The best quality linoleum. Laminate or linoleum which is better - comparison of characteristics. Linoleum for the kitchen

Updated: 09/18/2019 22:30:15

Judge: Vladimir Golitsyn

*Overview of the best in the opinion of the editors of the site. About selection criteria. This material is subjective, is not an advertisement and does not serve as a guide to the purchase. Before buying, you need to consult with a specialist.

Linoleum is considered to be a public floor covering today in Russia. It does not yield its position in the market to laminate, tile, solid and parquet boards. The material is appreciated by consumers for an affordable price, ease of installation, a large selection of colors and designs. In addition, linoleum allows you to save fallen dishes, insulate the floor, and additionally provide soundproofing to the room. Over the years, the floor covering does not crack, and dirt is easily removed. To choose linoleum, experts advise considering the following criteria.

How to choose the right linoleum

The vending collection should be suitable for the conditions of a particular room. What is good for the hallway is not always suitable for the children's room.

1. Wear class. Seriously different series of linoleum in terms of wear resistance. If one person lives in the apartment, then you can choose the softest models. But if office employees walk on the floor every day in shoes, then you should give preference to the most durable coating. To make it easier to navigate the world of flooring, an international classification was invented. For residential premises, material of classes 21-23 is suitable, and coatings of classes 31-34 are used in offices.
2. Additional properties. When buying linoleum, some users want to get a number of additional benefits at the same time. For example, noise absorption, environmental friendliness, water resistance, dirt repellency.
3. Design. In a wide range of textures, patterns and colors, it is important to choose a floor covering for the design of your room. For some, an imitation of stone or wood is better suited, while for others a plain canvas will look better.
4. Thickness. The thickness differs significantly in different types of linoleum. If the base of the floor is perfectly flat, then you can buy the thinnest material. And to save on leveling the surface, it's easier to buy flooring with a decent thickness.
5. Material. For the manufacture of linoleum, different raw materials are used. Recently, the leading position is occupied by their PVC products. There are more and more fans of natural flooring material.

What is better laminate or linoleum

Rating of the best linoleum manufacturers

The best PVC linoleum for home and office

Leading position in the market of floor coverings for home and office is occupied by PVC linoleum. It perfectly combines qualities such as the richness of collections, wear resistance, ease of care. Experts identified several manufacturers of modern material.

The famous company Tarkett specializes in the production of floor materials. The range also includes high-quality linoleum. The company boasts a 130-year history, a large number of branches in different countries, including Russia. In stores, you can buy flooring under several brands.

The most expensive brand is Tarkett. The products are of high quality, the catalog contains 20 different series.

The budget segment is represented by the Sinteros brand. The advantages of the lineup experts include versatility, durability and practicality.

The combination of reasonable price and good quality is observed in the Polystyl brand. You can choose linoleum for any design of the room.

The manufacturer becomes the winner of our rating.

Advantages

• huge assortment;
• durability;
• easy care;
• environmental friendliness.

disadvantages

• the unpleasant smell of cheap linoleum.

Grabo

The Hungarian linoleum manufacturer Grabo also has a rich tradition. More than 100 years ago, a small company was organized that made oilcloth and tarpaulin. Today, 4 factories operate under one brand; a wide range of floor coverings is produced in their workshops. The production chain uses natural materials such as rubber, beeswax, linseed oil. Thanks to synthetic additives, it is possible to achieve an affordable price and high performance flooring.

The advantages of Hungarian linoleum experts include high quality, wear resistance, ease of installation and operation. The manufacturer also has disadvantages, for example, a small assortment is presented in Russia. Therefore, the company is in the second position of the rating.

Advantages

• high quality;
• affordable price;
• wear resistance;
• ease of installation and maintenance.

disadvantages

• modest assortment;
• laying on a warm floor is not allowed.

The French company Gerflor has been creating floor coverings for about 70 years. A distinctive feature of the linoleum of this European manufacturer is the sophistication and originality of colors. Many collections make even seasoned designers admire. A variety of textures allows you to choose linoleum for the interior of any room. The company focuses on the requirements of European buyers, so there are no complaints about the quality of products from domestic users.

For the manufacture of materials with deep processing are used, so that the floor coverings do not carry the danger in the form of toxic chemical compounds. Experts pay attention to the antistatic properties of linoleum, which is important for rooms with sterile cleanliness.

