Linoleum, which is one of the most popular materials for furnishing floors in residential premises, is very widely represented in many trade enterprises, which allows you to decorate the interior in strict accordance with the tastes of each homeowner. Knowing how to choose linoleum correctly, you can choose this version of this universal flooring, which would both suit personal preferences and have excellent performance characteristics.
So, what points should you decide on when choosing linoleum? Let's talk.
The first question: where do we put it?
Since the linoleum options offered for sale differ significantly in their qualities, depending on the installation location, they can be divided into the following groups:
- for flooring - here it is best to use linoleum made of polyvinyl chloride: the high durability of such a material, the possibility of processing it chemicals, which is especially important when it comes into contact with fats, allows you to maintain the cleanliness and beauty of the floor covering. The presence of a protective top layer increases the degree of resistance to mechanical stress and aggressive substances;
- floor covering in living rooms It is better to make it with multilayer linoleum on a foam base: the presence of increased noise and heat insulating properties ensures the maintenance of the required temperature in the room and the absence of extraneous sounds.
The pattern for the kitchen is preferably discreet, but in the rooms you can already select a pattern on the linoleum to suit your taste: floral, “like parquet” - any options in the living room will look great, emphasizing the individuality of the room, its style and the owner’s taste.
Question two: what is the optimal width of the roll and what are its other dimensional characteristics?
When deciding which linoleum to choose for an apartment, you should pay close attention to the width of the roll. The standard sizes are in the range of 1.5-4.0 m with a step of 0.5 m. The material consumption when laying on the floor largely depends on the width, as well as the degree of complexity of cutting and quantity (they still have to be sealed!).
Typically, the length of one sheet of linoleum in a roll is 3 m or more, which allows you to cut a piece of the required length and thereby minimize material consumption during installation.
The thickness of the coating can also vary significantly: from 1.6 to 5.0 mm. The average thickness of linoleum intended for installation in a living room can be considered 2.5 mm.
Binder material - question three
When choosing linoleum that will be installed in rooms with high traffic (corridors, rooms without carpets), you should choose options that are as resistant to abrasion as possible. All types of alkyd linoleum with high levels of heat and sound insulation perfectly retain their original qualities and appearance. However, their low resistance to moisture makes this option not very suitable for the kitchen.
The most resistant to moisture is considered to be linoleum made from PVC. It is represented quite widely on the shelves of trade enterprises. As practice shows, the slightly higher cost of this type of flooring is a direct consequence of its improved qualities.
Color solution
The variety of colors of linoleum pleases the eye, but also makes it difficult to choose. Linoleum with a simple pattern (like parquet, in squares) is the easiest to cut. In this respect, imported production options differ from domestic brands in positive side. The convenience of their installation lies in the fact that the pattern on imported linoleums is often applied in such a way that the opposite edges of the roll have a pattern that is a continuation of itself.
The basic rule for choosing a pattern when choosing linoleum is that a large pattern looks most impressive in large rooms, and a small pattern will “play out” in small rooms.
The matching of the wallpaper and the color scheme of the flooring creates a harmonious impression of the room. Therefore, when choosing, it is necessary to take into account the prevailing color in the room.
When deciding which linoleum is best to choose, you should follow the following tips from professionals:
- You should buy slightly more linoleum than is required according to the measurements of the room being designed.
- The presence of a quality certificate can protect the buyer from low-quality counterfeits that have low hygienic and performance properties.
- You can check the quality of the selected type of linoleum in the following way: crush a small sample of it in your hand. In the absence of creases, pronounced cracks and loss of color brightness, we can safely speak of high quality goods.
- Selecting coating samples based on foamed PVC will provide more long term service of linoleum due to the absence of its contact with concrete slab floor.
- The clarity of the applied pattern and the absence of blur also indicate the high quality of the material.
A rating compiled by experts of the main brands of this flooring will undoubtedly help you guide you when choosing linoleum.
The following video will certainly help you navigate the world of linoleum:
Overview of the main characteristics of linoleum, such as width, thickness and classes. In this article you will find detailed description advantages and disadvantages of certain types of linoleum, learn how to select the class of linoleum for any room.
On at the moment The linoleum market is actively developing. The assortment is so large that your eyes will diverge. You can buy both natural and synthetic linoleum.
