How to choose linoleum - nuances and selection criteria

Today linoleum can be seen everywhere. In cafes and supermarkets, hotels and kindergartens, office premises, hospitals and schools. This flooring is appropriate in almost every room. Our apartments and houses are not an exception. After all, this material is not only cheap, but also durable, and also has excellent thermal insulation and noise insulation characteristics. In addition, linoleum shines with a wealth of flowers and drawings, organically blending into the design of any apartment.

Even a professional builder is not easy to decide on the final choice, and what can we say about ordinary citizens. To make it easier to choose, we’ll tell you how to choose linoleum, how the main varieties of linoleum differ from each other, we will gradually describe all their operational characteristics and selection criteria.

What types of linoleum coatings exist

When this floor covering first appeared, it was made from oils, flax and resins. But over time, when linoleum production expanded, so many natural materials were simply physically nowhere to take. And the floor covering made of them was also short-lived. It erased too quickly, and also could stretch significantly over time. Nevertheless, linoleum became more and more popular, and there was a need to replace its natural components with artificial ones.

And then, as the basis for this coating, they began to use polyvinyl chloride, in other words, PVC. To this day, linoleum is produced from it, and in America with Europe this type of flooring is commonly called PVC coating. Not only linoleum is made from this material - it is widely used in the medical industry, as well as for the manufacture of toys and many other items. Products made of polyvinyl chloride can be produced according to different technologies, on which their safety depends. A hygienic certificate, mandatory for PVC-coating, indicates that the material is harmless.

PVC linoleum is most represented on the market and it is most often used as a floor covering. Therefore, it will be discussed further on the choice of this type of coating.

All types of polyvinyl chloride linoleums by structural composition can be divided into two types:

• homogeneous;
• heterogeneous.

A homogeneous linoleum is characterized by a homogeneous structure. It consists of one layer, the basis of which is polyvinyl chloride. During production, quartz sand and lime are added to PVC, and their proportion can vary from one fifth to four fifths of the total composition. Naturally, with an increase in the proportion of fillers, linoleum becomes cheaper, but its quality leaves much to be desired. After all, when we walk on the floor, subjecting it to load, quartz grains of sand gradually fly out of linoleum, leaving small holes. In addition, sand, like emery, erases the floor covering, which can quickly wear out.

Appearance, homogeneous linoleum.

Linoleum has several heterogeneous types of layers, and each of them performs its specific function. The lowest layer, called the substrate - it serves to protect against bursting, softening bumps and other loads.The basis of the design of heterogeneous linoleum is fiberglass, which adds elasticity to the finished product and prevents it from deforming. The next layer is decorative, it can have a wide variety of colors. They are both monophonic and with a pattern, including imitating the texture of wood, metal, stone and other materials. The uppermost layer is polyvinyl chloride without impurities, due to which linoleum does not wear out.

Heterogeneous linoleum in a section.

Wear resistance classes - selection depending on the type of room

Not knowing how to choose linoleum for an apartment, first of all, you need to pay attention to the wear resistance and the purpose of the room. Depending on the speed of abrasion and the thickness of the protective layer, linoleum can be:

• commercial;
• semi commercial;
• household.

#1. Linoleum of household type not very resistant to abrasion, but the colors and patterns in it are very diverse. Having bought such a flooring, you can make cheap repairs, which will look quite expensive and stylish. If an apartment is supposed to be sold or leased in the future, then it is quite reasonable to opt for household linoleum. It is also not bad in those rooms where people do not go very much - in the bedroom, for example. But in the hallway or kitchen, he will not serve for a long time, and it is better not to lay it in these rooms.

#2. Semi-commercial linoleum stronger than the previous one. It also has a wide range of colors, and is perfect for the floor of the kitchen, corridor or living room. That is, where people constantly go, massive wardrobes stand, furniture on wheels moves and sofas and armchairs straighten out.

#3. Commercial type linoleum most resistant to wear and tear. Moreover, this flooring is both multilayer and single-layer (homogeneous).

In order to choose the right linoleum, which is 100% suitable for all conditions for specific conditions, you need to understand not only the domestic, but also its European classification. In Russia, it is also supported.

So, according to this marking, linoleum coating is:

• intended for apartments (in the designation in the first place is the number 2);
• intended for offices (number 3);
• intended for industrial premises (number 4).

Next is a number (from 1 to 4), which means what kind of load this linoleum can withstand.

If there is:

• 1 - then this load should be very small;
• 2 - corresponds to the average load;
• 3 - high load;
• 4 - indicates that the strength of this coating is very high.

To choose linoleum was very easy, the Europeans came up with the idea of ​​drawing on rolls of linoleum, in addition to these numbers, pictograms depicting little men near the house. According to them, you can understand that linoleum is perfect for a large family, where in the first place there are 3, and in the second - 1 (31 classes, and not lower). Class 23 can be placed on the kitchen floor, provided that the family is small. Well, for a sleeping room, class 21 linoleum coating is suitable.