Advantages

• wear resistance and durability;
• environmental friendliness;
• resistance to mechanical deformations;
• originality of colors and textures.

disadvantages

• high price.

The largest manufacturer of vinyl-based flooring is the South Korean company Alpine Floor. Until recently, the company had to defend its position in the Asian market, and today the products are in demand among Americans, Europeans and Russians. Quartz-vinyl floors, which have been produced since 2010, have become a feature of the manufacturer. There are different color and texture solutions in the assortment. Products are sold on the domestic market at an affordable price, which is an attractive factor.

User ratings are mostly positive. Among the advantages often mentioned beautiful design, moisture resistance, ease of installation and operation. Of the minuses, there is a lack of a guarantee and quality certificates, which does not allow the company to take a higher place in the rating.

Advantages

• warm and soft flooring;
• resistance to mechanical stress;
• noiselessness.

disadvantages

• come across poor quality products.

The Slovenian factory Juteks started its production activity in 1939 with the production of jute fabric. Today the company is one of the world leaders in flooring. To meet the needs of the Russian consumer, a branch was built in the Vladimir region, where the production of competitive products began in 2009. To expand the range, as well as to improve the quality of manufacturing, the Russian plant was modernized.

Experts consider polyurethane coating to be the main feature of Juteks soft coating, which increases the service life of linoleum, reliably protects the material from many external factors. Of the shortcomings, it is worth noting the need to order certain types of linoleum.

Advantages

• wide range of;
• modern design;
• reliable protective coating;
• long warranty period (5-10 l).

disadvantages

• not all models are on sale;
• linoleum emits an unpleasant odor.

The best natural linoleum

More and more adherents of environmentally friendly home decoration are becoming in Russia. When choosing flooring, they prefer natural linoleum. Here are a few companies that are famous for their safe products.

Forbo

Dutch flooring manufacturer Forbo has focused on making natural linoleum. To achieve the goals set, all factories of the concern were modernized, new formulations of linoleum were developed. One of the most popular types of flooring material has become a development called Marmoleum. Since 2012, they began to produce it in the Kaluga region. Among the constituent components are only natural materials (wood flour, pine resin, linseed oil, limestone). The catalog contains collections for home use, for finishing offices, retail outlets, industrial facilities.

Users speak flatteringly about environmental friendliness, naturalness and color fastness. The company becomes the winner of our rating.

Advantages

• environmental friendliness and safety;
• rich model range;
• dimensional accuracy;
• long service life.

disadvantages

• high price.

The assortment of the international concern Armstrong includes both synthetic and natural types of linoleum. In the manufacture of environmentally friendly flooring, the manufacturer uses only natural raw materials. Finished products are sold in rolls of various widths. To create an even and smooth coating, it is required to weld the joints. The collection includes different color schemes, from plain to original patterns. The German manufacturer pays a lot of attention to quality control, so cases of buying defective products are extremely rare.

Budget types of linoleum are produced by the domestic manufacturer Komiteks LIN. The enterprise has been mass-producing products since 2002 in Syktyvkar. The base is made on its own line, and the factory buys the laminated film in China. The products of the Russian company have quality certificates and comply with sanitary and hygienic standards. The buyer is offered a standard set consisting of household, semi-commercial and industrial collections. The manufacturer deservedly becomes the winner of our rating.

Experts and users primarily note the affordable price of linoleum, the resistance of its top layer to moisture and household detergents, and ease of maintenance. The weak side of the product is considered to be a short service life and a persistent odor.

Advantages

• affordability;
• simple installation;
• easy care;
• availability of certificates.

disadvantages

• low density;
• short service life.

Another Russian manufacturer Bazis Astoria was included in the rating of inexpensive linoleums. The main purpose of the floor material is the living quarters of apartments and private houses, where there is no serious mechanical load on the coating. Linoleum has such useful properties as heat and noise insulation, unpretentiousness in operation. Due to the elastic foam, a shock-absorbing base layer is formed, which makes linoleum pleasant for walking. The company implements different designs, from solid colors to imitation wood.

Users rate the flooring highly for its affordable price, beautiful design and softness. But in terms of resistance to deformation, linoleum is inferior to competitors. In addition, the surface becomes slippery when wet.

Advantages

• affordable price;
• beautiful appearance;
• heat and sound insulation.

disadvantages

• dents from chairs are formed;
• moisture must be removed quickly.

