How to choose linoleum for an apartment

25-04-2018

Useful

The abundance of floor materials confuses anyone who faces the challenge of choice. Yet, despite the emergence of modern flooring, practical and versatile linoleum remains popular and in demand. For an affordable price you can get high-quality and durable coating for your home, which is not afraid of heavy loads and moisture. But it also has drawbacks that affect the quality and operational life. Before you purchase flooring for an apartment, you will have to study the characteristics. This will be discussed in the article.

Benefits

The first step is to familiarize yourself with all the advantages of linoleum. As mentioned above, its main advantages are:

strength;
moisture resistance;
resistance to mechanical stress (degree of wear resistance depends on the quality of the coating in question);
a wide variety of colors;
elasticity;
ease of installation.

To lay linoleum on the floor, you do not need to possess special skills and knowledge, therefore, having instructions, everyone will cope with this step.

Today, the market offers a wide range of a variety of patterns, colors and textures.

View

View линолеума – важный критерий, с которым определяются изначально, так как производители выпускают несколько разновидностей. У каждого из них есть свои недостатки и преимущества, а также определенные особенности использования. Все это следует учесть, решая, какой выбрать тип материала.

Natural

The structure includes the following components:

linseed oil;
cork and wood flour;
limestone powder;
pine gum;
natural dyes.

Manufacturers take jute fabric as a basis. The result is a completely environmentally friendly coating that can be used for any room in the apartment, including the nursery. Allergy sufferers and asthmatics will live quietly in a house with such a floor, without feeling discomfort.

Among the benefits also stand out:

resistance to abrasion;
preservation of the original colors for many years;
bactericidal properties;
incombustibility;
ease of care.

Natural coating is not recommended to lay in rooms with high levels of humidity.

PVC

Polyvinyl chloride that is widespread today is also used in the production of linoleum. Thanks to the use of innovative European technologies, the coating is different:

thermal insulation properties;
the presence of dielectric properties;
environmental friendliness;
resistance to decay;
ease of installation and maintenance;
large selection of colors and patterns.

It should be noted that this type is very sensitive to elevated temperatures, alkaline and chemical solvents. If the temperature drops sharply, the elasticity will be minimal.

Subspecies at the place of use

Linoleum can be:

Commercial. Used in office space, its average service life is about 20 years. The positive side is strength and durability.
Semi-commercial. Creeps both in offices and in apartments. If this type is chosen for office space, then the room should have a small permeability, since the lifetime can be reduced to 7 years.
Domestic. A thin and cheap coating that has the smallest service life - 5 years. It can only be used in residential premises.

Other varieties

It should be said about the less popular varieties of linoleum:

Glyphthalic. The production process is quite simple: alkyd resins are applied to the fabric base. This allows you to give the material increased thermal and sound insulation properties. True, the process of laying such material is not simple.
Colloxylic acid. The composition of the coating includes nitrocellulose - a component that gives the coating moisture resistance, fire resistance and elasticity. However, there are also disadvantages: sensitivity to temperature changes and a tendency to shrink.
RELEASE. The manufacturing process is complicated, since the material consists of 2 layers: crushed rubber with bitumen and a mixture of pigment, rubber and special filler. The advantages include elasticity and resistance to moisture.

Due to the fact that there is a large amount of harmful volatile substances in the village, it is not recommended to lay it in residential premises.

Linoleum structure

We turn to the consideration of the structure of linoleum. There are two groups:

homogeneous;
heterogeneous.

The first group has a relatively small thickness of 1.5 to 2 mm, and the technology of drawing the pattern is continuous. This approach allows you to keep the original look longer, especially in high-traffic rooms. According to experts, it is homogeneous linoleum in quality is an excellent option for the kitchen or corridor.

Heterogeneous type, unlike its counterpart, has a large thickness, which reaches 6 mm. It consists of the following layers:

PVC подложка (вспененный поливинилхлорид);
fiberglass (reinforcement);
PVC with a pattern;
bactericidal lacquer coating.

The last layer is very important, as it performs both decorative and protective function. This view is suitable for a loggia, balcony, dining room, hallway and bathroom.

In some stores you can find mixed-type linoleum, where a homogeneous layer is taken as a basis, but there are also layers of PVC, fiberglass, polyurethane film, which acts as protection from mechanical influences.

Colors

An important criterion that has a great influence on the perception of the interior of any room and room. The style of the interior of the room can be any, as well as its purpose, in any case, it will be possible to choose the best option that will complement the decor. In order not to be mistaken when choosing a coloring, it is necessary to pay attention to two main criteria:

Interior Design;
purpose of the room.

Consider examples for the main rooms.

Bedroom. It is appropriate to choose the floor dim and warm colors without a pattern. The ideal solution would be to opt for imitation of a natural material - wood or marble.
Living room. Depending on the interior and style, calm and saturated shades of warm colors will be appropriate here. You can consider options with drawings or ornaments.
Children's. Here you should avoid dull and monotonous pictures. It is best to give preference to bright and rich tones, contrasting and varied pattern. This combination will make the atmosphere festive and fun.

Manufacturers

There is another important point - which company prefer linoleum. Most of the criteria will depend on the manufacturer, so this issue needs to be given a lot of attention. When choosing a well-known and popular manufacturer, you can automatically count on high rates of all characteristics. But be prepared for the fact that this option may not be affordable.

Too low a price makes you wonder, as the quality of the floor will be questionable. In this case, the true composition of the coating can only be guessed. Be careful, as this material can release toxic fumes that are harmful to the human body.

After studying the domestic market among the leading brands of flooring can distinguish Tarkett. This manufacturer has introduced modern and innovative technologies. The composition of linoleum includes only natural or acceptable components. Products are fully compliant with sanitary and fire regulations. In addition, Tarkett has another advantage - a large assortment.

General recommendations

And finally, a few more practical tips on how to determine a quality flooring.

Choosing linoleum, smell the coating. If too strong a smell is present, this means that harmful substances are present. Quality material either has no odor, or it is insignificant, the pattern looks clear, and the surface does not have greasy shine.
To avoid joints, you need a canvas that matches the width of the room. If you can’t get the appropriate linoleum, purchase material with a margin, as you may have to adjust the pattern. Consider the presence of thresholds, protrusions and niches for batteries.
The coating must fully comply with all safety standards. Familiarize yourself with the marking that confirms the examination and the availability of appropriate quality certificates.
Consider the method and possibility of transportation.
The presence of a protective layer will extend the operational life of the coating.
The canvas is not recommended to be folded in half, as well as to use an adhesive tape for fastening, as subsequently there will be a trace.

Check the quality you need in expanded form. This is the only way to notice the presence of hillocks, waves or peeled off film.

As you can see, the process of choosing a floor covering for an apartment is quite complicated. But if you take into account all the nuances and subtleties, it will be easier to get a quality floor covering. Experts recommend PVC covering for the hallway, semi-commercial natural covering for the kitchen, bedroom and children’s room also require coating with special indicators of quality and environmental friendliness.

Video

You will learn more tips on choosing linoleum by watching the footage: