How to choose linoleum for the kitchen

Thanks to the unique properties of linoleum, the origins of which go back more than 200 years old, still in high demand.This is not surprising, because over time the performance of the floor material only improve, and color gamut becomes more interesting combination that allows you to select material that harmoniously blends into any décor.

The variety of linoleum, at first glance differ only in color scheme, greatly complicates the choice.However, a careful examination of the information about the flooring becomes aware that each type of structure is different, constituent elements aimed at the production of the finished product, wear resistance.

How to choose linoleum for the kitchen

In every apartment, kitchen - the most actively used the room, so more susceptible to contamination and, subsequently, through the purification of household chemicals.To protect the flooring in the kitchen, linoleum has all the necessary qualities.Many types of linoleum that have their own advantages and disadvantages, has led to the development of a number of criteria for determining which linoleum for the kitchen better.Among them:

• moisture coating;
• resistance to chemical compositions;
• grooved surface;
• ease of maintenance;
• wear;
• resistance to deformation under mechanical stress.

Types of linoleum for the kitchen, their advantages

basis of the components of the structure of the linoleum materials allocated 2 main types of flooring:

1. Linoleum - is formed by the combination of cork, wood flour, limestone, linseed oil, naturaldyes and resins.The basis of the finished product up nonwovens or jute fiber.

Advantages:

• environmental friendliness;
• fire;
• hypoallergenic material;
• has anti-static, anti-slip effect;
• good sound-absorbing and heat-insulating properties;
• high wear resistance;
• resistance to most solvents, fats;
• presence of linseed oil gives the product antibacterial properties throughout the period of use;
• resistance to dirt;
• useful life comes to 30-40 years.

Disadvantages:

• complexity of laying due to poor elasticity of the material;
• decomposed by prolonged exposure to alkali;
• loss of form, the appearance of swellings make it impossible to use in wet areas;
• high price.

2. Artificial - made on the basis of various kinds of synthetic components, fillers, plasticizers, dyes, and diluents.

Pros:

• the possibility of warping at a temperature above 50 ° C;
• low cost;
• low thermal conductivity;
• not rot;
• resistance to dirt;
• the possibility of concealing sex small defects due to the thickness of the coating;
• high wear resistance;
• moisture;
• easy installation.

Cons:

• absence of anti-slip effect in many models;
• low fire safety;
• some models are easily damaged due to mechanical impact;
• destroyed by prolonged contact with acetone and other strong solvents;
• short operational period of 5-15 years.

Kitchen fit both types of coatings, but in order to save money, a synthetic linoleum is much cheaper, and of appropriate quality, the manufacturer, will last a little less natural.

Species artificial linoleum

Acceptable price, high performance, not much inferior to the natural grass, maintain stable demand for linoleum.However, before you buy linoleum for the kitchen, is a detailed look into its constituent elements, since the variety of different types of coatings on several grounds.

From the binder, the following types of linoleum:

• Pvc - based on a combination of PVC, plasticizers, pigments, fillers and diluents.Significant disadvantages are the chemical smell, escaped through 1-2 months of application, and the possibility of minor shrinkage.

• Gliphtal or alkyd - contains the alkyd resin, applied to the nonwoven substrate.It features good sound, thermal insulation properties, but the propensity for fractures makes it impossible to use as a home flooring.

• Kolloksilinovoe - made of nitrocellulose.Enough thin, homogeneous, it has no reason to linoleum has good elasticity, moisture resistance, but it is susceptible to fire.

• Rubber - contains 2 layers.Wrong side of the bitumen with crushed rubber, and the front - a combination of rubber, fillers and dyes.It characterized by high resistance to moisture, excellent elasticity, anti-surface and small size, the appropriate floor carpet.Because allocation of harmful substances is contraindicated to the floor in the living room.

From the variety of artificial flooring linoleum most suitable for the kitchen stands out PVC.

PVC coating types

Based on the destination area, there are 4 types of linoleum:

• Household - flooring for homes with low intensity transmission and small loads, since the thickness of the protective layer ranges from 0,15-0,35 mm.

• Commercial - is characterized by a high degree of wear resistance and a protective layer to 0.8 mm, so is used in off-road locations.Use in a domestic environment unnecessarily because of the high cost.

• semi-commercial - ideal for everyday and secondary patency of premises, due to the thickness of the protective layer constituting 0.4-0.6 mm.It has the advantages of residential and commercial flooring.

