Laying, flooring natural linoleum Forbo Marmoleum

Requirements for the premises

Before laying natural linoleum, the room temperature must be stable for at least 48 hours. The air temperature in the room should not fall below 17°C. The substrate temperature must exceed 14°C and the relative humidity must not exceed 75%.

Preliminary preparation of natural linoleum for laying

Before laying marmoleum rolls must acclimatize in the room for 24 hours, while it is necessary to give the rolls a vertical position.
The labels on the prepared rolls should be easily readable so that the article, color, roll and lot numbers can be controlled. If several rolls of the same color are stacked indoors, make sure that all these rolls are from the same batch (to avoid color differences).

Foundation requirements:

Natural linoleum flooring begins with the preparation of the base. The base for marmoleum flooring should be:

Smooth and monolithic (without lumps, dimples, sagging, drops and joints), otherwise all the irregularities of the base will appear on the surface of the marmoleum after laying. And during operation in uneven places, the marmoleum will be wiped;

The substrate must be dry (permissible moisture content of the substrate is not more than 2%, measured by the carbide method);

Durable (not lower than 300 kg/cm2);

The substrate must be clean (free of dirt, oil, paint or grease).

Adhesive for laying natural linoleum

For natural linoleum flooring, it is recommended to use only water-dispersion adhesives specially designed for laying natural Marmoleum linoleum, namely - Glue Forbo 418.
characterized by exceptionally high adhesive strength (at least 3 N/mm2) and high initial adhesive strength. Moreover, this adhesive has a so-called "moisture retention power". This property is one of the main properties for adhesives intended for natural linoleum. The fact is that, while still wet, 418 glue develops such an adhesive force that either keeps the coating from shrinking completely, or radically reduces the shrinkage of the coating.
It is not recommended to use two-component polyurethane adhesives for laying natural linoleum, since they do not create an initial adhesive force. And this means that you will not be able to completely remove bubbles from under the marmoleum during the polymerization period of the glue. After the polyurethane adhesive has reacted, it will be impossible to remove the bubbles remaining under the coating.

Preparation of natural linoleum (cutting for the room)

Before laying, the marmoleum rolls must be rewound with the front side inward - this will significantly reduce the amount of shrinkage!

It is necessary to unwind the roll along the long wall of the room, cut it off, leaving a margin of 10 cm on each side;

Using a trimmer, trim the edge of the linoleum sheet on both sides, cutting inward to prevent “picking”;

Move the marmoleum sheet to the wall as tightly as possible, making sure that the margin of 10 cm is evenly distributed on both sides;

Set the length of the long marker to 10 mm more than the obtained maximum distance between the wall and the coating sheet;

Holding a long marker, if possible perpendicular to the coating, draw the contour of the wall onto the coating, using the needle as a marker;

Now we cut the material according to the mark obtained, using a hook blade, cutting inwards;

We move the coating tightly to the wall - the configuration of the wall and the contour of the coating must match;

On the base, draw a line (edge) with a pencil, using the free edge of the marmoleum sheet (opposite from the wall) as a ruler;

On the base and on the sheet of marmoleum, make a mark (short transverse line) with a pencil, which will fix the position of the sheet;

Slide the marmoleum sheet along the drawn edge of the line, until the left margin of 10 cm lies freely on the base;

Install a long marker (between the roller stop and the needle) slightly less than the distance (shift) between the marks on the cover and on the base - to compensate for shrinkage;

Using the marker installed in this way, apply the contour of the wall to the coating, then remove the excess along the resulting contour with a hook blade, cutting inwards;

Repeat the above process for the opposite side;
Now sweep or vacuum the base, and place the prepared marmoleum sheet in place;

If it is necessary to lay two or more sheets of natural linoleum indoors, each next sheet is laid in exactly the same way, after which it is cut first along the long side, and then from the ends;

In order to ensure accurate marking of the seams, it is first necessary to place the sheets with an overlap: by 1.5–2 cm.

How to apply glue for laying marmoleum?

After opening the can, the adhesive should be thoroughly mixed and applied to the substrate using a notched trowel TKV/V1. Glue consumption, when gluing natural linoleum, is about 450 g per 1 sq. m.
In a circular motion, gently and evenly apply the adhesive to the entire surface of the base. In this case, only one side of the spatula should be used, the other should remain clean. Excess glue must be collected with a spatula back into the jar and closed.
After applying the adhesive to the base, there is no need to withstand the “drying time”, since the base absorbs moisture, and the natural linoleum itself is a moisture-permeable coating.

