How to choose linoleum

When renovating a house, apartment or office, the owners have a question about how to finish the floor. Certain materials may be too expensive, and tiles are not always appropriate because they are cold. When it comes to laminate flooring, it is exposed to water and can swell if used improperly. In this case, you can opt for high-quality linoleum, which will be optimal in cost, will be able to retain heat, is not afraid of moisture and has been serving for 20 years or more. Its installation is very simple, but you need to know how to choose linoleum for a specific room and needs. The coating can be of several types, differing in technical parameters.

The structure and application of linoleum

Everyone knows about linoleum that it is a versatile flooring material that can be used anywhere. It is used for an apartment, office, and other institutions. The coating is relatively cheap, does not crack over time, and the installation is carried out very quickly on its own.

Based on the substances used in production, the coating can be of different origins, but many options are characterized by a similar structure, which includes the following layers:

• Base. It is made on the basis of textiles or foam. The task of the layer is to provide flexibility, as well as thermal and acoustic insulation.
• Fiberglass. The layer that immediately adheres to the base is responsible for the strength of the product as a whole and can be a regular or with a reinforced layer.
• Basis of printing. Such a layer helps to apply the desired image, provides optimal clarity, and also perfectly absorbs colorants that do not spread during application.
• Surface embossing. It is done on the print layer and also helps to add expressiveness.
• Protective layer. It is made on the basis of polymer materials, and is also responsible for the degree of abrasion.
• PVC. A layer that gives the desired shine and provides additional protection.

Such a floor covering can have any pattern and embossing, which makes it possible to imitate wood and other materials. Some at first glance may confuse linoleum with laminate, wood, parquet or tile.

In addition to the described characteristics, linoleum can be:

• No base. In this case, the manufacturer uses several layers of basic substances that help preserve the image for a long time.
• Foam material giving a high degree of flexibility and moisture resistance.
• A fabric base that indicates high quality and gives the desired durability.

A characteristic feature of the coating can be considered moisture resistance. There are no layers at the base of the product that can absorb water, and also do not swell when exposed to it. These properties make linoleum one of the best coatings for kitchens, bathrooms, corridors and other areas. Manufacturers make different thicknesses, which allows you to better isolate noise, as well as keep warm. This makes it possible to use the product in a nursery or school.

Another popularity is due to the ease of installation, which makes budget savings during repairs. It is enough to roll the roll around the room and cut to shape, leaving a small margin, which is needed for straightening. To prepare the base, it is enough to remove the debris from the floor, fill up the cracks and remove the baseboards. After installation, trimming, fasteners are carried out using skirting boards and glue. It is recommended to use the adhesive base for concrete, you can nail the coating if the base is made of wood.

The best companies for the production of linoleum

When choosing a good linoleum, you need to understand that its quality and other parameters depend on the manufacturer. At the moment, there are many domestic and import companies that offer quality products. When there is no time to delve into the issue of studying all the characteristics and features, you can simply choose a product by brand. The best firms are:

• Armstrong;
• Grabo;
• Juteks;
• Tarkett.

If you need to understand completely the characteristics of the coating, then you need to understand in more detail all types, as well as specific parameters that you should pay attention to

Varieties of linoleum

At the moment, manufacturers make different linoleums in quality, color and external characteristics. In addition, various substances are added to the composition, which affect the price and performance.

PVC linoleum

This type of linoleum is the most common, characterized by the presence of a foam or textile base. It is produced in different thicknesses, so you can choose the thinnest and most dense coatings. The outer part is made of polymer film, which gives excellent protection for the image and embossing. The coating is characterized by a wide range of colors and affordable prices. PVC linoleum can be used for nurseries, bedrooms, baths, offices or public places.

The material itself is considered synthetic, there are 3 groups of application. In domestic use, the product will be cheap, but the service life is 5-10 years, the thickness is small. Semi-commercial models are used in different institutions where many people walk. Average service life up to 20 years. This is the kind that is often bought for an apartment. Commercial options are characterized by a high price, but excellent wear resistance. Thick linoleum, supplemented with protective layers, which helps to use the product in work areas.

