Linoleum is an environmentally friendly alternative for floor covering. Made out of linseed oil, the sort of floor is affordable, adaptable, and simple to put in.
Made out of linseed oil, sawdust, and other solidifying elements, linoleum flooring is a form of flooring that’s increasingly used. Even though it’s existed for greater than a century, current technological improvements allow for a better quality and longer-lasting composition. In consequence, it’s often chosen as an alternative choice to extraordinary flooring.
A linoleum floor has characteristics that make it suitable for any home today. It has good resistance, long life, and is reasonably priced.
Nevertheless, it also has plenty of disadvantages in comparison with other forms of subfloors. It’s often compared (and sometimes confused) with vinyl flooring. But each has its own composition and particularities. Let’s take an in depth look.
What’s linoleum flooring?
It is a form of flooring produced from linseed oil or flaxseed, a seed also utilized in gastronomy and cosmetics. This component is mixed with other materials to attain solidification. A few of them will be cork dust, sawdust, or stone. It’s then placed on a canvas or jute fabric support.
To accumulate different colours, pigments are added to the mixture. Finally, due to its adhesive properties, the linoleum floor is unfolded and added to the paving of the room.
In this manner, it’s possible to acquire a floor with a smooth texture and granular appearance, which has multiple varieties of designs, formats, and shades.
A centuries-old origin
The origin of linoleum flooring dates back to the mid-Nineteenth century, when the British manufacturer Frederick Walton created it almost by probability. It was widely used for a long time, especially for corridors, hallways, and living rooms.
Nevertheless, through the twentieth century, it was displaced by alternatives, equivalent to vinyl flooring. Resulting from its sustainable characteristics and enhancements lately, linoleum flooring is once more getting used each in public spaces and in family homes.
The identical linseed seeds which can be used for other purposes, cosmetic and medicinal, are the idea for linoleum flooring.
Uses of linoleum flooring
This sort of underlayment has plenty of characteristics that make it ideal for certain specific environments. For instance, due to their long life and resistance, it’s common to decide on them to cover the floors of factories, stores, and hospitals. These are spaces where there’s frequent traffic, which is something that linoleum flooring can withstand higher than other forms of floors.
It also has a very good resistance to water, which makes it ideal for kitchen areas. Other individuals who are inclined to use all these floors are those with allergies, because they repel dust mites.
Floors product of this material are quite common in public spaces, but in addition in family homes. Due to their sustainable characteristics, increasingly more people select them to cover floors, partitions, and even some furniture. That is as a consequence of their versatility and the range of models.
The benefits of linoleum flooring
Flooring produced from linseed oil has many benefits over other coatings. Along with those already described, they’re easy to put in and quiet.
Environmentally friendly
Linoleum flooring is taken into account environmentally friendly since it’s produced from naturally occurring and biodegradable materials. As well as, it includes components derived from recycling. Undoubtedly, it’s a more environmentally friendly option.
Varied and versatile
These floors can be found in a big selection of formats, colours, and designs. With different finishes and pigmentations, it’s possible to pick from options that adapt to private tastes and residential environments.
Easy installation
Linoleum flooring is marketed in roll form, unfolded, and installed with its adhesive component. It’s subsequently very easy to put in. As well as, it’s possible to increase it over the present flooring, so no construction work is obligatory to vary the ground.
Secure
Due to its composition materials, the sort of flooring delays the spread and motion of fireside. It is a feature that makes the sort of floor safer in case of accidents.
Antistatic
Perhaps the primary advantage of linoleum is that it has an antistatic quality. Linseed oil gives it properties that repel dust mites, dust, and bacteria, making it ideal for individuals with allergies.
Accessible
Despite all its benefits, the sort of flooring is accessible to many individuals. It’s one of the budget-friendly options in the marketplace. The initial investment will not be an issue.
Silent and resistant
A condition that few floors have is to be silent and resistant at the identical time. The thickness and components of linoleum flooring make it have good acoustic damping, along with significant resistance and ease of cleansing.
Hospital corridors have taken advantage of linoleum since it withstands high traffic and doesn’t accumulate germs.
The disadvantages of linoleum flooring
Like several material or household item, linoleum flooring also has some cons. It’s necessary to contemplate all of the features before selecting a flooring for the home:
- Moisture and cement. Linoleum flooring accumulates moisture, subsequently, it will possibly contract and expand. This makes it incompatible with cement. Due to this fact, it can’t be installed directly on cement.
- Common damages. Despite its resistance to traffic, it’s susceptible to damage attributable to heavy weights and sharp objects.
- Sunlight. It isn’t really useful to put in it in exterior spaces, for the reason that sun’s rays and high temperatures can damage its composition.
- Maintenance. To preserve its original properties and conditions, annual maintenance needs to be carried out, during which a sealant is applied.
Linoleum or vinyl flooring?
Many individuals often confuse these two flooring options. Although they’ve some similarities, especially by way of the function they serve, they’re quite different alternatives. One such difference is that linoleum is produced from natural materials.
Meanwhile, vinyl flooring is predicated on chemicals, equivalent to PVC. Nevertheless, each have good water resistance, are easy to put in, and are reasonably priced.
A great ecological alternative
Linoleum flooring will not be an ideal material, but it surely’s an important alternative for the house, adaptable to different environments and aesthetic preferences. For those who intend to go for a more environmentally friendly option, it’s really useful. Nevertheless, it’s necessary to research all its benefits and drawbacks before selecting it.