Bonding natural linoleum Marmoleum

After you have cut the marmoleum into sheets in accordance with the room, it can be glued.
Holding the short sides of the sheets, the prepared marmoleum sheets are simultaneously wrapped with the base up, freeing 1 half of the base area for applying glue.
It is impossible to roll prepared sheets into a roll, as this will lead to deformation of the coating and the appearance of bubbles.

On the base, along the wrapped edge, draw a line of glue with a pencil;

Using an appropriate notched trowel (TKV/B1), apply adhesive to the base, strictly observing the previously marked adhesive boundary;

Lay the first part of the marmoleum on the glue and roll;

After one side of the linoleum strip has been laid on the adhesive layer and rolled, it is necessary to wrap the remaining non-glued edge of the marmoleum and carefully apply glue to the base, observing the border. If there is a repeated application of glue to the same place, then this will appear through the coating in the form of a spot;

Roll the cover across the bale in order to expel the air under the cover along the shortest path, only then roll it along the bale.

After 15 minutes, you need to re-roll the natural linoleum in order to achieve the final and reliable adhesion of the linoleum and the base;

After laying all strips of natural linoleum, it is necessary to trim the seams. Use the short combi scriber to set the seam width.

When working with Marmoleumom Forbo, you can:

for rooms where there is no danger of a significant amount of water appearing on the coating, leave a tight seam, refusing to weld - the transverse expansion of linoleum makes such a seam exceptionally tight and reliably protects it from the penetration of a small amount of water;
for rooms where the likelihood of water appearing on the coating is very significant, it is necessary to weld the seams, for this it is necessary:

Place the foot of the combi-marker under the previously left “overlap”, rest with the heel against the edge of the glued sheet of the coating and, drawing the combi-marker along the edge of the coating, mark on the upper canvas the exact contours of the edge of the lower marmoleum canvas;

Trim the edge along the mark using a hook blade, cut everything inward as well;

Settle the cut edge of the coating in the glue, carefully pressing;

Remove adhesive that has fallen on the coating with a clean, damp cloth;

Wash the tool from glue with cold water.

Features of gluing natural linoleum
After you apply the glue, you can carefully lay the marmoleum. The natural linoleum laid on the glue must be carefully rubbed with a board sheathed with a piece of carpet, the air from under the linoleum is squeezed out along the shortest path - in the transverse direction.
After that, it is strongly recommended to roll the entire surface of the marmolema with heavy rolling rollers, weighing 50-70 kg. First, the coating is rolled in the transverse direction, removing air from under the coating, and then in the longitudinal direction. Particular care should be taken to roll the coating in the area of ​​\u200b\u200bthe seams.

General recommendations for laying natural linoleum
If several rolls of the same article are stacked indoors, you should try to stack the rolls in sequence with increasing roll numbers.
Sheets of natural linoleum should be laid in one direction; on the reverse side of the marmoleum there are arrows indicating this direction.
Due to the properties of natural linoleum, when laying in a wet adhesive layer - to shrink in the longitudinal direction (1mm / 1 running m), it is necessary to rewind the rolls with the front side inward before laying - this will significantly reduce the amount of shrinkage.
Due to the property of natural linoleum, when laying in a wet adhesive layer, it expands somewhat in the transverse direction, it is necessary to cut the marmoleum by slightly tilting the knife so that the linoleum sheets laid next to each other are in contact with sharp upper edges. With the expansion of natural linoleum, sharp edges touch and even crumple somewhat, forming a tight seam. This will prevent extrusion of linoleum in the area of ​​​​the seams - the so-called "peaking", which would take place if the sheets of linoleum rested against each other throughout the entire thickness of the coating.

