Types of linoleum .How to choose linoleum

Linoleum is one of the most popular floor covering for apartments and public buildings.This is an inexpensive and durable material, presented in a wide range.There are several types of linoleum, not only excellent coloring, but also the thickness and cost.In this article, we'll show you how to choose linoleum for the home or office and do not overpay for the finish.

Features linoleum

linoleum originally made of cork (wood) flour, linseed oil, pine resin, limestone powder and various natural pigments.A mixture of these components was applied to natural or nonwoven fabric.With the development of technology of the natural components replaced synthetics, but the technology is, for the most part, remained the same.Thanks to the invention of new materials, linoleum are more durable and resistant to mechanical stress.Today you can buy linoleum for all needs, from the flooring in the living room, and the last finished in the workplace.

The most important advantage of any of linoleum is its cheapness compared with other types of flooring.But his popularity he deserved not only that - the material is easy to installation, easy to care for him, and a variety of colors allows you to choose an option for any interior.

Features linoleum:

• resistance to extremes of temperature and humidity;
• ease of use;
• low cost;
• requires almost no maintenance;
• easily put their hands even without professional skills;
• provides additional sound and heat insulation floor;
• is from 20 to 50 years depending on the type and operating conditions.

Linoleum used virtually everywhere, because it can be used to create a comfortable flooring is cheap and fast.There are several types of linoleum flooring with different scope of application.Thus, for public buildings with high traffic use, general purpose coating.In places with high humidity, such as in swimming pools or bathrooms better antislip lay linoleum with special additives.And for gyms and gymnastic sports grounds suitable linoleum tiles, able to amortize the fall, to provide quality sports shoes grip the floor and give the best ball bounce.There is even a special antibacterial linoleum flooring for hospitals, preventing the spread of pathogens in the environment.For residential homes and apartments it is recommended to choose the sound insulation products.

The operational features of each of these types of linoleum depends on what components form part of it.So, we have said that the original linoleum made from natural ingredients, which are then applied to the natural base, but there were synthetic products over time.

addition of natural and synthetic PVC linoleum, which we describe in detail below, there are also the following types:

1. Gliphtal - linoleum cloth coated with a mixture of alkyd.It has higher thermal and noise insulation characteristics compared with conventional PVC product.The peculiarity of the material is that over time its fiber length is reduced, but the coating is increased in width.
2. nitrocellulose - mostly baseless thin coating has good resistance to moisture and elasticity.However, due to the lack of a basis, they do not have a shock-absorbing, heat and sound insulation properties, as well as unstable combustion.
3. rubber - reinforced linoleum, has exceptional moisture resistance and high elasticity.The lower layer is compressed it crumb glued bitumen, the top - a mixture of natural rubber, fillers, and dyes.

Linoleum

About kind and polyvinylchloride linoleum should tell us more, because these types are most commonly used for the repair of a residential area.Linoleum, especially good because for its production uses only natural ingredients, which means that it is completely safe environmentally plane.Osnovu for linoleum is made from natural jute fibers or nonwovens.

A haven after environmental sustainability is a fire - it does not contribute to the spread of fire.Its easy to clean, even dry, and the lifetime is calculated for decades.This high-quality natural linoleum does not fade and does not lose its decorative properties for many years.

material not capable to accumulate static electricity because it includes linseed oil is present.Due to the natural composition it also has a slight bactericidal ability.

Important: Linoleum is resistant to household cleaners without lye.

The only disadvantage is the low ductility material.For this reason, during transportation to avoid sharp bends, otherwise the web will crack.

PVC linoleum

synthetic PVC linoleum is several times cheaper than natural, and often used in the design of residential premises.There are three types of PVC linoleum: Classic, expanded and duplicated.First produced on jute, felt or polyester basis.Foamed linoleum can be immediately recognized by its density and strength, and web width typically range from 1.5 to 4 m. Dubbed material usually made of vinyl on non-woven base.

Since PVC linoleum are quite cheap, many people choose them, it is not taking into account the shortcomings.Meanwhile, all such foam products except fiberglass based on linoleum shrink to 2% at high temperatures.Also do not forget that this synthetic product, and therefore, consist of non-natural components, is about sustainability can not be considered.It just may be determined by the specific smell of the new linoleum (it disappears with time).

recommended to choose the multi-layered linoleum, as they have better heat and noise insulation indices for apartments and houses.The basis of these coatings are usually made of fiberglass impregnated with polyvinylchloride weight.On the front side of the weight stack PVC composition, is applied after which drawing and coating of transparent PVC.On the back side of the base substrate is bonded special fabric, jute fibers, polyester or PVC foam.The role of the substrate is very important - it does not allow the linoleum deformed, shock absorption during walking, absorbs sound and protects against the cold.

Tip: Linoleum with drawing, applied mechanically, will last longer than the product, painted by chemical means.

Types bases linoleum

we considered above linoleum varieties, differing composition of the mixture deposited on the substrate.But the foundations can be different, which also affects the performance of the floor.