So, it was decided - there will be linoleum on the floor. Now you can go buy something "fun". However, there is no need to rush. After all, there is a whole range of products with different operational parameters on the market. how choose linoleum? You need to be aware of these settings..Tatyana Kuznetsova, Marketing Director of the Household Linoleum category of the company, will answer the most frequent questions of buyers Tarkett in Eastern Europe.

- What are the advantages of using linoleum as a floor covering?

To begin with, the decision to use it is an excellent choice in itself. This is a unique material that combines high performance. It is wear-resistant, not afraid of moisture, easy to install. It is easy to take care of him. At the same time, it has good indicators of heat and sound insulation. From the old days there was an opinion that linoleum is something unpresentable. But today, such a coating provides the greatest freedom in interior design. Manufacturers are constantly bringing new trendy collections to the market, and you can choose a design for any room in the apartment.

- They choose most often according to the drawing. Is this correct, or is there something else to look out for first?

- It is clear that at first a person looks at color and design. Well, you can start with this. However, in any case, you need to find out whether the product you like meets your requirements. I would advise first of all to remember, strange as it may sound, about health. The best way to protect yourself is to ask the seller for a hygiene certificate. Also, look for special signs on the label. Products that have passed the examination, which confirmed their environmental friendliness, are labeled. It should be noted that today the only Russian label recognized by the international community and included in the Global Ecolabel Network (GEN) is "Leaf of Life". It is issued by the St. Petersburg Ecological Union. Among our products, linoleum collections are marked with this sign "Moda", "Discovery" and "Idyll".

- When choosing linoleum, is it necessary to take into account in which room it will lie?

Yes, today there are types of coverage with different characteristics. The easiest way to determine for what operating conditions a particular linoleum is intended is to use the European classification system for floor coverings EN 685, which is also used in Russia. According to her, everything rooms are divided into three types. The number 2 denotes residential, the number 3 - office, the number 4 - industrial. Another number determines the intensity of the load: 1 - low, 2 - medium, 3 - high, 4 - very high. The combination of two numbers and the corresponding pictogram (house and little men) denotes flooring class. For example: 22 - residential area with medium load, 33 - office area with high load, etc. What kind of coverage do you need?, you can look in the catalog or ask the sales assistant. So, class 21 linoleum is suitable for a bedroom or an office, 23 for a kitchen and a corridor in an apartment where 1-2 people live. And the same kitchen in an apartment where 3 or more people live needs class 31.

- Is it possible to find out by eye whether this linoleum is wear-resistant or not?

It is this parameter that is difficult to determine just by looking at the coating. The fact is that how resistant the material will be to abrasion depends on the design of the coating as a whole and, first of all, on the thickness of its upper working layer. It is also called transparent (which means "transparent"). Modern linoleum is a "layer cake", in which each layer plays a special role. So, the worker is made of pure PVC, a very durable material. The transparency protects the drawing. The thicker the layer, the longer the coating will last. It is with this indicator that the classification of heterogeneous linoleums is more connected. They are separated for household(21-23 class; transparency thickness 0.1-0.3 mm), light commercial or semi-commercial(31-32 grade; 0.4-0.5 mm) and commercial(33 class and beyond; not less than 0.6 mm). The coating class is determined not only by the thickness of the transparent layer, but also by compliance with many other requirements. Therefore, even at home, there may be zones corresponding to class 31 or even 32 in terms of load (for example, a kitchen or a corridor)

However, as you can understand, due to the small thickness, comparing the transparent layer of two different linoleums by eye is not so easy for a non-professional. Therefore, it is better to focus on wear resistance classes.

- What linoleum will not stretch?

Well, this flaw is definitely a ghost of the past. The "skeleton" for most modern coatings is fiberglass. It is located in the middle of the "pie" and ensures the stability of linear dimensions. It is thanks to fiberglass that linoleum does not shrink or stretch. Unfortunately, today coatings without fiberglass can still be found on the Russian market, but they are quite easy to "identify".

- What characteristics should you pay attention to?

We have already said that modern linoleum has several layers ev. The thickest of them is the back. Most often it is made of PVC foam, also called the base. Back - because it is located on the back of the fiberglass. Several important characteristics depend on it at once. First, sound and heat insulation. And the thicker the foam, the warmer the floor. You can navigate by the total thickness of the coating, which is mainly determined by the back layer. At the same time, these characteristics depend on the density of the foam. The smaller it is, the more sound and heat insulation. But during operation, the buyer is unlikely to feel the difference, which is determined by the density of the foam, since the very presence of a foamed base already makes the linoleum warm.