Icons indicating wear resistance and operating conditions of linoleum.

About the abrasion group:

If the cost of two types of semi-commercial coating is different, say, twice, then this means that they differ in something else. Most likely a group of abrasion. What is this indicator, and should I pay attention to it when deciding how to choose linoleum for home?

The abrasion group shows how quickly linoleum wears out. It complies with the European standard EN660-1 and is calculated as follows. Take a moving abrasive wheel, to which a piece of checked linoleum is applied. The circle must make at least 25 thousand revolutions. After that, measure how much the thickness of the sample has decreased, and draw the appropriate conclusions.

• If there are no impurities in linoleum, it is erased by no more than 0.08 millimeters. He is assigned an abrasion group - T.
• If the thickness of the sample decreases from 0.08 to 0.15 mm, then the average wear resistance is the group - R.
• When erasing linoleum on an abrasive wheel from 0.15 to 0.3 mm, the wear group is defined as M - low wear resistance.
• Group - F is assigned to linoleum samples that grind with an abrasive from 0.3 to 0.6 millimeters. This material is very fragile, and there are a lot of impurities in it - obviously more than 65 percent.

These impurities, as mentioned earlier, are a mixture of chalk with silica sand. Therefore, homogeneous linoleums often have low wear resistance. But heterogeneous samples having pure polyvinyl chloride as a protective layer perfectly resist abrasion. Therefore, their wear group is naturally the highest - T.

When choosing linoleum of a homogeneous type, study all its characteristics without fail. One of the most important indicators is the abrasion group. If the manufacturer preferred to remain silent about this, it is worth considering whether to take such a suspicious product. It may turn out that he will last a very, very short time. So, for example, you can cheaply buy class 43 linoleum, which does not indicate the abrasion group. As a result, the floor will be constantly scratched, and in a year it will turn into something completely unsightly.

As for heterogeneous linoleum, here it is necessary to look at how thick the protective layer is. This value depends on the purpose of the flooring and has the following meanings:

• Household linoleum - up to 0.35 mm;
• semi-commercial linoleum - from 0.35 to 0.6 mm;
• commercial linoleum - more than 0.6 millimeters.

What should be the linoleum substrate

The substrate may be foamed or so-called felt.

The denser the linoleum base, the better it resists the pressure of the legs of heavy cabinets and armchairs, the less dents remain on it from female heels. You can determine this by weight: solid and massive rolls usually speak of a quality substrate. But for fidelity, it’s still worth checking and touching. To do this, simply press a finger on the substrate. If you feel that it is springing at hand without being squeezed, then this is high-quality linoleum, which makes sense to get.

A good substrate not only determines the resistance to shock and pressure. It allows you to save heat and muffle extraneous noise entering the apartment. The thick foam at the base of linoleum results in a fairly warm floor. Its low density increases the noise and heat insulation properties of linoleum. However, in any case, it is good if there is a foamed base, especially quite thick. This will hide some of the roughness of the base on which linoleum spreads.

The felt pad may be slightly better in resisting the pressure of the legs of very heavy cabinets, shoe heels and other items.

The foamed substrate of semi-commercial linoleum.

What else to look for when buying linoleum

#1. If the flooring is selected for the kitchen, then you need to look not only at the wear resistance, but also at what thickness the protective coating is provided for. If, in addition to transparency, there is also a varnish coat on top (it is usually applied by reliable manufacturers), then it will be much easier to remove such a floor - after all, dirt will not penetrate the coating structure. Depending on your preference, you can choose either matte or glossy varnish. Glossy linoleum gives the impression of just washed, which looks very neat, especially in the kitchen.

#2. In the room for the baby or in the same kitchen, the antibacterial coating on linoleum is not superfluous. It is absolutely harmless and does not contain chemical additives. The destruction of microbes that breed on the floor occurs through silver ions, which are released when moisture enters the antibacterial layer. This moisture is taken directly from the surrounding air.

#3. It is good if there is a lightning bolt on the linoleum coating. The absence of this means that after someone’s legs have passed through the linoleum, it accumulates static electricity. That is, it does not have antistatic properties.

#4. The icon in the form of a wheel indicates that on this floor covering you can safely move furniture on wheels - chairs, armchairs, bedside tables. Otherwise, it is better to refrain from such actions.

#5. There is also a “warm floor” icon - if it is planned to install floor heating in the room, then you should definitely look for linoleum with only this icon.

Thus, having carefully studied the icons on the linoleum label, you can learn a lot of new things, and then accurately select the very good linoleum that is ideal for your home.

We select the optimal size of linoleum coating

To make linoleum as easy as possible, manufacturers provided a line of sizes of its standard width. This facilitates the choice of linoleum for the apartment, allowing you to purchase exactly as much material as you need, without overpaying for extra centimeters and not cutting them off. It is even more difficult to weld or glue individual pieces if linoleum is narrow. The width of the rolls usually corresponds to the width of the rooms in the houses.

