How to choose linoleum?
Modern linoleum is not only an attractive price, but also excellent consumer qualities, durability and a wide range of colors.
For any design solution, you can choose the right color, because only German manufacturers produce about 250 varieties of this floor covering with more than a hundred colors. And the annual change of collections, which has already become traditional, makes the assortment of drawings almost endless. Color solutions that imitate marble, parquet boards, bamboo, ceramic tiles and mosaics are in stable demand .
choose linoleumLinoleum as a floor covering: pros and cons
The advantageous difference between linoleum and parquet boards is its high moisture resistance and good abrasion resistance, which are a consequence of the synthetic origin of the material. The additives have been developed in recent years to extend the service life, so some varieties are designed to last for 30 years. The standard service life of this floor covering is 8-10 years.
Of course, in comparison with ceramic tiles, this is a short time, but at the same time, the undoubted advantages of linoleum are softness and warmth, as well as excellent heat and sound insulation. In addition, laying tiles requires special skills and long-term surface preparation, while anyone can lay linoleum. The main thing during operation is to avoid hypothermia (low temperatures will make it fragile).
Choosing linoleum for your home
The basis of linoleum is a sheet of fiberglass, on which a layer of PVC of different thickness is applied from above and below. Then a pattern is rolled on top, the strength of which is provided by another layer of PVC. It is on the thickness of this layer that the consumer qualities and the price of the flooring depend.
If the thickness of the PVC layer is not more than 0.15 mm, linoleum should be laid in rooms with minimal traffic - living rooms and bedrooms. With a layer thickness of 0.2 mm, it is suitable for living rooms or children's rooms, and 0.25 mm is ideal for a hallway or kitchen. If the thickness of the protective coating reaches 0.3 mm, linoleum can be safely used in commercial premises with medium traffic.
Commercial linoleum
Intensive use leads to a higher degree of strength of this type of linoleum. There are two main varieties of this type of coating:
Heterogeneous linoleum, which is a fiberglass impregnated on both sides with PVC, on which microscopic colored granules are poured on top, covered with another layer of PVC. This allows you to achieve the effect of a three-dimensional pattern.
Homogeneous linoleum, characterized by the passage of the pattern applied to the base through the entire thickness of the material, which allows you to maintain an excellent appearance of the coating for a long time, even under severe operating conditions.
Warm linoleum
Another type of this flooring is linoleum, produced on a warm basis. It is produced using natural materials, which leads to a higher cost compared to conventional options for home use. In the production of such linoleum, a polymer layer (with a thickness of about one and a half millimeters) is glued onto a jute or felt base, with a uniform pattern on the entire surface. In more democratic pricing options, it is possible to use synthetic jute or felt as a base.
This linoleum retains heat well, and is also characterized by increased elasticity and softness. However, it is not intended for use in wet areas.