner, use a chisel, working out from the center to the edges.

Once the tile is removed, you must scrape away all old adhesive from the floor so the new tile will lie flat. Sand off any remaining adhesive.

Be sure the new tile will fit and lie flat. If not, mark as shown.

If the new tile is too large, use a sharp knife and a straightedge to cut it. For minor trimming, use a sanding block or plane.

Apply adhesive with a serrated spreader, if required, or simply brush on.

Different types of tile require different adhesives. To avoid confusion, ask the salesperson from whom you make the purchase to recommend a suitable adhesive.

Use the iron to soften the new tile. Protect the tile's surface with a cloth.

Drop -- do not slide -- the new tile into position. Remove excess adhesive with a cloth damped with water or mineral spirits, depending on the type of adhesive. Weigh down for 24 hours.

Heat often is the answer for tiles that have come partially unglued. Exceptions to this are asphalt and vinyl asbestos tiles, which you will have to remove by chipping from the center out with a chisel. Work an iron (protected by a pressing cloth) back and forth until you can peel up the curled corner, then remove as much adhesive from the tile as possible. The more adhesive you can remove, the better the repair you can make.

If the tile has cooled, be sure to heat it again, then apply a thin, even coat of adhesive to the tile. Stand on the corner of the tile to press it into place. Wipe off any excess adhesive with a damp cloth, then weigh down the tile with a heavy object.

Scouring -- plus some careful scraping with a sharp knife -- also will remove shallow burns. For scratches, see the techniques explained in "Patching Sheet Flooring."

Often, you can remove stains by rubbing them with a mild detergent solution. If that doesn't work, try a white appliance wax. As a last resort, scour stains with very fine steel wool and a household cleanser.