Welding of seams (joints) of natural linoleum

To ensure complete water resistance of natural flooring, it is necessary to weld marmoleum sheets using a special welding cord designed for natural linoleum. Please note that with the help of a welding cord in a contrasting color, various designs can be created on the marmoleum coating.
Work on welding natural linoleum must be carried out after the adhesive has completely polymerized, preferably the next day or a few hours after the flooring. If you start welding immediately after laying the coating, then the glue boiling under the influence of hot air and steam emissions from the seam will not allow you to reliably weld the marmoleum joints.
In contrast to the welding of PVC coatings, it would be more correct to apply the term "soldering" to natural linoleum, since hot air is not able to melt the coating made on the basis of wood flour.
When "welding" natural linoleum, a cord consisting of a low-melting polymer, melting, penetrates into the pores of the marmoleum and, solidifying, seals the seam.
For high-quality "welding" of natural linoleum, it is necessary to use only professional tools: a hair dryer with stepped air temperature control, special knives and accessories.

Make a "groove" under the seam with a carving knife - a grower;

The depth of the "groove" should be almost the entire depth of the marmoleum, to the jute base, which cannot be damaged;

Then you need to carefully vacuum the area of ​​\u200b\u200bthe seam;

Set the temperature of the hair dryer to about 350 ° C, put on a cast nozzle with a diameter of 5 mm and turn on the hair dryer;

Wait until the nozzle heats up to the required temperature;

We take a piece of welding cord a little more than half the length of the seam and insert it into the nozzle, immediately press the end of the cord into the groove of the seam and, holding it in this position for about a second, begin to move the hair dryer along the seam (with the same, small, movement speed);

The heel of the nozzle during movement must always be parallel to the surface;

It is necessary to choose the correct speed of the hair dryer, making sure that the cord actually melts, contacting the coating material; with the correct welding process, two tracks of tiny beads are formed on the sides of the seam from the material of the welding cord;

Immediately after the end of welding, while the cord is hot, using a sickle-shaped knife and a nozzle for pre-cutting the cord, remove the excess cord “roughly”;

Repeat welding, starting from the opposite wall, and put the cord with an overlap of 20 cm on the pre-welded and cut cord;

After the temperature of the cord has equaled the temperature of the coating, it is necessary to cleanly remove the excess cord, while holding the sickle-shaped knife as parallel to the floor surface as possible.
If you cut the fused cord in one pass, when the cord is still hot, then as a result, after the cord cools down, a groove will remain - the cord shrinks when cooled. Such carelessness can lead to a significant deterioration in the appearance of the laid coating, since dirt and dust will collect in the grooves.

When creating designs in the form of friezes (“frames”), it is necessary to cut strips natural linoleum only along the roll, but not across. Natural linoleum, being rolled up, has been exposed to significant bending forces for a long time and is in a stressed state. By cutting the strips across the roll, it is impossible to compensate for this stress with adhesive force (due to the small width of the strip), as a result, the coating strips will take on a characteristic shape - a “croaker”. The smaller the width of the strip, the more noticeable this effect will be. Most often, such a “croaker” cannot be corrected by pressing down by laying out heavy objects in such areas.
THEREFORE, when creating friezes, you must adhere to the following rules:
The strips are always laid in the same direction, according to the direction arrow;
Marmoleum strips, from which the frieze is formed, are joined only diagonally, at an angle of 45o - this will evenly distribute stress and prevent breaks and / or “peaking” at the joints.

Deflection of the drying chamber

The term "deflection of the drying chamber" is understood as a factor associated with the production technology of natural linoleum, namely, the preservation on the sheet of linoleum of a stable transverse "wave" 10-12 cm wide of the trace from the crossbar used to stretch the sheet of natural linoleum during maturation of marmoleum in the drying chamber.
As a rule, it is located in the middle of the roll - at a distance of 15-16 meters from the beginning of the roll. Unfortunately, due to the stress in this area, laying the “camber of the drying chamber” is associated with some difficulties. For reliable gluing of such a site, the reliable adhesive force inherent in adhesives for natural linoleum is often not enough. Therefore, if possible, it is recommended not to use this area, if the dimensions of the premises, the design of the coating pattern and the supply of linoleum allow.

Every year the construction market pleases with a mass of new materials. One of these is marmoleum. This material is used for laying as a floor covering and cannot be used for any other purpose.

The presented product looks very similar to ordinary linoleum, but it differs in its technical characteristics.

Marmoleum has the main feature: it is a completely natural material.

The fact is that the following components are used for manufacturing in production: linseed oil, chalk, resin of coniferous trees, wood flour, as well as elements of cork oak wood. The use of various dyes allows you to get a lot of color and texture options.

The picture shows the natural ingredients used in the production of marmoleum.