Today in construction stores you can find linoleum coating with a width of 1.5 to 5 meters, in increments of 0.5 meters. Although some manufacturers prefer to produce only two-meter and three-meter linoleum - after all, these two widths are the most popular among buyers. As a rule, in most apartments in modern houses, you can do either one or the other option - the coating will lie flat, and you do not need to dock individual pieces.

More recently, linoleum was laid like this: it, like a carpet, was spread on the floor and allowed to rest for some time. After shrinkage, it was pressed with baseboards. Modern linoleums do not shrink, so you do not need to purchase them with a margin, and then trap them. What is the width of the room, exactly the same width should be chosen and linoleum coating, without any allowances.

When you measure the floor of a room, do not forget that almost any room has niches and protrusions formed by entrance doors or window-sill spaces. It is necessary to consider and measure the width and length of the floor, not just from one wall to another, but given these niches.

The correct measurement of the room.

Do not forget to take measurements at the beginning and at the end of the room, because in Soviet-built houses the distance difference at different ends of the room can be up to 10 cm.

After you have measured both sides of the room, you need to decide what width linoleum you need, and it can be: 1.5; 2; 2.5; 3; 3.5; 4; 4,5; 5 meters. In most cases, you will have to slightly cut the linoleum in width. Take the exact length of the room, up to a centimeter.

Example:

If you have a corridor of 1.9 m / 5.34 m, then you need to take a two-meter linoleum, 5.34 meters long.

If the room is 2.9 m / 3.3 m in size, then you need to take a three-meter linoleum, 3.3 meters long.

When the shape of the room is complex, having many protrusions and niches, you must first draw its plan. By measuring the dimensions of the widest and longest part of the room, you can take linoleum of the appropriate width and required length. Further, according to the plan, it is necessary to cut out all the notches on this piece of flooring. If you cannot use this method, in this case an abstract drawing will help, hiding all the joints that can be arranged in random order.

The choice of colors and textures: nuances and subtleties

The perception of the design of the apartment as a whole largely depends on the color of the floor covering. For example, cold colors create one impression, and warm colors are completely different. You can experiment with various ornaments and patterns - in general, there is plenty of room for imagination.As a result, you can get a nice, such a cozy room, and a strict official office. It all depends on the goal. You need to consider both the purpose of the room and the design of the rest of the interior.

For example, when decorating the floor in the bedroom, it will be appropriate to apply soft tones of warm colors. It is beige, milk, cream, coffee. You might want to lay a flooring that imitates marble or wood into this room - it would also be nice. Or you can buy linoleum with an intricate ornament - and it will look beautiful.

The floors of the room for the baby should not be made gloomy and gloomy. Funny colors, funny drawings, cute patterns will surely please your son or daughter. In such a room, the mood immediately rises.

If the room is very small, you can visually increase it due to the picture on linoleum. In this case, choose a pattern that resembles small tiles, or some kind of diagonal pattern. If you want to emphasize your beautiful new furniture, choose linoleum with an abstract pattern.

Video: Linoleum in each room

Finally - about the manufacturers

When we consult with the seller, which linoleum is better to choose, of course, we ask him about the best brands. After all, everyone wants the flooring to be of high quality, safe and environmentally friendly - it is supposed to live side by side with it for a long time (ideally). Next, we list the most reliable manufacturers producing linoleum that meets all these requirements.

The Tarkett brand in Russia is well-deserved. After all, this linoleum is very strong, durable and beautiful, and the variety of patterns and colors pleases buyers. Separately, it should be said about the environmental friendliness of this material - therefore, people who care about their health often choose it. It is also suitable for kindergarten or hospital.

The IVC linoleum brand, produced by one of the Balta Group divisions, also has excellent characteristics. It may well compete with the products of the previous manufacturer (by the way, this linoleum is also environmentally friendly).

Slovenian company Juteks sends almost all of its linoleum (more than 96 percent) to Europe. This high-quality material, which is characterized by high strength, is also sold in Russia. After all, the top layer of this flooring is quite thick - at least 8 millimeters.

Table of the main criteria for choosing linoleum

Options	Parameter Value
Wear resistance and thickness of the protective layer	Household linoleum - a protective layer of 0.35 mm; Semi-commercial linoleum - a protective layer from 0.35 to 0.6 mm; Commercial linoleum - a protective layer of more than 0.6 mm.
Application depending on the room	Household - in the bedroom and rooms with minimal floor load; Semi-commercial - in the corridor, kitchen, living room, if funds allow it is possible in the bedroom; Commercial - office and industrial premises.
Substrate	Foamed - has good sound insulation, thermal insulation, well hides small bumps; Felt - has thermal insulation, can hide very small irregularities, more resistant to furniture legs and shoe heels.
Manufacturer	Tarkett, IVC, Juteks.
Sheet size	1.5; 2; 2.5; 3; 3.5; 4; 4,5; 5 meters - will depend on the size of one of the sides of the room.

Video: Choosing linoleum