Further, the base provides the linoleum with resistance to deformation - from heels, furniture legs, etc. So that after such point loads there are no traces left, the base must have sufficient density. And the greater the density, the more resistant the linoleum will be to such influences. This parameter can be estimated by comparing the weight of several coatings with the same thickness (the heaviest material is the densest). Another way to squeeze linoleum with your fingers. The less the thickness of the coating changes under pressure, the higher the density of the base and vice versa.

The basis of foamed PVC is sometimes supplemented by a duplicating polyester. The main advantage of combining these materials is manifested when used in seasonal country houses. A layer of polyester, located under a layer of foam, protects it from freezing. This is important because PVC foam does not tolerate freeze-thaw cycles well. Polyester also provides reliable protection. Stratification is excluded here, since both materials are interconnected at the molecular level. Thus, coatings on a duplicate basis are an ideal choice for summer residents.

- Are there linoleums that are best suited for specific spaces, such as the kitchen?

In addition to wear resistance, it is worth paying attention to the additional protection of the material. Large manufacturers apply another additional protective layer on top of the transparency - varnish. Covering micro-irregularities, it greatly facilitates cleaning, preventing the penetration of dirt into the structure of the coating, which is very important in the kitchen. In this case, matte and glossy varnish is used. The latter at any time gives the impression of a freshly washed floor. Tarkett has, for example, products with a combination lacquer finish. Glossy and matte areas alternate according to the pattern, creating an original effect. Another protective layer - antibacterial - may be relevant for the kitchen or nursery. Its mechanism of action is simple and does not entail any side effects. Upon contact with air moisture, silver ions are released from the layer, which have antibacterial properties. Thus, the reproduction of microbes on the floor surface becomes impossible. Usually, manufacturers do not hide such advantages, so you just need to read the label more carefully.

First, of course, the color scheme should match the use of the room. Cold light shades visually enlarge the space, warm ones make the room more comfortable. A bright contrast pattern is invigorating, while a monotonous pattern is soothing. For example, a living room in warm muted colors encourages relaxation, reflection, calm communication, and in intense cold colors with clear elements, it gives energy and sets the mood for friendly parties. All this applies to flooring. Especially if a complete change of interior begins with linoleum. But even if the task is simply to update the floor, then here you can achieve an excellent result. The coating will visually enlarge the room if you choose small tiles as a pattern for a small kitchen. The same effect is obtained by placing any "tile" or "board" pattern diagonally. The abstract design of the floor remarkably emphasizes the dignity of interior items - furniture, decorative elements. Fans of everything original can pick up linoleum with a voluminous, three-dimensional design. It is created by fusing pieces of PVC (they are called "chips") into the transparency, as well as through other artistic techniques.

Now we are armed enough with knowledge to go to the store. Guided by the expert's answers: how to choose linoleum, any buyer can choose quality linoleum that meets all requirements.

Tarkett, the world's largest manufacturer of flooring materials with a 130-year history, produces one of the highest quality and most durable coatings - PVC linoleum. Its factories are open all over the world, including in Russia. Since 1995, a plant has been operating in the city of Otradny, Samara Region, for the production of:

• Household roll floors designed for residential use;
• Semi-commercial materials used in medium traffic areas (offices, halls, conference rooms);
• Commercial homogeneous (homogeneous) and heterogeneous (multilayer) flexible PVC used for commercial, commercial, industrial facilities.

In domestic stores, Tarkett products are sold under 4 brands:

1. Tarkett- the most expensive segment of the best high-quality linoleum 23, 31-33 and 41-43 classes. The assortment includes more than 20 collections for domestic, semi-commercial, commercial and special purposes. A characteristic feature of the series is the variety of designs, as well as an interesting appearance with a plausible imitation of the textured surface of parquet, solid board, porcelain stoneware, etc.
2. Sinteros- a budget option for household and commercial PVC coatings of 21-23, 31-34 classes. The advantages of linoleum are versatility, practicality and durability. An analogue of this line is the products of the Ukrainian plant Vinisin.
3. Polystyle- vinyl material of 23, 31-34 and 41 classes, combining an affordable price and Tarkett quality. Available in 6 collections, the assortment is selected in such a way that each design can be used in any type of premises.

Thus, the Tarkett company produces high-quality PVC linoleum in a huge assortment for every taste, color and budget.