Another feature of the product is that the pattern on its surface can retain its brightness and colorfulness for a long time. This is ensured by a special technology for applying a picture, which involves its location throughout the entire thickness of the layer. In stores, marmoleum is sold in the form of panels, rolls, and tiles. The roll version is the most common.

Specifications

Before purchasing this natural material, you need to find out what features it has. Marmoleum has the following technical characteristics:

1. Warranty period of operation: not less than 35 years.
2. Mechanical strength of the product: 160 kg/cm2.
3. Standard material dimensions: roll - width - 2 m, thickness - 2-4 mm; tiles - 50x50 or 30x30 cm; panels - 90x30 cm.
4. Specific gravity: 2.6-3.4 kg/m2.

Classification

This flooring has a classification similar to linoleum. For example, there are such classes of marmoleum:

• 41-43 - such a product can be considered the most durable and reliable. It is used most often where a large number of people accumulate. For example, this material can be laid in shopping centers, airports, train stations. Due to the thickness of the decorative layer, which is 3 mm, it can serve for a long time and with high quality.

Marmoleum class 31-33 is suitable for large office premises, class 21-23 is suitable for small offices. Pay attention to the beauty of the coating pattern.

• 31-33 - this product is industrial. It keeps within at the enterprises, in production shops and large offices. The thickness of the decorative layer is about 2.5 mm.
• 21-23 - this marmoleum is the thinnest and is the cheapest. It is designed for apartments, private houses and small offices. But do not think that such material is of less quality than products of previous classes. The warranty period for this type of product is about 20 years.

For a nursery, it is better to choose the thinnest marmoleum. Such a coating is sold at a lower price, while maintaining the properties of durability.

It is not worth choosing the highest class flooring for yourself. It will not justify your costs. The fact is that over time, dents from furniture legs can form on a thick layer. For home use, thin cheap material is fine for you.

Advantages and disadvantages

Marmoleum has the following advantages:

• Security. Since the product is made from natural materials, it does not emit any harmful substances. In addition, such a coating is well suited for allergy sufferers and children. Natural resins, which are present in the composition of the material, provide a bactericidal effect.
• High degree of resistance to mechanical stress.
• The product tolerates UV rays well, so it does not fade.
• The coating has a high level of resistance to fire and temperature extremes. This feature allows you to use it for arranging underfloor heating.

A plus to all the advantages of marmoleum is a wide selection of colors and options for decorating the floor.

• Moisture resistant.
• Despite the relatively small thickness of the layer, such a floor does not require additional noise, thermal and waterproofing. Thanks to this, your repair will be completed faster, and you will spend much less money.
• Large variety of sizes.
• Possibility of laying the material on the old flooring.
• Resistance to the influence of chemicals.
• Good decorative quality.

And this material practically does not accumulate static electricity.

Due to its resistance to mechanical stress and moisture resistance, this coating can be easily used in the kitchen.

Despite the fact that this coating is natural, it also has certain disadvantages:

1. Relative hardness. Over time, the coating spreads a little and hardens. This fact does not allow it to be used for decorating walls or ceilings.
2. Fragility. During transportation and use of the product, you need to be especially careful with the edges of the elements. As for the rolls, they can only be rolled up once.
3. Quite a lot of weight. But this does not prevent marmoleum from remaining relatively plastic along the edges.
4. Difficulties in processing. When cutting elements, you will not be able to achieve a perfectly even and smooth cut. However, this problem is eliminated by installing a plinth.

General view of marmoleum tiles.

As you can see, marmoleum is not without flaws, but they can be eliminated.

Features of laying roll coating and panels

The presented flooring has quite good user reviews, which will help you choose the right option. Now you can consider how the marmoleum is laid. First of all, it needs to be prepared for work. That is, a roll or tile should lie down in the room in which they will be laid for at least a day. During this time, you can remove all furniture, debris from the room and vacuum the base well. You may need to further align it.

In principle, rolled marmoleum flooring is most often produced in large rooms. The technology of its installation is practically no different from the features.

As for the panels, they must be laid as carefully as possible. The fact is that the fastening latches are thin spikes that can be broken with one inaccurate movement.

Features of mounting tiles "click"

The presented material is laid on the substrate. It compensates for some unevenness of the base, and also prevents the formation of condensate. Typically, such a substrate is made of polyethylene, and is laid with a slight overlap of 20 cm. An additional layer of thermal insulation is not needed. Please note that you do not need to use glue to mount the elements.