In addition, the price range is very pleasing, because you can opt for expensive heterogeneous linoleum or cheap homogeneous one. To choose the most suitable look It is worth familiarizing yourself with their technical characteristics. First of all, measure how many meters the width of your largest room in the house is so that you can select the covering based on this.
Main Features
Which coating to choose from all the variety in stores? First of all, you should pay attention to the thickness of the coating, as well as the protective layer and its service life. However, the main characteristics are:
- Moisture resistance
- Density
- Abrasion and indentation resistance
- Flammability
- Chemical resistance
- Sound and heat insulation
- Antistatic
- Residential, semi-commercial or commercial
Modern linoleum (Tarkett) is becoming more difficult to distinguish from laminate, parquet board or ceramic tiles. However, despite the excellent quality, you should not go to the store and buy the first roll you come across. Initially, you should find out about the materials from which it is made, its purpose and technical features.
The main advantage of linoleum is its versatility. It can be used in any kind of premises, taking into account the materials and width required for a given room. The material is very easy to care for, is very soft and elastic, and is available in all sizes.
From the point of view of loads, linoleum is a durable material that is not subject to cracking or crumbling, it has good stability to abrasion, and is also not prone to deformation, unlike wooden coatings. If properly installed, linoleum will withstand heavy loads and last a very long time (often it ranges from 25 to 30 years). And commercial and semi-commercial types of coating can be used for floors even on large enterprises(see photo).
Linoleum also has excellent sound-proofing and heat-insulating properties, and its moisture resistance is worth highlighting. This is an important property that wooden coatings cannot boast of.
Main types of linoleum
1. Natural linoleum. It is created from natural materials. There is linoleum with or without a base. The base itself is made of fabric or other materials, but in any case they are natural. The thickness of such a coating is usually greater. Due to its environmental safety, such linoleum fits into the premium class classification, which affects the final price of each square meter of coverage. Which one is natural can be read on the label.
2. Polyvinyl chloride linoleum or PVC. Such products are manufactured on different bases:
- Non-woven base, which has excellent sound and heat insulation.
- Fabric base.
- Foamed fiberglass base.
It is worth highlighting their advantages and disadvantages separately.
Advantages of PVC coatings
Compared to the amazing majority of materials, it is quite advantageous in price. Also, this linoleum has low thermal conductivity and is a dielectric, limited soluble, and not subject to rotting due to the fact that it is made from synthetic components. Technical characteristics, depending on the wear resistance class, are suitable for almost any task.
The installation technology is simple. It can be installed without the help of professionals - with your own hands. For large sizes rooms, it is recommended to use glue or metal thresholds. Commercial linoleum of this type is characterized by increased strength.
Disadvantages of PVC coatings
The main disadvantage is that it is made from synthetics (“chemical” components) and it is naturally not suitable for lovers of natural products.
Also, such coatings are sensitive to high temperatures and are unstable to acetone and any other solvents.
During sharp drops PVC temperature loses elasticity, resulting in large size cracks may appear.
Advantages of natural linoleum
The main advantage is its natural origin, because this linoleum contains linseed oil. Thanks to it, natural linoleum has good antibacterial and fungicidal properties, and it is also a natural antiseptic. Also, natural Tarkett linoleum can be recycled. Depending on the wear resistance class, it is suitable both in residential buildings and apartments, and in office premises.
Can often be found on construction markets insulated type of linoleum, with a natural bottom covering.
From a decorative point of view, such linoleum has unique colors and patterns that cannot be reproduced technologically. And the width of the roll allows it to be laid in one piece even in a large room. Examples can be seen in the photo.
It is fire-resistant, which means that an accidentally dropped match will not cause damage to the surface, much less cause a fire. The increased thickness (sometimes up to 5 mm), due to the natural thickness, will allow you to hide minor unevenness in the floor.
Disadvantages of natural linoleum
It is quite difficult to install, which means the installation of such a coating should be carried out by professionals. It also has a high cost.
Caring for natural linoleum is more difficult than caring for PVC. Professionals advise periodically rubbing it with mastic. The minimum period is about six months.
Which coating is better? - It's up to you to decide.
Other types of linoleum
Colloxin linoleum. Often this type is made in a single layer. It is elastic and has increased resistance to moisture. But it has a significant disadvantage - it is a fire hazard. Due to such specific technical characteristics, this type is not very common.
Glypthal linoleum. It has a fabric base. The main advantage is the excellent sound and thermal insulation properties. In some models they are even better than PVC. But over time, this type shrinks in length and stretches in width.