Main advantages:

• The high level of resistance of linoleum to abrasion and tensile loads. Thanks to a transparent polyurethane tarnsparent and additional protective coatings Extreme Protection, Titanium, R.MAX and others, the surface of the material is inert to water, aggressive household chemicals, abrasives, and shoes. And the use as part of fiberglass ensures the stability of the floor finish to deforming factors.
• Sanitary and hygienic, fire safety and environmental friendliness. Tarkett's products are the only ones in the Russian Federation that have received the Leaf of Life voluntary eco-testing certificate.
• A huge selection of designs and structures for parquet, solid board, marble, ceramics, natural stone, textiles and much more. There are more than 1000 decors in various shades in the assortment.
• Possibility to choose felt-based linoleum or foam-based PVC. The first is warmer, recommended for use on the screed. The second is universal.
• Approved for use in preschool, educational and medical institutions.
• Easy installation and maintenance.
• Available in many collections price.
• Long service life - from 10 to 40 years.

There are so many different floor coverings on the market today that everyone can find something that suits them best. For some people, choosing the right material can be an interesting task, for others, such a process turns into something difficult and unthinkable, due to the fact that each material has a number of its own characteristics, both in appearance and in quality characteristics. This article will be about which linoleum is best suited for various rooms of a dwelling.

Pros and cons of PVC flooring

Perhaps there is no other floor covering than linoleum, about which so many myths would not go and there were no different opinions. This should not be surprising, because it is linoleum that is assigned the leading position among other floor coverings in Russia.

Compared to other floor coverings, the best linoleum has the following advantages:

• many design solutions: in shades, colors, patterns imitating wood, stone, and even laminate (read also: "");
• a variety of types of material in terms of wear resistance, which affects its placement in a particular room;
• it takes a minimum of time to clean it;
• it is easy to lay even without the help of specialists;
• affordable price (about 180-450 rubles per 1 m 2);
• under it, small irregularities of the base are easily hidden;
• not afraid of exposure to water;
• the coating is so versatile that it can be laid in many types of premises.

However, PVC-based linoleum has a number of disadvantages:

• the presence of an unpleasant odor for some time after its installation;
• easily damaged due to direct mechanical impact;
• has an artificial basis;
• is rather slippery;
• cheap varieties look bad on the outside.

However, the advantages of linoleum outweigh the disadvantages by a ratio greater than that of other floor coverings. The latest, the best linoleum, has practically no flaws.

Currently existing sanitary and fire regulations guarantee the presence on the market of materials that are devoid of unpleasant odors, while they have the maximum environmental friendliness. The latest technology has made it possible to develop linoleum even with an antibacterial coating. In addition, the latest models are equipped with a reinforced polyethylene layer, embossed, which makes linoleum as similar as possible to natural materials.

Choosing the best linoleum

In order for the choice of linoleum for the house to be the most successful, you first need to decide in which room it will be used. As a rule, this criterion is decisive. Let's figure out which type of linoleum to choose for the floor is best in this or that case.

Room types are as follows:

• household;
• office;
• production.

In this case, the linoleum marking may contain a number or a pictogram: house (2); building (3) or factory (4).

The force of impact on linoleum is low, medium, high and very high. On linoleum, this is reflected by a pictogram in the form of little men - from 1 to 4.

All factors together - the type of room and the load on the coating, form wear resistance classes of linoleum, which are:

• 21-24 - for the home;
• 31-34 - for the office;
• 41-44 - for industrial premises.

Linoleum, parquet, laminate, carpet and tiles are divided into the same classes, even though they have completely different characteristics.

It is worth talking about these two types of premises, such as office and residential, in detail.

To choose linoleum for the home - which one is better suited in a particular case, it is worth highlighting 3 types of premises:

1. The bedroom, study or wardrobe have a low load - class 21 is suitable.
2. In the living room and children's room, the average load on the coating is 22 class.
3. In the corridor, hallway and children's room with several children - a high load - 23 class.

Offices can also be divided into three types:

1. Offices without visitors and hotel rooms - low load - 31 class.
2. Negotiation rooms in business establishments, banquet rooms, reception rooms - average load - 32 class.
3. Schools, institutes, offices with high attendance, shopping centers, hotel and hospital corridors - high load - 33, 34 classes.