Pros:

• Does not transfer cold from concrete surfaces after use.
• Simple installation.
• Electricity is not collected, so the attraction of dust, small debris is excluded.
• Large range of colors, different sizes and patterns.
• Safe for humans.
• Does not rot in a humid environment.
• Can be used for about 20 years.
• Optimal pricing policy.

Minuses:

• Deformation is possible when exposed to direct sunlight and high temperatures.
• Traces of chemicals will remain.
• Elasticity is lost on cold surfaces, which can cause cracks.
• After a while, there may be discrepancies at the joints.

Natural linoleum

An excellent choice for quality based on natural elements. Many positive qualities and naturalness affect the cost. Demand is not the greatest, so it can be difficult to find a product on the free market. It is better to choose such a coating for people who suffer from asthma, allergies, because natural ingredients do not irritate the respiratory organs and mucous membranes.

During production, jute fabric is used as a base, after which it is filled with a layer of wood, cork flour. Pine resin is used to bind all substances, and the coating is painted with limestone powder or pigments on a natural basis.

Pros:

• Complete safety for the body.
• Large selection of colors.
• Resistant outer layer.
• Easy maintenance.
• No deformations appear under the influence of the sun and high temperature.
• The surface does not burn, therefore it is suitable for the kitchen.
• The development of bacteria under the coating is excluded.

Minuses:

• High price.
• Not recommended for use in rooms where splashes will be frequent.
• During transportation and dropping, there are risks of fractures.
• It is brittle to bend, therefore, it requires care during installation.

Additional types of linoleum

In addition to the types of linoleum described, you can find additional options on sale where specific elements are used, but finding such materials is very problematic. Among them, you can distinguish relin - a raw material similar to rubber, excellent for wet rooms. It is characterized by the presence of 2 layers: hard bitumen at the bottom and smooth with color at the top. The main plus is flexibility and resistance to moisture, and the minus is the presence of volatile elements, which have a characteristic odor.

Glyphthal types have a fabric base and fillers with paint. An alkyd resin acts as a binder. It is characterized by a stable image and high-quality thermal insulation, which helps to exclude vibrations in the best way. Among the minuses, one can note fast brittleness in places of bends, which causes difficulties with installation. Recommended for bedrooms and children's rooms.

The colloxylin coating includes nitrocellulose and colorants. Linoleum is made without a base, so the layer is thin. It is not exposed to the influence of water, it is distinguished by the gloss of the surface and flexibility, but in the case of sharp temperature changes, deformations will appear. Over the years, the coating shrinks. Recommended for use in bedrooms and other private areas.

Linoleum selection options

Despite the large selection of linoleums, the materials used in the manufacture, there are many other characteristics. You need to know them in order to choose the right product for a specific room and task. Knowing all the parameters will help you quickly decide on a purchase.

Wear resistance classes

First of all, when choosing linoleum for an apartment, it is recommended to pay attention to its wear resistance class, as well as the purpose of the room itself. Based on abrasion and thickness, the coating can be of the following type:

• Household is not the most resistant material to abrasion, but it has an abundance of colors and patterns. After purchasing such a product, you can provide an inexpensive floor repair that will look beautiful and stylish. Recommended for use for housing before sale, as well as rental. In addition, the product is suitable for bedrooms where people will not walk much. It is not recommended to cover the floor in the hallway or kitchen, since the service life will be short.
• Semi-commercial is a fairly durable material with a rich gamut of shades, the product is great for kitchens, corridors and living rooms. Recommended for use in places where there will be a lot of traffic, heavy furniture is installed or it is planned to move it on wheels.
• Commercial - the coating is the most resistant to wear and tear. There are multi-layer options and products for 1 layer on sale.

In order to choose the right floor covering and be confident in it, you should understand the domestic and foreign classification. According to international requirements, linoleum can be marked as follows:

• Number 2 - suitable for apartments.
• Number 3 - Recommended for offices.
• Number 4 - produced for stacking in production areas.

The numbers described are the first, and after them there is a value in the range of 1-4, which indicates the degree of load on the coating.

• The minimum load is 1.
• Average load - 2.
• High load - 3.
• Maximum strength - 4.

