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How to choose linoleum

Linoleum is a great flooring choice that offers a number of advantages, such as being inexpensive, durable, easy to clean, and available in a wide range of colors and patterns. It is also resistant to water, bacteria, and mildew. When selecting linoleum for your home, it's important to consider the location of the flooring, the thickness of the material, and the quality of the installation. Quality installation is key for ensuring that the flooring will last and look great. Linoleum flooring is an excellent option for any home because of its affordability, ease of maintenance, durability, and design flexibility.

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This article will make it easier to choose linoleum for an apartment and a house, including for specific rooms. We will also look at the difference between the material used in offices and industrial premises. We will focus on technical characteristics.

How to choose linoleum

There are many floor finishes available. Carpet, cork, laminate, parquet, tiles โ€“ each of them will be preferable in certain situations, but linoleum is often indispensable due to its characteristics.

This is no longer the same Soviet material that looks like plastic. Now manufacturers use unique technologies, regularly present new lines with new characteristics. As a result, the consumer is forced to torment the Internet with questions: how to choose linoleum, which linoleum is better?

What is the secret of the popularity of linoleum

The main advantages of this material are practicality and versatility. He has almost no drawbacks, and those, rather, from the field of stereotypes and personal preferences. Here are the things that are most appreciated:

  • easy to care for;
  • easy to stack;
  • can be laid on floors with flat drops and small shells;
  • several options for wear resistance;
  • not afraid of moisture;
  • improves the insulating properties of the floor (air and impact noise, thermal conductivity);
  • has many colors and textures;
  • it is inexpensive (especially if we talk about wholesale linoleum).

What is linoleum

Synthetic linoleum is made on the basis of varieties of PVC, therefore it is also sometimes called vinyl or PVC coating. It can consist of a homogeneous material, or it can be made in the form of a โ€œmultilayer cakeโ€. According to this principle, respectively, vinyl is distinguished:

  • homogeneous
  • heterogeneous

In the first case, we are talking about โ€œcommercialโ€ models, where strength is the main requirement. A single uniform layer has the same characteristics from top to bottom, including color.

How to choose linoleum

But the multi-layer options are designed for housing, here you need softness, elasticity and warmth. Closed-cell foam interlayers are added to the structure, which are complemented by reinforcing and protective layers of small thickness. Linoleum IVC โ€“ made using this technology. Naturally, each level (there are up to 10) performs its function. From top to bottom it looks like this:

  • glossy varnish;
  • protective film (gives resistance to abrasion);
  • embossing layer (creates a relief);
  • printed drawing;
  • upper foam layer (provides flexibility);
  • fiberglass reinforcement (restrains thermal expansion);
  • bottom lining layer โ€“ foamed PVC, jute, felt, polyester, etc. (insulates, creates spatial strength);
  • back layer (protects pores, strengthens).

So which linoleum is best for an apartment? How to choose linoleum for your home? Of course โ€“ multi-layer, 2 or more millimeters thick.

PVC coating thickness ranges from 1 to 5 millimeters. The smaller it is, the less opportunities a specific material gives. Thin linoleums should generally be found on well-prepared floors. They often do not have even one foam layer, therefore they insulate less, almost do not soundproof. Usually small thickness indicates homogeneity.

Important! The endurance and practicality of linoleum largely depends on the thickness of the protective outer coating, so its performance should be considered separately. It is desirable that it be more than 1.5 millimeters.

The presence of a pronounced relief makes vinyl (in appearance and tactile sensations) as close as possible to such natural materials as wood, stone, leather. In this case, embossing is performed mechanically, as a result, the surface is softer and less slippery, but the linoleum itself is more expensive.

Linoleum may have a varnish coating that simplifies maintenance and does not allow the surface (especially important for textured options) to get dirty. It is also an additional mechanical protection.

We choose PVC flooring by purpose

Depending on where the linoleum will be used, various types of effects will be applied to it, both mechanical and thermal, chemical. Obviously, the least problems are in a living space โ€“ you need a beautiful soft linoleum with good insulation.