That is, knowing what type of room this or that room belongs to, you can choose a fairly strong linoleum. The only thing to consider is that the higher the strength class of the material, the more expensive it is. Therefore, one should approach the choice of material, starting from expediency, thinking about whether it is worth overpaying for a material with high strength indicators, or, conversely, whether it is worth saving.

In addition to wear resistance, you need to pay attention to other characteristics.

Some types of linoleums have the following advantages:

• the presence of an auxiliary protective layer of varnish - makes cleaning much easier;
• antibacterial layer - does not allow bacteria to develop on the floor surface;
• double base - gives the coating additional strength and softness, the floor absorbs noise better and retains heat better;
• natural relief - the latest technologies allow you to create a texture that is as close as possible to natural material - such a coating has a higher cost.

Base selection

Which base of linoleum is best suited for your premises will be most influenced by: the appearance of the coating, your personal preferences, strength, softness, safety.

The basis of linoleum can be of several types:

• jute;
• felt;
• polyester;
• from polyvinyl chloride;
• combined.

The disadvantages of the basis of jute and felt include the impossibility of using such material in a humid environment, in addition, various microorganisms can start on it. This is because these materials are natural. The vast majority of currently existing varieties of linoleum have a synthetic base made of PVC or polyester.

But the best choice is still materials on a combined basis of PVC and polyester. Such linoleum has improved characteristics acquired from these materials.

Among them are:

• sound and heat insulation;
• increased strength;
• size constancy;
• complete resistance to moisture;
• prevents mold and mildew from forming.

Adhesive selection

Since the technology of laying linoleum involves gluing it to the floor to extend its service life, it is desirable that the adhesive be of sufficient quality and correctly selected.

To glue linoleum to the base, you need to purchase a dispersion adhesive. A reactive adhesive, referred to as "cold welding", will be required to bond the joints. It temporarily softens the linoleum, due to which the joints are connected into one. You can also resort to hot gluing, but in this case you will need to get a building hair dryer.

Deciding on a color

After you have decided on the basis on which the linoleum will perform its functions better, you can proceed to the choice of colors. Naturally, in this case there simply cannot be a universal solution, there are only tips on combining color shades.

Keep in mind that the same color scheme may look different in rooms of different sizes and with different lighting.

A number of combinations that are suitable in one case or another:

• shades of yellow and green are best suited to relieve fatigue;
• warmth and comfort will be brought into the room by shades of beige and pale yellow;
• to give the bathroom freshness, you can choose a turquoise hue (read also: "");
• in meeting rooms, as well as in bedrooms, blue and blue colors are best suited, which are very relaxing and can cause a sleepy state;
• bring the body into tone, invigorate, endow with a positive mood and warmth red, yellow and bright orange colors;
• to create a working environment, you can choose gray linoleum;
• designers can pay attention to white color, it is combined with all shades.

Myths about linoleum

Linoleum cracks and dries

On the old Soviet-era linoleum, cracks did often occur, and it also dried out over time. This happens because the manufacturer chooses the wrong materials to form the base. Currently well-known companies, such as Tarkett, IVC, Sinteros, produce products exclusively from high-quality materials.

It is worth noting that if linoleum is brought into a room from the street, where the temperature was below 15 ° C, it needs time to reach the temperature of the room, usually 24-48 hours, otherwise it will crack, regardless of the quality of the material.

Over time, on light linoleum, the surface wears out from traces

Naturally, the coating may lose its brightness over time. However, as a rule, this is not affected by the quality of the material, but by the technology of laying linoleum and its operation.

Firstly, this happens if linoleum is laid on a painted wooden floor, or if it is opened with chemical mixtures, such as bitumen or drying oil. After some time, these substances are able to penetrate through the linoleum.

Secondly, if the installation of linoleum was made in a room with an aggressive environment.

In such cases, it is better to pay attention to solid linoleum, and not to buy light shades. In addition, try to lay linoleum on a perfectly flat base, this will extend the life of linoleum.

Outcome

When choosing linoleum, remember that you need to pay attention not only to the class of the product, but also to take into account the basis on which it will be laid. Even having bought the most expensive type of linoleum, one cannot be sure that it will last a long time if the elementary technology of its installation is not followed. And do not forget that the base must be carefully prepared for laying linoleum.

Linoleum is a high-quality, beautiful and durable decorative floor covering. In addition, it has an average pricing policy. Therefore, many consumers opt for this particular product. Manufacturers offer a fairly wide range of material with different design solutions.

Let's try to figure out which linoleum is better.