So, the coating laying technology consists of the following stages:

• Installation of the first row. When doing this, keep in mind that you will have to step back from the wall by about 1 cm. This is necessary for the formation of expansion joints. The groove of the first element should be directed in the opposite direction from the wall, the ridge, on the contrary, should be directed towards the wall. Marmoleum is mounted quite simply, but this process has a peculiarity: each subsequent tile must be connected to the previous one at a slight slope.

In the photo - the same installation feature. Docking of the next tile is made at an angle.

• Installation of the second row. It is made in the same way as the previous one. Remember about the expansion joint, for this, put a bar under the first tile. After attaching the remaining elements, it is removed, and the locks snap into place.
• Installation of the remaining rows. In this case, parallelism must be taken into account.

After you reach the opposite wall and the final row, try to remove the groove a little, lubricate the tile with glue and line it with a bar. The gap between the floor covering and the wall is closed with a plinth. As you work, you may need to trim the material a little. It is not so easy to do this. For work, use a grinder or a jigsaw.

Coating care features

Marmoleum is a natural material that is very popular. But it also requires careful maintenance. This material is unpretentious in use, but to avoid scratching its surface, try not to use metal brushes, scrapers or hard abrasive sponges when cleaning. Give preference to a dry and soft cloth.

There are special care products for marmoleum on the market.

If stains appear on the floor, and wet cleaning is indispensable, then it is better to use neutral detergents. Some users suggest using special liquids to care for hard floors. They can provide great results. That's all for today. Beauty to your floor!

Marmoleum is a rolled floor covering made from environmentally friendly raw materials. The prototype of the material is oiled canvas, which appeared in the 16th century. Industrial production of marmoleum began in 1864 in England.

What is it - structure and modern production

Marmoleum is characterized by high wear resistance, strength and service life of more than 25 years

The main value of marmoleum as a material is its environmental friendliness and safety, since the coating contains only natural components, without synthetic impurities. The formulation of the material consists of the resin of coniferous trees, flax oil, wood raw materials, crushed cork, chalk and lime.

For coloring, only natural pigments are used that do not emit harmful substances. The marmoleum structure is a homogeneous coating. That is, the material has one integral layer with a pattern applied over the entire thickness of the product.

From the technological side, marmoleum is a modernized version of natural linoleum. Initially, linseed oil and resin were used to produce linoleum from plant and natural components.

As technologies improved, substitutes for these components obtained from special breeds of tropical crops were found and introduced. This made it possible not only to reduce the cost of mass production of the material, but also to increase its performance.

Additionally, a pressed layer of natural cork was added to the structure, which improves the strength and stability of the coating on the surface. The manufacturing process has also undergone some changes - the dry hot pressing method has been used to obtain the finished product.

As a result, the improved natural linoleum received the trade name marmoleum, under which it is successfully sold in hardware stores.

Characteristics, classification and release form

Natural cladding in rolls and tiles

Technically, marmoleum flooring has higher performance than conventional PVC linoleum. The coating is able to withstand up to 160 kg per 1 cm2 of surface, without visible signs of deformation.

The specific weight of 1 m2 of material is 2.5-3.5 kg with a total coating thickness of 2-4 mm. The average service life of the material, subject to the installation technology and general operating rules, is at least 30 years.

Taking into account the technical characteristics, marmoleum is classified into the following classes:

1. 21-23 - coating intended for use in normal domestic conditions. Differs in small thickness (up to 2 mm) and low cost. It is recommended to lay in city apartments and private houses, as it has an increased resistance to variable loads.
2. 31-32 - marmoleum, intended for laying in industrial premises and in small industries. It has a thicker top layer (up to 2.5 mm). Resistant to static load, which makes it possible to use in rooms with a large number of heavy furniture and machines.
3. 41-43 - coating intended for use in public areas with high traffic and continuous foot traffic. The total thickness of the coating is from 3-4 mm. The main area of ​​application is airports, railway stations, hospitals.

It is important to understand that the class of marmoleum indicates not so much the characteristics of the coating, but rather the scope and the presence of certain technical qualities. That is, it does not make sense to buy a thicker or more durable material for laying in an apartment.