Rubber linoleum. It has two layers: in the bottom there is used rubber, which has been crushed, in the top there is rubber, which is mixed with filler.
Wear resistance classes
- Wear resistance is the ability of linoleum to withstand the loads that affect the material during use.
- Abrasion is the time during which the thickness of the coating decreases during use.
There are application classes: residential, office and industrial, respectively, the first digit of the class is 2, 3 or 4. The second digit in the linoleum class means the expected load intensity (from 1 to 4). Respectively:
For residential premises, houses and apartments, classes 21, 22 and 23 are suitable, while in the corridor, kitchen and other places with intense traffic, it is advisable to choose the latest version of Tarkett linoleum. For an apartment it is better to choose class 23, because... it is the most reliable.
Classes 31, 32, 33 and 34 will be appropriate in office premises, shops, shopping centers, etc. For ordinary offices, the first two classes are suitable, and for shops and shopping centers, it is better to choose the latter, with improved characteristics.
Linoleum classes 41, 42 and 43 are exclusively commercial (technical) and are used mainly in factories and factories. This coating can withstand almost any load.
Width of linoleum - main dimensions
The main characteristics in in this case the width of the roll and its thickness appear. At the moment, linoleum has a standard width ranging from 1.5 to 5 meters. Often the step is half a meter. This means that rolls with widths of 1.5 m, 2 m, 2.5 m, 3 m, 3.5 m, 4 m, 4.5 m, 5 m, 6 m can be found on sale. Maximum standard width linoleum is six meters, for large rooms, in such cases, it is necessary to use cold welding.
However, not all linoleum manufacturers can offer products of such sizes. So, for example, household linoleum often has dimensions of no more than three meters, and rolls with a size of five meters are usually found in industrial series.
The most popular size ranges from 2 to 4 meters, since when using a coating of exactly this size, you can easily cover the floor in almost any living space with one piece. Therefore, in order to choose the required width, you need to know the exact dimensions of the room.
The width of the roll should match or slightly exceed the length of one of the sides in the room. For example, if the room has dimensions of 4.87 x 5.88, then the most optimal choice would be a roll 5 meters wide. In this way, you can cover a room using one piece of linoleum and greatly simplify cutting.
In rooms with unusual geometry, linoleum with an abstract pattern is perfect. In such cases, the coating spreads most in a convenient way. All this will greatly facilitate the work, because during the installation process you will not need to worry about joining the pieces and soldering the seams.
It is important to note that width significantly affects the price of the coating. The most expensive rolls have the largest width. Prices are indicated per 1 sq. m., so it’s easy to compare the cost of several rolls of different widths and choose the most suitable one. The coverage width is standard throughout.
Thickness of linoleum. The polyvinyl chloride coating is made with a thickness of 0.7 to 5 mm. Least often found alkyd linoleum thinner than a millimeter, and for living conditions he doesn't fit. The best option for the home there will be products with a thickness of 2 to 4 millimeters, because it is worth understanding that the heat and sound insulation of the coating directly depends on the thickness. In addition, the thicker the coating, the better characteristics coverings. Therefore, before choosing any of the options, consider which characteristics are especially important to you.
There is an opinion that the overall thickness of linoleum affects durability and technical characteristics. This is a misconception - the durability of linoleum is affected by the thickness of the protective layer, namely its abrasion period. However, it is worth taking into account that the thickness of the roll and its massiveness directly affect its total weight. Therefore, it is important to take this into account during transportation.
Linoleum a very convenient and relatively cheap flooring material - it is hygienic and easy to clean, it is characterized by fairly high strength and low thermal conductivity. But, as it turns out, the word linoleum was used to describe completely different materials at different times...
Only in recent years The demand for natural linoleum has increased dramatically due to its unique environmental properties, and natural linoleum production has been revived (but not everywhere).
They recalled not only the antibacterial properties, but also the extreme wear resistance of natural linoleum. An indicator of the wear resistance and durability of natural linoleum is famous example— in one of the apartment buildings in Europe they dismantled old linoleum, which served for more than 70 years. It turned out that over all these years, only 0.4 mm of the coating was worn out with a total linoleum thickness of 4 mm.
For a long time, the main consumers of natural linoleum were medical and children's institutions: clinics, hospitals, kindergartens and schools. Because of high wear resistance and durability, natural linoleum has taken root in shops, cinemas, offices, and lately natural linoleum is increasingly being used in cottage construction. Along with environmental properties, this was greatly facilitated by production, which expanded the range of products.
