Linoleum - all known material, which has a wide range of applications in industry and at home. It is used in the design of private interiors, office buildings, cafes, restaurants, offices. On the shelves of modern stores is a variety of floor coverings, which without the help of specialists and design approach is difficult to do.

• From the history
• Advantages and disadvantages
• Varieties
  • Natural
  • PVC
  • Reline or rubber
  • Alkyd
• Choosing a floor covering for your home
  • Domestic
  • Semi-commercial
• Color diversity
• In which rooms it is better to lay
  • In the kitchen
  • In the living room
  • In the nursery
  • In the hall
• Tips for buying linoleum
• What to do to make the linoleum last longer
• Conclusion

From the history

Linoleum appeared in the history of the decor for a long time, and to this day has not lost its popularity. At the time of its creation, back in 1627, it was a solid, oiled cloth. The term itself came from a combination of the words "flax" and "oil" (linum + oleum). Therefore, the first coating of this nature was a natural material. The idea to patent a product was visited in 1763 by Nathan Smith. Since 1843, additional natural substances have been added to the fabric.

To date, the composition of linoleum has several layers. Polyvinyl chloride is a thick base layer, which allows to preserve its basic properties: noise insulation, heat preservation in the apartment, moisture resistance, etc. Fiberglass and polyurethane are responsible for the strength of the material. Products are produced in the form of rolls, in household conditions it is laid by the method of laying, in production premises it is fixed with the help of glue, mastic.

       

Advantages and disadvantages

Достоинств линолеума больше, чем недостатков. Имеет невысокую цену, эластичность, влагостойкость, неприхотливость в уходе. Огромное количество расцветок, рисунков, декоративных элементов. Имеет большой срок годности — 15-25 лет, многое зависит от проходимости помещения. Natural линолеум обладает положительными характеристиками в плане экологической безопасности.

The disadvantages of certain types of material include increased toxicity, a tendency to deformation, drying out. Better quality linoleum has good characteristics, but its main disadvantage is a high price.

       

Varieties

There are a large number of varieties of linoleum, differing in the material of manufacture and the nature of the application. At first glance it can be difficult to determine what they are different from. In most shops there is no explicit separation, an ordinary buyer is easily confused, but with a more detailed study, the difference is significant.

Domestic, коммерческий и полукоммерческий линолеум относится к одному типу, отличия состоят в толщине покрытия и защитного слоя, в сферах применения: коммерческий — для нежилых помещений, бытовой — для домашнего использования. Некоторые классификации различают еще сценический, балетный линолеум с идеальной матовой, глянцевой поверхностью, что позволяет с максимальной точностью настроить освещение в рабочей зоне, добиться желаемого дизайнерского эффекта. Он обладает высокими звуко- и шумопоглощающими характеристиками, создавать благоприятные условия для творчества. Спортивное покрытие — разновидность коммерческого, обладает собственными технологиями производства.

For example, to determine which material is qualitative, and which is not quite, you can put an experiment. Ask the store for a small piece of each type of flooring, put each of them under the leg of the chair and sit for a while on it. Already in a short time on a cheap linoleum of poor quality there will be marks and dents, while a more wear-resistant material will remain unchanged.

See also: White floor in the interior

       

Natural

Natural линолеум изготавливают из известняка, специального волокна, льняного масла, смол деревьев, пробковой и древесной муки, природных красителей. Данный вид материала относится к премиум-классу, обладает специфическим запахом, который исчезает спустя несколько недель после укладки. Срок годности покрытия — до 30 лет.

Если в квартире живут люди, страдающие аллергией, бронхиальной астмой, другими заболеваниями дыхательных путей, натуральный линолеум — наилучший вариант для напольного покрытия. Natural материал обладает бактерицидными свойствами, не выгорает на солнце, не поддерживает горение, благодаря естественной пропитке.

Eco-design, eco-materials today actively enter our life, people pay more attention to the impact of coatings on the environment.

The minuses of this type include fragility, excessive susceptibility to deformation, high price.

       

PVC

Самый распространенный вид линолеума, который можно встретить на каждом прилавке строительных магазинов. Изготавливается из стеклохолста, на тканевой и не тканной основе, бывает однослойным, многослойным. Имеет низкую теплопроводность, устойчив ко стиранию, экологичен, не подвержен гниению, появлению грибка. PVC легко укладывать, он имеет много расцветок.