In domestic conditions, the floor surface is subjected to a completely different load than in industrial or public buildings. Marmoleum 21-23 class 2 mm thick is enough to ensure trouble-free operation during the declared service life.

According to the release form, marmoleum is divided into the following types:

• roll 2 m wide;
• tiles 30 × 30 and 50 × 50 cm;
• panel 90×30 cm.

Rolled marmoleum, unlike PVC linoleum, is not recommended to be purchased if you plan to lay the coating yourself. The material rolled into a roll has a sufficiently large weight, which will cause difficulties with delivery to the work site. Care must be taken during transportation, as the material is brittle and may crack when broken.

Marmoleum in the form of tiles and panels are devoid of these disadvantages. The panels have a fairly convenient locking system, which allows you to lay it yourself, without much experience with the material. Photos of the main types of marmoleum can be seen above.

Pros and cons of operation

Marmoleum is one of the few floor coverings that combines high performance and a lot of positive qualities. In fact, this is the reason for the high popularity of this coating in its price segment.

Naturalness is one of the main advantages of this material

Among the advantages of marmoleum are the following:

• environmental friendliness - the coating is absolutely safe for human health and pets. The coating can be laid in a residential area where allergy sufferers and small children live;
• hygienic - a marmoleum floor is quite easy to clean by wet cleaning without the use of a large amount of detergents. After cleaning, cleanliness is maintained for a long time due to the bactericidal properties of the coating;
• durability - the material does not fade, does not absorb moisture when wet, does not go in waves, does not warp. It has a high local resistance to damage and other negative factors;
• insulation - when laying, it is not necessary to use heat-insulating material for floor insulation, since the material has a low thermal conductivity. Does not accumulate static electricity, is not combustible, does not emit harmful substances;
• cost - the total cost of laying the coating, even taking into account the cost of the material, is somewhat lower than when laying a laminate or parquet board;
• variety - marmoleum has high decorative qualities. Large manufacturers produce a coating of 100 primary colors, 30-50 texture solutions and 2000 shades.

Among the minuses of marmoleum, its fragility should be noted, especially in the corners and along the edges of the roll. With the wrong laying technology, there is a high risk of damage to the material, as a result of which this section will have to be cut off, since cracks along the break line will be very noticeable on it.

During operation, a slight spread of the material on the floor surface and hardening in the most passable areas of the floor is possible. This is clearly seen in poorly sealed seams, which become tighter over time.

When working with rolled marmoleum, it is desirable to have experience in laying, since the material is poorly cut, and it is quite problematic to get a perfectly even edge along the cut line. That is why most large retail outlets offer an additional installation service, since if the technology is not followed, the guarantee for the flooring is removed.

Instructions for laying on the base

The general requirements for laying marmoleum are similar to other types of flooring. The bearing base for laying must be monolithic, durable, dry. The maximum deviation according to GOST is no more than 2 mm per 2 m of the surface.

Scheme of laying the cladding in tiles from the center of the room

The strength of the bearing base is determined based on the planned loads. In residential premises, warehouses and small industries - this is no more than 300 kg / cm2.

Depending on the material used, the base can be divided into three groups: concrete surface, cement-sand or thin-layer gypsum screed, base made of sheet materials.

Almost any concrete surface requires leveling by means of a cement-sand screed device or by pouring a leveling mass. In rare cases, when the concrete floor slab meets the above requirements, a surface repair is sufficient.

To eliminate small irregularities and potholes, a dispersion putty should be used. Leveling by laying sheet materials (chipboard, GVL) is more suitable for wooden bases and floors with a structure on logs.

Purchased material must be delivered 24 hours before installation. If the marmoleum was transported at a temperature below 10 C, then unpacking must be carried out after at least 24 hours.

Tiles can be laid from a far corner in the room

Do-it-yourself modular marmoleum is laid in the following sequence:

1. The scheme of laying on the surface is selected based on the design decision. On the diagram, you need to designate the center line from which the laying will begin. For a symmetrical pattern, you can divide the room in half with the center in the middle.
2. Next, you will need to carefully study the instructions for the purchased adhesive mass. The adhesive is applied to the rear surface of the module using a notched trowel. During the application process, it is important to monitor the drying time of the adhesive mass. If the adhesive has dried up and lost its adhesive qualities, then it must be completely removed from the surface of the element.
3. When laying, each marmoleum tile is rolled with a smooth roller weighing 50-75 kg. This tool can be rented in stores specializing in the sale of linoleum.
4. The stacking of modules starts from the center center line, as shown in the figure above. The tiled module is laid without gaps and run-up relative to the previous elements.
5. The laying process continues until the last element that needs to be trimmed remains in each of the rows. To cut a tile, you will need to apply markings on its front side. Next, along the cut line, cut the tile with a knife with a straight blade. The final cut is carried out with a hook-bladed knife.