From foreign manufacturers to domestic market Natural linoleum is most widely represented by products from the Armstrong company (Armstrong DLW, Germany), which offers its collection of marbled patterns.
PVC linoleum
We have firmly established the name “linoleum” behind this type of flooring, although in the West it is still called simply “PVC coating” (apparently, so as not to be confused with natural linoleum).
Currently, at least 80% of the world's linoleum production comes from PVC coating.
But polymer floor coverings are made not only from polyvinyl chloride, but also from some other polymers (alkyd, nitrocellulose, rubber), and polymer coating It can be homogeneous or heterogeneous, with or without a base, and in addition, it can have a number of special properties.
The special properties of polymer roll floor coverings, commonly called polymer linoleum or simply linoleum, include materials with increased sound and heat insulation properties, with varying heat resistance (for both high and low low temperatures), with increased moisture-proof properties and chemical resistance, conductive and anti-slip.
Homogeneous linoleum
Homogeneous linoleum is uniform throughout its entire thickness. This is very convenient, since the surface pattern does not change with wear, although the method of producing homogeneous linoleum does not allow obtaining any different patterns.
In addition to polymer (polyvinyl chloride), various fillers are added to homogeneous linoleum to reduce the cost of the material - crushed limestone, kaolin, talc, and the higher the content of fillers, the cheaper the linoleum is. But if there is excess filler, linoleum begins to wear unevenly - the polymer wears off faster, and the remaining filler protrudes to the surface, gets dirty and forms dirt tracks.
If you come across cheap and nameless (without indicating the manufacturer) linoleum, then most likely this is exactly this case.
Homogeneous linoleum is available in thicknesses from 1.5 to 3 mm, so its installation requires smooth and flat surface- any irregularities, cracks and crevices quickly appear through the floor homogeneous baseless linoleum.
Heterogeneous linoleum
Heterogeneous- means heterogeneous, because heterogeneous linoleum consists of several layers, each of which
ry performs a specific task. As a basis for heterogeneous linoleum, fiberglass canvas or mesh is currently most often used, a material that is very strong, durable, non-flammable and moisture-resistant. This base is impregnated with polyvinyl chloride, and then, after polymerization of the base, several more layers of polymer are applied on top. These layers contain a coloring pigment (and filler), a design can be applied (printed) to this layer, and last layer made of pure PVC or polyurethane is protective.
The protective layer determines the wear resistance and service life of linoleum, often called the laminate layer, and the thickness of this layer is tenths of a millimeter. The thickness of heterogeneous linoleum is usually from 2 to 6 mm (without base).
Unlike homogeneous, heterogeneous linoleum has an extremely rich range of colors and patterns, including photographs and works of art, so this view flooring material Designers are very fond of it - linoleum is cheaper than parquet and much easier to install.
Basic and baseless linoleum
Here again some confusion arises - isn’t this the basis of heterogeneous linoleum? And this is only on one side. But there is also the expression “linoleum based on polyvinyl chloride” - and then what kind of linoleum is it?
In fact, when they talk about basic or non-basic (emphasis on the last syllable!) linoleum we're talking about we are talking about something completely different - about an additional layer of material that is under the layer of linoleum, so it is more correct to talk about the substrate, but everyone is already accustomed to the terms “baseless linoleum” or “basic linoleum”.
So this very “base” (substrate) is like an additional layer of the floor covering and is located between the linoleum itself and the floor and can be made from a wide variety of materials - natural and synthetic fabrics, non-woven natural and synthetic fibers, foam plastic, felt, cardboard, fibers tropical trees etc.
The substrate is most often located under heterogeneous linoleum, although homogeneous base linoleum can also be found.
Most often, the base—the backing—of linoleum is a foamed synthetic polymer, and it is far from indifferent how it is obtained. Polymer foaming mechanically(by mixing) allows you to obtain an open-porous foam in the final product, and when chemical method foaming - closed-cell.
The open-cell foam backing deforms over time, air escapes from the foam cells and the base flattens.
In a substrate made of closed-cell foam, each cell is isolated from the others, and even if some of the cells are destroyed, the original thickness of the substrate is restored. Additional advantages of a closed-cell foam substrate are greater mechanical strength and significantly better heat and sound insulation properties, although such linoleum is more expensive.