To make the choice as simple as possible, Europeans use an image on the product, which helps to determine the purpose. It could be a small picture showing a person with a house.

With the help of designations, you can determine where linoleum is suitable. For example, for a large family, the number 3 should come first, followed by 1, class 31. For the kitchen, class 23 is suitable if the family is small. The bedrooms can use 21 classrooms.

If, when choosing a household or semi-commercial coating, the cost will differ by about 2 times, then there are other features that apply not only to the type. It is more likely that the reason is in the abrasion group. This indicator indicates the rate of wear of the floor during its operation.

The group meets the European standard EN660-1, the following tests are done for the calculation. With the help of a moving abrasive wheel, a floor covering is applied, such a circle should make at least 25,000 revolutions, and then the thickness is measured and its reduction. As a result of research, the manufacturer makes the following conclusion:

• Group T - abrasion by more than 0.08 mm, there are no impurities in the composition of linoleum.
• Group P - the coating is erased by 0.08-0.15 mm.
• Group M - the thickness is reduced by 0.15-0.3 mm.
• Group F - samples that lose 0.3-0.6 mm during the test. The material is not durable with a large amount of impurities (from 65%).

Chalk and quartz sand are used as impurities. As a result, homogeneous products have the lowest degree of wear resistance. Heterogeneous species, which include PVC, excellent abrasion resistance, their group is the highest (T).

When choosing a homogeneous type option, you should study all the features of the product. The main indicator is the abrasion group. If the manufacturer does not indicate the value, then it is recommended to abandon the purchase. There is a risk that linoleum will last a very short time. For example, you can buy inexpensively class 43 coating, but without specifying the abrasion group, which will lead to constant scratches. In this case, after a year, the floor material will look very ugly.

If we consider heterogeneous species, then one should look at the thickness of the layer for protection. The size is selected based on the purpose, therefore, for household models, the indicator will be up to 0.35 mm, commercial options from 0.6 mm, and semi-commercial ones are in the middle.

The thicker the protective layer, the longer the color and uniformity of the image will remain, regardless of the number of people who walk on the floor in a day. For an apartment and private housing, a thickness of 0.2-0.3 mm may be sufficient when it comes to the kitchen and hallway. A 0.15 mm cover is suitable for the bedroom.

Base type

Linoleum without a base is very thin, which reduces its insulating properties. However, the applied image penetrates the entire thickness of the coating, so abrasion of the upper part does not cause the formation of empty places where there will be maximum passability of people. It is recommended to use this view for public places, but without strong traffic of people. An excellent choice for a study or office, as well as a hall in a private home.

Foamed polyurethane has a large thickness, helps to keep warm. The surface is characterized by optimum flexibility for easy installation. This option is recommended to be covered in children's rooms, bedrooms or in the kitchen.

The fabric base helps to use linoleum for a long time, so the product is used for places with high traffic. In addition, the product is suitable for industrial workshops, factories where hard cutting objects are not used.

Thickness

At the moment, materials with a thickness of 1.1-3.2 mm can be found on sale. Based on this parameter, insulating performance will depend, as well as the degree of comfort from walking with bare feet. It is recommended to use 2.8-3.2 mm linoleum for a children's room. The maximum rate is to reduce the noise level and also turn out to be warm. For an office or bedroom, 1.2-1.6 mm may be sufficient.

Substrate

Good linoleum often includes a backing that is foam or felt. It is best to choose the most dense look, since it does not undergo deformation when pressed by furniture, wheels from it, so there will be no dents on the surface. This indicator can be determined by weight.If the roll is solid and large, then the backing is of good quality, but to be sure, you can still check it with your hands. It is enough to press on the substrate with your fingers, if you feel that the material is springy and not pressed, then the product is of high quality.

In addition to the described characteristics, a high-quality substrate helps to take away some of the noise, and also retains heat in the room better. A thick foam base helps to warm the floor, and if the density is low, the insulation performance increases. A foamed base is a big plus, especially with sufficient thickness. With the help of such a substrate, small irregularities in concrete or other floors can be hidden. The felt base helps to better transfer pressure from the cabinet, upholstered furniture and other items.