Before commissioning, the floor surface must be thoroughly cleaned of adhesive residues that may have squeezed out from the joints between the modules. To do this, you can carry out wet cleaning with chiselling a small amount of detergent approved by the manufacturer.

As a daily care, dry cleaning with a special mop with a microfiber nozzle is sufficient. The constant use of detergents is not required.

Modular marmoleum with the “Click” locking system is mounted in a similar way, with the only difference that the laying of panels can be started from the far corner of the room. To trim the element near the wall, you can use a jigsaw or a hacksaw for wood.

When laying the first row, a technological gap of 15-30 mm between the tile and the wall should be observed. The gap is needed so that the cladding does not warp during operation.

For laying the second and subsequent rows, it is most convenient to assemble the row with a single piece of cloth, and then gently lower it onto the floor surface until the locking connection is completely snapped into place. The video above shows detailed instructions for laying modular marmoleum.

Cost, manufacturers and laying costs

Products of the Swiss company Forbo

The world leader with a share of 65% in the production of marmoleum is the Swiss company Forbo. It is this company that owns the trademark "Marmoleum", which is used as the name of their main line of natural linoleum.

Marmoleum Forbo is distinguished by high resistance to mechanical stress, low abrasion, low permanent deformation, good elasticity, bactericidal and anti-slip properties.

In many ways, it is the Forbo concern that natural linoleum has become widespread throughout the world, including in Russia, where their official representative office is present.

The company's lineup includes both cladding in rolls and covering in the form of natural tiles with a special locking system. The entire range of products can be found on the official website of the company. The cost of various types of marmoleum can be seen in the table above.

The widespread assertion that marmoleum is an innovative development of the modern market of finishing materials is only half true. The fact is that the production of natural linoleum can hardly be called a novelty - the emergence of technology dates back to the 16th century. Of course, this process has undergone significant transformations, but the essence has remained unchanged - the flooring is made only from natural "ingredients".

Composition and technical characteristics

Natural linoleum - marmoleum is valuable primarily because it consists only of natural components. The raw materials are resins of coniferous trees, linseed oil, chalk, wood flour and cork oak bark. Dyeing allows for a multitude of color and texture options and brings this material to the fore in terms of decorative possibilities. Having familiarized yourself with the presented assortment, it will not be difficult to make sure of this - the variety of variations in performance is really impressive.

The unique technology of applying a pattern throughout the thickness helps to preserve the brightness of colors for a long time.

As for the technical characteristics, here, too, marmoleum takes the lead. It is difficult to find a floor covering with such an impeccable "reputation". In addition to the above environmental friendliness, it is necessary to note other, no less useful properties.

For example, natural linoleum is easy to clean, does not attract dust, is not afraid of exposure to chemicals, temperature extremes and high humidity, and is able to properly cope with the duties assigned to it for at least 35 years. That is why marmoleum is the optimal solution for the kitchen, which will appeal to connoisseurs of premium products.

The list of advantages is complemented by bactericidal and soundproof qualities, the ability to withstand 160 kg / sq. cm, incombustibility and ease of installation.

However, even the most perfect floors are not without small flaws. In our case, this is fragility that requires special attention during transportation.

Release form

Eco-friendly linoleum is available in the form of rolls, panels and tiles. About 80% of the total production is the production of rolled marmoleum.

Rolled marmoleum is characterized by a standard width of 2 meters, while the thickness varies from 2 to 4 mm, depending on the product class. The tile has dimensions - 50x50 or 30x30 cm, panels - 90x30 cm.

It should be noted that the tiles according to the method of installation are divided into samples that are glued with glue and samples oriented to dry application, equipped with a locking mechanism. The tile allows the creation of interesting drawings and mosaic compositions - there would be a desire and the availability of time. And under the tile, you can lay a “warm floor”, the only condition is that the heating temperature should not exceed 27 degrees.