Линолеум PVC имеет и недостатки. Он плохо переносит высокую температуру, воздействие растворителей. При пониженной температуре утрачивает эластичность. По структурному составу линолеум PVC бывает гомогенным и гетерогенным. Первый имеет однородную структуру, состоит из одного слоя.

In the production of material is added quartz sand, lime. The more fillers, the cheaper the coating and the less useful life.

Гетерогенный линолеум имеет несколько функциональных слоёв. Нижний — подложка, предназначен для защиты от продавливания, ударов и прочих нагрузок. Основа PVC покрытия — стеклохолст. Добавляет изделию упругости, предотвращает деформирование. Следующий слой — декоративный. Верхний — PVC в чистом виде, защищает материал от стирания.

Reline or rubber

The rubber, or rubber linoleum, has a lining of a mixture of crushed rubber and bitumen. The face layer is made by mixing rubber, filler, pigment. It has high elasticity, moisture resistance, resistance to aggressive detergents, chemicals.

It is used in closed and open public spaces, in swimming pools, on sports grounds. It has good adhesion to sports shoes, convenient, safe to operate. Not subject to scratches, damage from sharp objects.

Relay can not be used in residential areas because of environmental insecurity. The composition of the material contains harmful volatile substances.

Alkyd

Алкидное или глифталевое покрытие изготавливается путём нанесения алкидной смолы на тканевую основу. Содержит масла, наполнители, пигмент, иногда антисептик. Поставляется в большом ассортименте, с различными цветами, рисунком, фактурой. Чаще всего используется в технических и общественных помещениях, обладает хорошими тепло- и звукоизоляционными свойствами. По сравнению с PVC имеет более высокие механические показатели.

Linoleum is fragile, it is difficult to stack. Incorrect installation causes cracks and damage. Store the material at a temperature of at least 10 degrees Celsius. When laying requires careful adherence to the installation rules. During use and care, it is contraindicated to use alkaline and abrasive substances, acids.

Choosing a floor covering for your home

The entire linoleum is divided into three main groups. It is commercial, semi-commercial, domestic. The first is the most dense, the pattern on it is not erased. Linoleum of this category has a thick protective layer and can withstand enormous loads - up to 5 tons per square meter. It is placed in shopping, medical, educational institutions, fitness centers and entertainment complexes, this material serves up to 50 years.

But this material contains a large amount of formaldehyde, including phenol. These are quite harmful substances, not weathered over the years. And if in public places with high traffic capacity the material does not conceal a serious threat, then in an apartment where you spend most of the time, it can cause serious harm to health. Therefore, for the house buy other types of linoleum.

Read also: Parquet board in the interior

       

Domestic

Domestic линолеум подходит для оформления офисных и жилых помещений. Основное условие для эксплуатации — средняя и малая проходимость. Срок эксплуатации составляет 10-15 лет. Выгоден по цене, востребован как недорогое декоративное покрытие. Отличается универсальностью, простотой в уходе. Имеет широкую цветовую гамму, эластичен, удобен при перевозке. Влагостойкий, хорошо сохраняет тепло. Бытовое покрытие производится на вспененной и войлочной основе.

The disadvantage is that it is thin, with low wear resistance - an average of 5 years.

Semi-commercial

Coverage is found in offices, shops with average traffic, as well as in country cottages, urban apartments. The protective layer of semi-commercial linoleum is thicker, it is wear-resistant. It is made on felt, synthetic basis, which allows to keep heat in the room. Optimum type of linoleum, with a service life of up to 20 years in apartments with an average traffic.

Color diversity

The general perception of the interior depends largely on the coloring of the flooring. Cold gray shades give the rooms a strict, office impression, warm - warmed by home comfort.

For a bedroom it is recommended to choose light colors and warm shades: beige, cream, milky, coffee. Here you can use a coating of marble and wood, choose a linoleum with a decorative pattern. Do not make gloomy floors in the children's room, decorate them with a cover with cute patterns, decorative pictures, and leave a dark color for the office. White linoleum is bought rarely because of marchiness, black - because of gloom.

The small room due to the use of the picture on the floor covering visually increases. Small tiles, a diagonal pattern, abstract elements - a relevant option in this case.