Linoleum on a backing with jute fiber has very good heat and sound insulation properties, but, unfortunately, such linoleum is short-lived.
Linoleum based on fiberglass with a backing made of foamed polyvinyl chloride is highly resistant to changes in temperature and humidity and is not subject to shrinkage. Linoleum based on jute or felt changes its size with changes in temperature and humidity, and in wet rooms linoleum based on jute and felt base You cannot lay it - the base will become damp and rot.
Fiberglass-based linoleum lasts at least 10 years, and jute-based linoleum lasts for two years.
Classification and applications
Depending on the area of application, household linoleum differs, commercial and semi-commercial. Household linoleum is the cheapest, but also the most diverse in terms of the richness of patterns and colors. As the name itself says, it is intended for laying floors in residential (and non-residential) premises with relatively low requirements for wear resistance.
Commercial linoleum designed for rooms with high load on iol - these are large offices, shops, schools, train stations, airports and others production premises. Since it is used for flooring in industrial buildings, it is also called industrial.
A semi commercial linoleum- this is something intermediate in wear resistance between domestic and commercial, it is well suited for corridors in large apartments And public buildings with few visitors. Therefore, such linoleum is often called linoleum for public premises and offices. Sometimes linoleum for sports facilities is separated into separate classes - such linoleum is used to line volleyball, handball, mini-football courts, as well as transport linoleum - for laying in subway cars, trains, and airplanes.
For special purposes, special linoleum is also produced - for example, in computer rooms protection against static electricity is required and a special antistatic linoleum with carbon particles and special conductive linoleum with graphite layers - it is laid on conductive glue on a base with conductive metal busbars. There is linoleum, the foot on which does not slip, even if it is covered with water.
Commercial linoleum more often it is single-layer (homogeneous), the pattern in which permeates the entire thickness of the layer - when such homogeneous linoleum wears out, the surface layer wears out, but the pattern does not disappear. 
When laying household linoleum, the joints are usually not sealed in any way, but in commercial linoleum, the so-called cold or hot welding is necessarily used to seal the joints. Cold welding- this is filling the joint with a special adhesive composition, dissolving the edges of the joint and gluing them together. At hot welding To connect the edges, a heat gun or a special heat gun and a meltable special cord are used, which is placed in the joint.
All of the above applies to a large extent to linoleum based on polyvinyl chloride, since linoleums based on other chemical compounds- alkyd, nitrocellulose, rubber - are less common. But polymer linoleum is becoming more and more complex composite material and its service life has already increased from two to three years to 10-15 (the service life of natural linoleum is at least 50 years).
Pressed PVC tiles
Pressed polyvinyl chloride tiles are very close in structure to the structure of heterogeneous linoleum, but synthetic resins are added to the polyvinyl chloride. The thickness of the outer protective layer of pressed PVC tiles reaches 1 mm with a total tile thickness of up to 3 mm.
The outer surface of pressed tiles can be very diverse, even imitation natural stone, parquet, wood and even metal. In this case, wood knots or parquet cracks can be felt by touch. Shape and dimensions of the press
Floor tiles are also varied, which allows designers to use their imagination without restrictions - for example, it is very difficult to achieve a combination of “wood” with “metal” using other floor coverings.
Leading companies in their pressed collections PVC tiles provide borders, corners and other decorative elements, which significantly expands the scope of use of this flooring.
High performance and the variety of surface types and colors determine the extreme popularity of pressed PVC tiles for flooring in rooms for a wide variety of purposes, which allows PVC tiles to successfully compete with both artistic parquet and artistic linoleum.
To indicate the features of certain brands of pressed PVC tiles, the same pictograms are used as for linoleum.
Among the products of various brands of linoleum and design tiles offered on the domestic market, there is an absolute predominance of foreign manufacturers. These are world-famous companies - “Tarkett Sommer”, Sweden, “Armstrong DLW”, Germany, “AMT1SO” and “ALTRO”, England, “Linofatra”, Czech Republic. Moreover, these companies offer an extremely wide range of types, colors and artistic collections of their products.
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Linoleum remains one of the popular floor coverings. Many, when renovating an apartment, are faced with the need to select the right coating, and many questions arise here, since there are a lot of varieties of linoleum. In this article we will tell you how to choose linoleum for an apartment and specifically for each type of room.
Natural or artificial material
Before you start choosing, you need to clearly decide what type of linoleum you will use, natural or artificial. Natural linoleum includes such components as:
- Wood flour;
- Natural resins;
- Linseed oil;
- Natural dyes.