Marmoleum classes

The thickness of the colored patterned layer may vary, in accordance with this, it is customary to distinguish the following classes of natural linoleum:

• 21-23 class. The thickness of the coating intended for general purpose premises is 2 mm;
• 31-33 class. The thickness of linoleum, capable of withstanding heavy loads, is 2.5 cm. It is used in industrial premises;

• 41-43 class. A thickness of 3 mm or more allows the use of this material in places with maximum traffic (hotels, railway stations, hospitals).

The cost of marmoleum depends on the class - the higher the class, the more expensive the material.

A little about marmoleum Forbo

It is impossible not to say about the manufacturers of quality products, more precisely about one of the manufacturers, whose reputation leaves no doubt. The Forbo flooring brand was founded in 1928. The company's branches are located in 40 countries of the European Union, the brand's products are recognizable and revered due to their high quality, confirmed by numerous certificates.

forbo marmoleum meets all the necessary environmental standards, as evidenced by the tests of 7 leading laboratories in the world: Environmental Quality Mark (Netherlands), Ecolabelling Trust (New Zealand), Good Environmental Choice (Australia), SMART (USA), UZ 56 (Austria), Nordic Swan Label (Northern Europe) and Nature Plus (Germany).

Forbo "click" marmoleum is especially popular, equipped with a locking mechanism using Aquaprotect technology. Such a coating is produced in the form of a board or tile based on cork and moisture-resistant NDF, which is covered with a special protective layer Topshield.

A variety of color variations and patterns provide the opportunity to lay artistically unique floors. Marmoleum forbo is not afraid of the claws of pets, thin female hairpins and heavy shoes. Wiping gum or paint stains from it is not difficult. It is not for nothing that the coating received the title of “indestructible” - where the laminate, parquet, cork board or carpet will be hopelessly damaged, the marmol will serve and delight with an impeccable appearance for quite a long time.

Marmoleum laying technology

Installation of marmolema, as already noted, is not particularly difficult. However, it does not hurt to get acquainted with some technological tricks.

The material must acclimatize - let the marmoleum lie down in the room where the work will take place (at least a day). While the coating is "getting used" to an unfamiliar environment, you should take care of the base, which must be clean, even and dry.

Click tile installation

Tiled marmoleum of the castle type is laid on a polyethylene substrate, overlapped (20 cm). This is necessary to prevent the formation of condensate.

It is important!
Installation of marmoleum "click" does not involve the use of glue, i.e. laying is carried out in a floating way.

The components are connected to each other using the tongue-and-groove method. The first tile is laid, stepping back from the wall by 1 cm - the groove should look in the opposite direction from the wall, and the ridge, on the contrary, should be directed towards the wall. Subsequent samples are inserted with respect to the first tile at a slight slope.

The second row is also laid at an angle. Do not forget to form an expansion joint by placing a bar under the tile. After installing the remaining tiles, the bars are removed, the locks are latched.

After completing the fourth row, check the distance from the wall to the tiles and the parallelism of the rows. When installing the final row, remove part of the groove, apply a little glue to the tile and tamp it with a bar. The gap between the tile and the wall is covered with a plinth.

Rolled marmoleum flooring

Rolled marmoleum is recommended for flooring in large rooms. The technology is no different from the installation of semi-commercial or commercial linoleum. There are two mandatory conditions: a clean base, without traces of oil and paint, and the use of a special adhesive designed to work with this material. There are only two conditions for a beautiful and durable floor.

Panel laying

Panel marmoleum won the favor of consumers for the speed of laying. It is even called "fast floor" - the process takes half the time than the installation of traditional tiles or parquet.

It is important!
It should be noted that panel marmoleum requires careful and careful handling - the material easily cracks and deforms.

Close attention should be paid to fastener latches - thin spikes located on the end and side faces, an inexperienced stacker can inadvertently damage.

Marmoleum Care

To avoid scratches during machine cleaning, it is not recommended to use rotary machine pads or hard brushes. Manual cleaning is carried out without the participation of abrasive sponges.

Dry cleaning is most effective, in the presence of complex stains - wet cleaning using neutral detergent solutions. To maintain a presentable appearance, experts recommend mantainers - specialized products for the care of hard floors.

Marmoleum is a wonderful coating that transforms your home, allowing you to realize any design ideas, and the presented photo selection will help you make sure of this.