Criterias of choice

If a major overhaul is being done throughout the house, then you do not need to buy the decorative flooring you like, and then think about where to put it. This is the wrong approach. To choose the right decorative coating, you need to know the nature of the room in which it will fit. There is a product that cannot be stacked in rooms with high traffic.

Such materials are not suitable for the living room, kitchen or corridor. If the product is bought for the kitchen or dining room, then it must have additional protection against moisture. No less important is the design of the room in which the decorative flooring will be laid.

For many, the main criterion is the price. Therefore, initially you need to decide what kind of pricing policy the product should have. Although the priority should not be price, but quality.

Types of linoleums

At the moment, consumers are presented with products that have a natural base or synthetic. At the same time, it cannot be said that natural material is always better than synthetic.

Consider each type of product separately.

natural linoleum

The natural product is 100% safe. All components that are used in the manufacture of the coating during operation do not emit substances harmful to human health into the air. The basis of the material, as a rule, is made of jute fabric.

As for the other components, the product contains linseed oil, wood and cork flour, pine resin, lime powder. The coating is dyed using only natural dyes.

Related article: Folding table with your own hands: manufacturing

This flooring is worth choosing for a child's room or bedroom. It can be covered in those rooms in which there are allergy sufferers. Natural linoleum is sufficiently resistant to abrasion. However, it is not advisable to lay it in rooms with high traffic. During operation, the floor covering does not change its color. It is resistant to direct sunlight. Caring for such decorative flooring is quite simple.

As for the disadvantages, natural linoleum cannot be laid in rooms with high humidity. It is also worth noting that the coating is unstable to deformations. If it is strongly bent, it can form a hall. It is not possible to correct such a defect. Therefore, the floor covering must be transported with extreme care. Such coverage is quite expensive.

PVC linoleum

In addition to polyvinyl chloride, plasticizers, stabilizers and fillers are used in the manufacture of this type of flooring. This or that color scheme is achieved using dyes. The advantages of this product are its antistatic properties, resistance to moisture, ease of installation, low thermal conductivity.

Despite the fact that components of synthetic origin are used in the manufacture of the product, PVC linoleum is environmentally friendly. The material is available in different colors, has an average pricing policy.

As for the disadvantages, such a finish coating is unstable to aggressive alkalis and solvents. Accordingly, gentle detergents should be chosen for wet cleaning. After laying, the product shrinks, which can also be attributed to disadvantages. PVC flooring must not be installed in unheated rooms. At low temperatures, the elasticity of the material decreases, which will eventually lead to the formation of cracks.

There are several varieties of PVC linoleum. On the market there are products that have a base, and products that do not have a base. The base may be fabric, foam or non-fabric. As for the structure, you can find single-layer products and multi-layer ones.

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Based on the nature of the room, you can choose:

• domestic;
• commercial;
• semi-commercial;
• specialized polyvinyl chloride linoleum.

For a home, it is better to choose household linoleum, the operational period of which exceeds 5 years. The thickness of the product varies from 1 to 4 mm. It is not placed in high traffic areas.

The commercial floor covering differs in the increased wear resistance. It is equipped with a protective layer that protects it from abrasion and mechanical damage. The operational period of the product can reach 25 years.

Semi-commercial linoleum is similar to household. It is slightly thicker and has a longer service life of up to 20 years. It can be installed both at home and in small offices with medium traffic.

Specialized floor covering meets the requirements of certain premises. At the moment, you can buy sports linoleum, anti-slip, bactericidal and noise-absorbing. From the names it is obvious what each type of specialized coating is used for. Therefore, we will not dwell on this in detail.

Glyptal linoleum

This product has a fabric base, on top of which an alkyd resin is applied. This manufacturing technology allows you to significantly increase the heat-insulating and sound-proofing properties. It is impractical to cover glyptal linoleum at home.

Before proceeding with laying, the material must be left in a warm room for 24 hours. Otherwise, after laying, the decorative finish may be deformed.

Colloxylin linoleum

This product, consisting of 1 layer, is resistant to moisture, elastic and flexible. Thanks to the plasticizers included in the product, it is not afraid of low temperatures.

As for the shortcomings, it is worth noting that the product very often shrinks after installation. In addition, it is unstable to alkalis and acids.

relin

Such linoleum consists of two layers of rubber. The top layer is highly durable and very hard. The bottom layer is not as strong. He is responsible for depreciation.