Of course, this material is environmentally friendly and meets all standards. fire safety, can be easily cleaned from various types of contaminants. However, the cost of such material is an order of magnitude higher than that of artificial analogues. Natural coating does not conduct electric current and has virtually no shrinkage after installation.
Artificial linoleum contains polyvinyl chloride and many other chemical components. Household and semi-commercial material is safe, but when exposed to temperatures above 27 degrees, it begins to emit toxic substances. In addition, it has much greater shrinkage than natural, but is much cheaper.
Important. When renovating apartments, experts do not recommend laying commercial and rubber linoleum in residential premises, since the environmental safety requirements for them are underestimated and their use is permissible only in administrative buildings with good ventilation.
Selection of linoleum class
When deciding which linoleum to choose for an apartment and specific rooms, you need to study the coating classes:
- In rooms with low traffic, such as a bedroom or office, you can lay linoleum of wear resistance class 21-22;
- In the living room you can lay a 22 class covering if 1-2 people live in the apartment. If the family is large, then it is better to use class 23;
- For children's rooms, grade 21 is used if there is a small child or grade 22-23 if there are several children;
- If you have a large family and often receive guests, it is better to use class 31-32 linoleum in living rooms and hallways.
FYI. The higher the class of coverage, the higher its cost. If you have limited financial resources, then you should not buy a higher class of coverage than is required by the premises.
Selection of linoleum for a specific room
Kitchen linoleum
When choosing a linoleum covering for the kitchen, you need to be guided by two main criteria: the material’s resistance to mechanical stress and moisture resistance. The most the best solution for the kitchen there will be natural linoleum, which is also called “marmoleum”. This is a natural covering on a fabric base, which is usually jute. This linoleum will last quite a long time, has high strength and makes it possible to easily remove various pollution using modern detergents.
If your financial capabilities do not allow you to use a natural coating, then you can buy synthetic linoleum, only at the time of purchase you need to check the service life of the material. You should not save on kitchen linoleum; make sure that the material complies with GOST standards and quality certificates from the manufacturer.
Important. Deciding which linoleum to use for an apartment kitchen area, take into account the opinion of experts who recommend using semi-commercial coating. This linoleum has a durable decorative layer, reinforced protective coating and has sufficient density to withstand an accidental fall of kitchen equipment.
Typically, materials with imitation are chosen for the kitchen. natural stone, parquet boards or ceramic tiles. It must be remembered that the kitchen requires increased antiseptic properties. Natural linoleum itself is an antiseptic due to the use of flax. For synthetic coatings, it is necessary to use a substrate with antiseptic characteristics, for example jute.
Important. Try to select the width of the roll in such a way that the coating does not have joints, since this is the most vulnerable area of the material given the characteristics of the kitchen premises.
Linoleum for the corridor and hallway
The most vulnerable linoleum in an apartment is in the corridor and hallway, since these are the rooms with the highest traffic, which greatly accelerates the process of abrasion of the coating. If one or two people live in an apartment, then there is no point in overpaying and you can use class 22-23 coverage.
At big family and high traffic areas, the coating must have a protective layer of at least 0.25 mm and a thickness of at least 4 mm. The most reliable option There will be a coating of class 31-32, which is also used in office premises with low traffic.
Important. Before laying material in the hallway, make sure that the floor has a perfectly flat surface with no bulges or depressions. Use PVC or cork backing. It is not recommended to use a jute or linen backing, since it has a low density and will only increase the abrasion of the coating.
Linoleum for an office or bedroom
Covering on a soft foam base, this is the best linoleum for an apartment, which can be laid in a bedroom or study. In these rooms, minimal traffic and material density can be sacrificed for the maximum level of comfort. For these purposes, household items are used. artificial turf 21 class, having a foamed PVC base, as well as a single-layer material laid on a soft jute or linen backing.
FYI. In a children's bedroom, it is strongly recommended to use only natural flooring from the household series with a more durable base of class 22-23, since an active child creates a considerable load on the flooring and mechanical impact playing with toys.
Linoleum for the living room
When choosing which linoleum is better for an apartment, household or semi-commercial when laying in the living room, you need to proceed from the degree of load on the coating. For example. If you live in the apartment big family of 4-5 people or the owners like to often receive guests, then it is better to lay semi-commercial linoleum of class 31-32, which is also used for the corridor. If you frequently receive guests, there is a high probability of damage to the linoleum, so it is not worth laying an expensive coating, since it will have to be replaced after 7-9 years of operation.