       

In which rooms it is better to lay

In order for the linoleum to last a long time, you should initially consider the type of room in which the coating will be used.

In the kitchen

Linoleum - an excellent solution for the kitchen. Compared with other materials, it is easy to clean, mask pollution. Certain models have a special antibacterial coating, which is harmless, has no chemical additives. Destruction of microbes is due to silver ions contained in the material and activated by the ingress of air and moisture.

The material for the kitchen should be resistant to external influences, including, to household chemicals and pollution. Preferably choose semi-commercial linoleum with high wear resistance.

       

In the living room

For the living room is most suitable household linoleum with a polyester or foamed base, with a sufficient thickness of the protective layer. If the hall is filled with heavy massive furniture, it is better to insure yourself and take a higher-class linoleum, with greater thickness and wear resistance. If this is not done, dents will remain on the cover.

The hall is a more passable room than, for example, a bedroom. The coating in the room must be physically stable, with a protective coating thickness of at least 0.2 mm.

In the nursery

In the children's room, which is more like a playground than a rest room, the thickest household linoleum, resistant to damage, or semi-commercial coating with a reliable protective layer, is suitable. The material must retain heat, withstand impacts, and have fireproof properties. When laying, one should use unbroken whole sheets to avoid injury. The coating should have antistatic properties, simply speaking - to "not beating current."

See also: Gray floor on 75 photo examples in the interior

If funds permit, in the children's room it is recommended to lay a natural linoleum. It is worth more, but its environmental properties can not be doubted. As for the coloring, children should choose unusual, bright prints that the kids like. More and more popular is the new 3D linoleum with three-dimensional drawings that create the illusion of virtual reality.

       

In the hall

The hallway is a passageway, which needs additional protection. The characteristics of the coating for the corridor approximately coincide with the properties of linoleum for the kitchen. The best option is semi-commercial, with a thickness of at least 3 mm.

As for the design - at the discretion of the owner. Most often in the corridor lay a decorative linoleum with a pattern of tiles, parquet.

       

Tips for buying linoleum

When choosing linoleum, one should adhere to the basic rules:

1. Look at the notation. Each type of coating has its own marking, consisting of two digits. The first of them means a class of linoleum: 1 - for premises in which patency is minimal, 2 - household, 3 - semi-commercial, 4 - commercial. The second figure indicates the degree of load held by the coating: 1 - minimum, 4 - maximum.
2. Pay attention to the smell. Low-quality linoleum with a high content of harmful substances will have a sharp specific smell and unhealthy shine (not to be confused with a natural coating, smelling linseed oil).
3. Try to bend the edge of the cover. On thin cheap linoleum there will be a trace from a bend, qualitative - will return to the initial form, natural - will break.

When measuring the room to purchase a certain amount of material, consider a stock of at least 5 cm, including niches under the battery, near the door so that the flooring is not smaller than the room itself.

Regardless of how many rooms you are going to make out with one kind of cover, linoleum should be bought in one piece. Otherwise, it is likely that you can sell cuts from different lots, which differ in color and texture. Do not forget to ask the sellers for quality certificates for products.

When transporting material from the store to the premises, do not fold it in half - there will be signs of bends. Gently roll it into the roll face-down inside.

What to do to make the linoleum last longer

To linoleum for many years, pleased with their excellent qualities, it requires special care. The main rule - often wipe, but do not abuse the moisture. Linoleum is not friendly with a lot of water, except for the relic. It is important not to get too involved in household chemicals and not to use aggressive means. If the linoleum has stains from food products, markers, markers, use standard cleaning products to remove them.

In the absence of sufficient humidity in the room, the material may dry up and even crack. To avoid this, the coating should be rubbed every two months with linseed oil, linseed oil.

When laying linoleum in a room of less than 25 square meters, it is strictly not recommended to glue it to the floor surface. The fact that a non-glued surface will deform with time, gathers in an accordion near the furniture - just a stereotype.

Conclusion

Linoleum is one of the most popular and affordable types of flooring. Without consulting professionals it is difficult to understand all of its properties and characteristics. Before buying material for the design of the living room, kitchen, hallway, consult with a specialist, read the photo, and follow the above tips, and linoleum in the interior will delight you for a long time!