Moisture resistance

A similar indicator is never indicated by manufacturers, but the feature can be determined by the composition of linoleum. For bathrooms, kitchens or other wet areas, it is recommended to use PVC-based versions, as well as relin with 2 layers. Fabrics, models without a base, are better suited for dry rooms, including bedrooms, halls, offices.

Roll width

Regardless of the appearance, color and other indicators of linoleum, it is recommended to pay attention to the width of the roll. Moreover, it must meet the characteristics of the room. With an area of ​​3x4 meters, it is recommended to look for options with a width of 3 or 4 meters. This choice will help spread the coating in one sheet without joints. Otherwise, ugly joints appear, which will diverge over time. At the moment, manufacturers offer options in the range of 2.5-4 meters in width.

Image and quality

Each person independently selects the color scheme, patterns and other decorative elements for linoleum, based on the interior of the room. However, attention should be paid to the quality of such a layer. It is not recommended to purchase sheets with one article but of a different batch. This can cause a certain difference in shades. When inspecting the roll, it is recommended to unfold it to determine the presence of air bubbles, pores and bumps. Such defects indicate poor quality and non-compliance with technology during production.

All colors on the top should be uniform with no noticeable differences. In the presence of abrasions in new rolls, we can talk about a minimum protective film, and images on high-quality surfaces will always have the same clarity and shape.

Additional selection options

There are a few more useful guidelines and parameters to look at before buying:

• If the choice is made for the kitchen, then it is important to assess the degree of resistance to wear, as well as the thickness of the protective layer. With an additional varnish coating, cleaning and maintaining the floor will be much easier, since debris cannot penetrate into the structure itself. The linoleum itself can be matte or glossy, but the second option is preferable, since it will always seem washed in the kitchen.
• For a child's bedroom or in the kitchen, it is recommended to cover linoleum with an antibacterial layer. Manufacturers apply a special harmless substance that does not include chemical impurities. Removal of bacteria and other microorganisms is carried out using the influence of silver ions, which will be released during wet cleaning inside the protective layer. In addition, moisture can be taken directly from the environment.
• On a positive note, there is a lightning bolt on the surface. This indicates no build-up of static electricity. If there is no badge, then after walking across the floor with bare feet, dust and other debris will accumulate on the ground.
• The wheel pictogram indicates that the furniture on wheels can be used without harm to the linoleum. If there is no icon, moving furniture on wheels may leave marks.
• The presence of the "warm floor" pictogram makes it possible to lay linoleum on a heated base.
• Any linoleum is characterized by a specific smell, but when choosing, you need to understand that it should not be harsh, since after installation it will be impossible to be in the room. For verification, you will need to personally check the material.
• Linoleum should not be exposed to combustion, as this can block the path of waste, as well as the release of harmful substances. In this case, you need to buy goods with class G1 or G2.

Which linoleum to choose

Having studied the main parameters of the floor covering, you can highlight the main criteria for choosing a specific product:

• For office cabinets or in the living room, it is recommended to use the baseless type with class 21 and 1 level of traffic.
• Only PVC is suitable for the kitchen or bathroom, which has level 3, as well as class 24, but it can be replaced with a relay with 2 layers.
• It is recommended to choose products on a foam base with a layer of 3 mm for a child's room or a parent's bedroom. The best will be level 2 and class 22.
• In schools, hospitals, corridors where a high degree of traffic is planned, it is recommended to choose materials with a fabric base of grade 24 and level 4. In this case, you will need to choose a thickness of 3.2 mm.
• If linoleum will be laid in a camp with children or in a room where allergies are located, you should choose natural types of linoleum.

The cost of products will directly depend on the substances that are in the composition and are used to manufacture the product. In addition, the price is influenced by the thickness of the coating, the class of wear resistance. Average prices are for 1 sq. m are as follows:

• Natural types of linoleum, which are recommended for allergies and asthma - 1000-1900 rubles.
• For a hall or office, the cost will be 240-350 rubles.
• In the nursery or bedroom - 400-550 rubles.
• For the kitchen and bathroom - 450-600 rubles.
• For public places - 580-680 rubles.

Using all the described characteristics and tips, it will be possible to choose the best option for a house, apartment, office and other places, based on the number of people and other parameters.