But if 1-2 people live in an apartment, then the traffic flow of the room is minimal and a household coating of class 22-23 with a thickness of protective coating from 0.15 to 0.20 mm.
Tatyana, Voronezh city
During the renovation, synthetic linoleum was laid in the hallway and a linen backing was used. On the covering there were clearly visible marks from not only my heels, but also from my husband’s shoes, which disappeared over time. Initially, we thought that we had received low-quality linoleum and wanted to file a claim with the store. But then it turned out that it was necessary to use a denser substrate. We changed the jute one to cork and the marks stopped appearing.
Despite the fact that today there is a huge selection of floor coverings, linoleum remains the most popular. By purchasing this material, the consumer, for a relatively small amount, receives a reliable and durable base that is not susceptible to moisture or mechanical damage. Next, we will examine in more detail the advantages and disadvantages of this material. The article will also tell you which linoleum to buy for your apartment.
Main Features
Until recently, the main drawback that prevented one from choosing linoleum for an apartment as the material of choice was considered large number synthetic components in it. However, today natural ingredients are increasingly used in production. Therefore, when asked by consumers whether linoleum in an apartment is harmful, manufacturers confidently answer in the negative. One of the most important indicators of a material is its strength. High-quality linoleum is not subject to mechanical damage from a fallen object or heels women's shoes. Thus, another important indicator is the thickness of the linoleum. For an apartment, the average value is preferable. If the flooring experiences increased loads (for example, in the hallway), then it is more advisable to purchase a denser material. The elasticity of the coating is also important. Thanks to this property, it is almost impossible to damage it during operation or installation.
Ease of installation
For home craftsmen, it is important that the material can be easily laid. The process of covering a floor with linoleum does not require special knowledge or special skills. In this case, installation takes place without dust and dirt. Covering the floor with linoleum does not require serious financial costs, and you can easily cope with the work yourself.
Appearance
This indicator is also important. Technologies used in modern production, allow you to get various combinations of patterns, colors and textures. Thanks to wide range You can choose a coating for any interior style. Linoleum goes well with various materials used in interior decoration.
Structure
Linoleum is produced in two types. The material can be hetero- or homogeneous. The second type of coating is thin. It is usually from 1.5 to 2 mm. The pattern is applied to the material using end-to-end technology. Due to this, the pattern does not wear off during use. It is this quality that allows this type of material to be installed in areas subject to intense traffic. If you need to purchase linoleum for the kitchen, then it is better to give preference to a homogeneous coating. Wonderful suitable material with such a structure for the corridor. Heterogeneous linoleum is considered to be of higher quality. Its density is much higher than that of homogeneous. It can be up to 6 mm. The structure of the material contains several layers. The back cover is made of foamed polyvinyl chloride. This is followed by a layer of fiberglass. It is quite strong and serves as reinforcement. Next comes a layer of PVC. A drawing is applied to it. The final one is varnish coating. It contains bactericidal impregnation, which, among other things, has protective and decorative purposes. Heterogeneous linoleum is perfect for bathrooms, balconies, and dining rooms. Coverings with this structure are often laid in hallways. Mixed types of material are also available. This linoleum also has a multilayer structure. A homogeneous material is used as a base. A layer of PVC is glued on top, then fiberglass and polyurethane film. The latter provides protection for the coating from mechanical damage. If you need to lay linoleum in a recreation room, then a mixed type material is ideal.
"Household" coating: main characteristics
Speaking about how to choose linoleum for an apartment, it is necessary to talk about some of the most important characteristics. First of all, the size of the load is important. For rooms where there are no special requirements for the flooring, household linoleum is perfect. Its thickness is relatively small, and its density is assessed as average. Weight per 1 m2 can range from 1.25 to 2.25 kg. The deformation rate can be up to 2 mm. Installation of the coating is quite easy. Its undoubted advantage is that when rolled into a roll, cracks do not form on it. In addition, household linoleum is different high level sound absorption. You can purchase material with a width of 1.5-4 meters. As a rule, this type of covering is used in bedrooms.
Flaws
As practice shows, household linoleum perfectly attracts dirt. At the first stage you can see small gray islands near the rapids. Over time, numerous “paths” are observed, clearly showing the paths along which the inhabitants of the housing usually move. This type of coating is very easy to find in a store. The cost of the material is the lowest. In some stores the price per meter does not exceed 100 rubles.
