Linoleum Floors
One
of the nicest, and easiest, flooring options is linoleum.
Not to be confused with vinyl, linoleum is made from a mixture of linseed oil, pigments, wood flour, cork dust, and rosin, which is pressed onto a jute backing material. It's a sustainable product, lasts for ages, and is about the same price as high-end vinyl, but better for the planet. And it's very, very handsome.
Though attractive and modern, it's equally at home in a historical restoration of just about any home style built from 1900 to 1960. Linoleum is an old material that was used for decades in American homes until it was temporarily sidelined by vinyl.
Making its comeback, the current range of colors is not so broad as those available for vinyl, but various color schemes can be achieved in very cool ways as glue-down tiles, click tiles, or sheet. If you want to spend the extra money, you can have a professional installation done and have a custom design cut for your room.
Advantages
There are many advantages to linoleum. We like it so much, we consider it an almost perfect material. It can be used for floors, of course, but it is also fine for countertops, and even walls.
- Linoleum, or Marmoleum (Forbo's registered trade name), is available in a variety of colors that can be combined for an infinite variety of effects. It comes in a several installation options including tile, sheet, and clickable tiles for easy do-it-yourself installation.
- It's suitable for almost any room in the house including bedrooms, bathrooms, and basements with a reasonable subfloor.
- The material cost is comparable to high-end vinyl, but unlike vinyl, it's a much "greener" product.
- Linoleum has anti-microbial properties that makes it a good choice for playrooms and nurseries. And for family members with allergies, it's especially nice because there is nothing to harbor dust, pollen, or mites.
- Linoleum is easy to keep clean. Once it's sealed, sweeping and occasional damp mopping is all that's required. If you are using it in the kitchen and drop something, it's relatively soft under foot. If you drop a knife, it self-heals.
- The color and material is solid throughout. There is no top layer to wear off.
- In wet rooms like bathrooms and laundries, sheet linoleum is ideal ... especially in small rooms. It forms a solid, water-resistant surface. (This has been our experience.)
Disadvantages
No product or material is perfect, of course.
- Linoleum is comparatively expensive, especially if professional installation is required for a complicated design or a large room with sheet linoleum.
- Installing linoleum can be tricky. Tiles need to be tightly butted together to ensure a smooth, attractive surface. Sheet linoleum is available in 6'-7" widths only and creating a smooth, perfect seam often requires professional installation.
- Though daily maintenance is easy, linoleum does need to be sealed once a year to prevent damage or staining from spills.
- Harsh cleaners, like ammonia, can damage the floor.
- Manufacturers have different warranties and don't seem to be able to make up their minds about using linoleum in bathrooms. (Armstrong says okay and not okay. Forbo does the same thing.)
Linoleum in a Small House
Linoleum is a wonderful material for use in a small house. As with any flooring material, prepare your floors so they are clean, dry, flat, and smooth.
In our experience, sheet linoleum is great in the bathroom, though both Forbo and Armstrong have caveats about bathroom installation. Make sure you read the warranty info carefully to make sure your application is suitable.
For installation in a small room, it's possible to get an absolutely smoking deal from your local flooring company. Look for remnants, which are typically about half price. Sheet linoleum comes in a 6'-7" width so wider rooms will have seams.
You may install a sheet linoleum floor yourself if the room is 6'-7" wide or less and you create a template for cutting. Keep in mind that linoleum is less flexible than vinyl so it can tear. Make sure you have a helper handle the opposite end.
For larger spaces, tile and click flooring are both relatively easy to install. Tile, like sheet linoleum, requires a clean, flat, dry surface to which the tiles will be glued. Click flooring, however can be floated over a vapor barrier and is a cleaner, easier installation project.
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