Types linoleum depending on the basics:

1. baseless - linoleum, made without a basis.This is usually a single-layer material thickness from 1.2 to 1.6 mm, recommended for use in high humidity areas.Should such products are cheaper than other types, but because of the small thickness it should be laid on most flat base, otherwise all the potholes and bumps will be visible.Sizing baseless linoleum needed for its entire area, and therefore need more glue.The service life of the coating is very short and is only 5-10 years, depending on conditions of use and maintenance.
2. Foam - linoleum, consisting of several layers and reaching a thickness of 2 to 3.5 mm.Typically, these products are placed in the kitchen, hallway or living room, that is, in the rooms where you spend most of wet cleaning.The service life of 8-12 years.During installation it is not necessary for the entire surface prokleivat - only the edges and along the diagonals.
3. Insulated - such products are best suited for bedrooms, children's rooms and other facilities, and normal levels of humidity.The base may consist of natural or synthetic fibers, but linoleum thickness reaches 5 mm.This coating retains heat well and absorbs noise, it is both soft and elastic enough.Experts recommend spending laying linoleum without insulated joints - solid blade.Over time, the coating can expand a little, which should be taken into account when installing and left between the wall and the edge web deformation gap of a few millimeters.Otherwise linoleum can go waves.

How to choose linoleum

When choosing flooring linoleum need to build on the operational features of the room, where he will lie.So if this is the kitchen, you need water-resistant durable coating that is resistant to common mechanical cleaning and household chemicals.For bedrooms and Babe is better to take the most warm linoleum from natural ingredients.

What to look for when choosing:

• thickness;
• composition;
• resistance to moisture;
• insulation;
• resistance to mechanical stress.

See on decorative and cost is also necessary, but in the last turn.

take into account future location of linoleum, or rather, the nature of the load to be provided to it in the future.For example, if you choose to cover the hall, it is necessary to focus on the resistance to abrasion, as this part of the house with a high cross.The kitchen is also a popular place in the house, where all the residents, but there usually go, or barefoot, or in soft slippers, while walking in the hallway in street shoes, and therefore impact on the linoleum tougher.

There is a special classification, which greatly facilitates the selection of linoleum.It provides the type of premises and the degree of stress, which may be the right stuff.Each type of linoleum is assigned a two-digit number, the first digit of which is the type of room, and the second - the amount of load.

premises Types:

• 2 - living;
• 3 - office;
• 4 - Production.

load value is determined in ascending order, where 1 means that the material is not suitable for serious load, and 4 - linoleum can be installed in areas with harsh operating conditions.So, if you need to choose the cover for the kitchen, looking for linoleum marked 24 (living room with high loads), and is suitable for bedroom Linoleum 21, because there is a minimum load.The more people live in the building, the greater the number of load.

Tip: If you choose linoleum for homes or offices, where people will be most of the day, give preference to natural materials, even though it will cost a bit more expensive.At the same time pay attention to the smell - if linoleum exudes a sharp unpleasant odor, and the seller assures you that the product is environmentally friendly, such a purchase is better to abstain.

to any room it is best to lay coating in one piece to the width of linoleum consistent width of the room.To do this, you must make preliminary measurements, taking into account the deformation of the indentation walls.When buying linoleum make sure that he has a certificate, which confirms the safety of finishing material for human health.

One of the most obvious advantages of linoleum is a wide selection of colors and designs.Modern manufacturing techniques allow you to create coatings with an imitation of any surface and with any drawings, be it wood, marble and mosaic art.In the production of high-quality linoleum is used pigments, preserving its saturation for years and nevygorayuschie direct sunlight.The most diverse in this regard are synthetic PVC products: linoleum under laminate, wood, stone or ceramic tile.

The most popular high-end imitation parquet and floorboard.Detailed drawing on the linoleum is able to reproduce the texture and color of beech, cherry, walnut and other exotic woods (merbau, bamboo, rosewood, etc.).This may be reproduced not only believable image, even texture.

Care linoleum

To maximize the life of linoleum, to start to care for them need even before stacking.To do this, you must provide gentle transport, especially if it is a natural product that can crack.Keep up laying linoleum need in their original packaging or slicing, rolled into rolls.Put them in a dry ends and not too cold room.A few days before laying expand the rolls of linoleum and let rest in bed in the room where the repair will take place.

Useful tips on caring for linoleum:

1. Any linoleum responsive to a decrease in temperature and exposure to UV light, so on the balcony it is better not to store and stack.
2. Do not walk on the linoleum in shoes with rubber soles - it leaves off stubborn stains.
3. Although linoleum is moisture, spilled liquid is better to wipe it with as quickly as possible, otherwise formed Nondeducibility spot on this place.
4. When setting furniture on linoleum, rubber feet and place them under shaybochki not to damage the coating.
5. Do not wash with hot water linoleum - because drawing is erased quickly.
6. not use to remove stains sodosoderzhaschie cleaners or ammonia, if you do not want to spoil the linoleum.
7. In the first month after installation, try not to wash linoleum with a wet cloth and wait for it to complete shrinkage.You can then wash it with water at room temperature with the addition of liquid detergents, especially for linoleum or parquet.
8. to "refresh" the look of linoleum, wash it with water, diluted with milk in a ratio of 1: 1.
9. To prolong the use of linoleum, once or twice a year, wipe it with sunflower refined oil or linseed oil, odorless.

Linoleum: photo