How to choose linoleum

The greatest number of destructive factors will be in workshops, which will require the strongest and most stable grades of linoleum. Medium abrasion linoleum is used in offices, shops, public buildings. Manufacturers mark their products accordingly โ€“ with symbols or numbers:

  • 1 โ€“ passability at the minimum level;
  • 2 โ€“ housing;
  • 3 โ€“ office premises;
  • 4 โ€“ production.

There is also an intuitive division of linoleums into:

  • household (warm, quiet, soft);
  • semi-commercial (more protective layer, more flexible, less permanent deformation);
  • commercial (the most durable and dense, homogeneous, toned in the mass).

Important! There are linoleums with special characteristics. For example, there are models for laying on top of warm floors, acoustic, for wet rooms, fire-resistant, anti-static, shockproof, with antibacterial coating. Typically, the consumer is provided with appropriate labeling.

Resistance to mechanical stress

In the case of non-industrial linoleum, we are primarily talking about abrasion with high traffic. Therefore, sometimes the marking includes figures in the form of men (from 1 to 4). This means that there are four levels of impact intensity, the higher the digital index, the more stable the linoleum.

How to choose linoleum

Important! What is called the โ€œclassโ€ of linoleum is a combination of the digital designation of the type of room (the first indicator) and resistance to mechanical stress (the second indicator). For example, the 32nd class is linoleum for office premises (3) with a moderate level of stability (2).

So which linoleum is best for an apartment? Naturally โ€“ grades 21-24, you can also use the thirties, but overpaying does not always make sense.

Linoleum for different rooms

In a house or apartment in each room, the load on linoleum will be different. In some rooms it is minimal, while in others it is possible that โ€œpathsโ€ and various damages appear. The offices and bedrooms are the least crowded. The floors of the kitchen, hallway, corridors and nurseries are affected the most. Average loads are observed in living rooms, bathrooms, nurseries with older residents.

How to choose linoleum for the bedroom and study

Here you can safely use even linoleum class 21. It is not necessary to use thick models, 1.5 mm coatings with a protective layer of 0.15 mm are quite suitable. Can be used with vinyl on polyester.

How to choose linoleum

How to choose linoleum for the living room

In the living room and other rooms with a medium load, it is better to use vinyl with a double foam base, preferably 2.5 mm thick and a protective layer of 0.2 or more millimeters. As for the class, options 22-23 are suitable.

How to choose linoleum for the kitchen

Similar to the coating for the corridor, nursery and hallway, you will need resistant material of class 23 and above. The use of the entry-level office option (class 31 and 32) will also be justified. In terms of total thickness, you need to start from 3 millimeters, with a protective film thickness of 0.25 mm. If you use embossed coatings, then you should pay attention to varnished models..

Comparative table of PVC linoleum

Model A type Class Thickness, mm Cover thickness (mm) Special Features Cost, cu eat2
Juteks, Venus domestic 22 2.7 0.15 โ€“ five
IVC Greenline semi-commercial, multilayer 23; 31 4 0,4 can be used with underfloor heating nine
Tarkett, IQ Monolit commercial, homogeneous 34; 43 2 โ€“ resistant to mechanical stress and moisture 12.5
Forbo, Sarlon tech canyon commercial 34; 42 2.6 0.7 acoustic, antibacterial coating 17.5

Here we briefly examined how to choose linoleum for an apartment and a house. We hope that based on the information received, you can quickly make the right purchase. The main thing is to consider the models and lines comprehensively, first of all focus on the operating conditions.

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Comments: 1
  1. Sophia Griffin

    I would like to know what factors should be considered when choosing linoleum for my home. Are there specific brands or types that are recommended? How do I determine the right thickness and durability? Any tips on color and patterns that would suit different rooms? Is there anything else I should know before making a decision? Appreciate any advice or suggestions you can provide.

    Reply
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