"Commercial" type of material: characteristics
Many consumers ask: “How to choose linoleum for an apartment so that it will last for many years"Experts give a very clear answer to this question: “You should purchase a commercial type of material.” The cost of the coating will, of course, be more expensive (from 500 rubles). However, as a result, you can purchase a high-quality and durable coating. This category offers a huge variety of textures and drawings. In the assortment presented by the manufacturers, it is quite possible to find a coating for any room in the house. They often purchase commercial linoleum for the kitchen and hallway. In these areas, the floor covering must withstand increased loads, be moisture- and wear-resistant. The service life of the coating is at least 25. years. The material has a high degree of sound absorption, providing acoustic comfort in the room. The degree of deformation of the material is no more than 1 mm. The coating can be purchased in widths of 2.5-5 m.
Semi-commercial type of material: characteristics
According to many experts, this is the best linoleum for an apartment. The average cost of a meter of material is within 250 rubles. The assortment is represented by both Russian and foreign companies. From the name it becomes clear that semi-commercial linoleum is something between household and commercial. This material is very practical. It is thinner than commercial ones. But this makes installation much easier. Moreover, its quality is much higher than that of household products. Thanks to this, semi-commercial linoleum is perfect for bedrooms and children's rooms. Its service life is about 10-12 years. The surface of the material is covered with a special protective film. This makes it easy to wash off dirt using a regular sponge and soap solution.
Specialized Material Types
In addition to those listed above, manufacturers produce varieties of linoleum that have some distinct properties. Among them are:
Base material
How to choose the right linoleum for an apartment? What should the material be like - with or without a base? It should be said that previously linoleum was produced on a felt basis. This material retains heat very well. In addition, walking on such a surface is pleasant - it is soft. Thanks to the felt base, the material perfectly absorbs sound. But the disadvantage of such a basis is that it is too short term services. Moisture penetration and mechanical damage are especially harmful to felt. This natural material was replaced by synthetic ones. The latter have all the necessary characteristics. At the same time, the artificial base is devoid of the disadvantages inherent natural materials. The synthetic backing layer can have different thicknesses. It all depends on the purpose of the room. For example, coatings with a base are produced for bedrooms, kitchens or children's rooms. In addition to the fact that the backing layer increases the heat and sound insulation properties of the material, it evens out minor surface defects. As a result, the floor covering becomes, if not perfectly smooth, then very close to it.
Material without base
This type of coating is usually laid on a well-prepared surface. Today there are a large number of self-leveling floors “like linoleum”. The actual surface produced should be perfectly flat, but without a protective coating. This task is performed by linoleum. Material without a base is quite easy to identify. First of all, this coating is heavy. The material also doesn't bend well. Very often it is covered with a thick laminated layer. In this case, the problem of which linoleum to choose for an apartment, with or without a base, is solved taking into account the condition of the floor.
Material color
Speaking about how to choose linoleum for an apartment, it should be said that the material should fit organically into the interior. Today the range of coatings is quite wide. There are models in a wide variety of colors on the market. Linoleum in an apartment (photos of the coating can be seen in the article) must correspond in color to the purpose of the room and its design. For example, in the bedroom a coating of soft warm tones - golden, beige, cream - will look good. It is preferable to choose a material without a pattern, plain or with soft transitions. Most a good option can become an imitation of the surface of natural marble or wood covering. Both bright and rich and calm shades are suitable for the living room. Linoleum with an ornament or pattern will look original. Suitable for children's room bright colors. In combination with a variety of contrasting patterns, they will look great.
Which manufacturers should you give preference to?
A successful combination of pattern and color scheme of the coating is a definite plus. However, these characteristics are not the main ones when choosing linoleum. Of particular importance is environmental friendliness, safety of the material, as well as its compliance with quality standards. If you choose a cheap coating, the composition of which is unknown even to the manufacturer itself, there is a high probability of getting serious illnesses as a result of exposure to toxic emissions. By purchasing a model from a trusted company, the consumer is guaranteed to receive a high-quality product that can be used in any room of the house without fear. Today, among domestic brands of flooring, the products of the Tarkett company are popular. This company uses only modern materials and technology. The products meet all sanitary, hygienic and fire safety standards. The products are also distinguished by a variety of design solutions.