• Special Forces - is used in areas which are increased requirements (eg, protection from sliding, sound insulation, etc.).

Of all types of PVC coatings, particular preference is to give a semi-commercial linoleum.On domestic coating, it is more durable and has a high resistance to deformation.It is not necessary to purchase commercial linoleum in the kitchen, the price of which is much higher semi-commercial - irrational waste of money.

structure PVC coating

With regard to the structure of the linoleum allocate 2 types:

1. Homogeneous - single-layer coating.

Features:

• absence of the substrate;
• thickness uniformity of the coating structure, ranging from 1.5-3 mm;
• ease of drawing;
• limited choice of colors;
• surface roughness;
• high resistance to abrasion pattern.

To check the quality necessary to bend the corner of linoleum, because the absence of the crook of the white band indicates the compliance process.The appearance of the band suggests a large amount of lime in the coating structure, which makes it quite brittle, so from this product should be abandoned.

2. Heterogeneous - multilayer coating comprising:

• substrate, consisting of PVC foam, felt, nonwoven materials;
• reinforcing fiberglass, performs the role of the skeleton, which are applied to the subsequent coating layers;
• layer of foamed PVC required for printing and provides noise, thermal insulation properties;
• protective layer that determines the durability of linoleum and protects the image from damage.

Features:

• linoleum thickness varies from 2-6 mm;
• a wide choice of colors;
• complexity of the pattern;
• wear resistance depends on the protective layer (0,15-0,8 mm) designed to prevent drawing from erasure;
• no deformation during the operational period.

So homogeneous linoleum with a greater elasticity than the heterogeneous, allows maximum tight tuck the edge of the perimeter walls, preventing the penetration of moisture under the cover.However, the roll width is between 1.5-2 m, so avoid docking linoleum will not work.

Heterogeneous linoleum with the right approach to the choice of material is suitable for any room space, and thanks to the foam layer to provide additional heat and sound insulation floor.In addition, the roll width is 1.5-4 m

Basis floor

Based on the presence / absence of the substrate, the following types:.

• baseless.In the absence of the substrate, linoleum 0,72-2 mm thickness varies, so is used for flooring in areas with sufficiently low permeability requiring detailed preparation before laying the foundation.

• With the presence of a base.As a basis serve:

1. Foamed PVC.Linoleum on the foam basis rather elastic, durable, humidity resistant, and relatively low cost makes it more affordable in comparison with other types of coatings.The basis of foamed linoleum is fiberglass, the purpose of which is to preserve the finished product sizes.The foam layer located on both sides of glass fiber, promotes sound absorption, heat preservation and applied in 2 ways:

• mechanical - provides an open cell structure.When the pressure to cover the air with a heavy object moves from one cell to another, without deforming the linoleum;

• chemical - presence of a closed cell structure.Under the influence of a heavy object bubbles burst, forming a dent on the surface.

2. Fabric felt.Linoleum on the basis of tissue, felt has a high noise, thermal insulation, and hides minor surface irregularities.The coating does not have a large operating life and low cost.Besides, under the influence of moisture linoleum deformation occurs.

Thus, a good linoleum for the kitchen should have a foam base, applied mechanically.

distinguish natural from synthetic coating

• Linoleum exhales the smell of linseed oil and gives an artificial chemistry.Natural
• cover has a stiffness thin plywood, while a synthetic elastically so easily bends.
• as a protective layer of linoleum is subject to special treatment with natural mastic and covered with artificial chemical composition.
• from natural linoleum is easy to break off a piece, and from synthetic - just cut.
• On the reverse side of the cover can be seen natural jute mesh, and underside of the artificial linoleum can be a variety of materials other than fiber and nonwoven webs.
• high price of natural linoleum, exceeding 2-3 times the cost of the synthetic coating.

few tips

When determining the quality of linoleum should be considered:

• absence of a sharp chemical smell;
• a protective layer;
• no peeling layers from each other;
• match party and the number of manufacturing by purchasing coverage from a variety of rolls used for docking in the same room.

Acquire linoleum is only well-known manufacturers (for example, Tarkett, IVS, Juteks).

when transporting Do not bend linoleum, only to twist into a roll.

Before laying the cover must be mature to full unfolding.

Thus, the best option is a semi-commercial flooring linoleum.However, the lack of financial resources is always possible to find an alternative solution, and a variety of options for the kitchen linoleum, photos of which is given in the article will help solve the problem quickly.