Linoleum is a truly universal type of flooring that can be used in almost all types of rooms. Despite the relatively low cost, it has a rather long service life and also does not require any special care. There is a large assortment of this type of product on the existing building materials market today, which is difficult even for a specialist to understand. And therefore, even before you go shopping, you should figure out what types it happens.
The main types of linoleum
By its resistance to abrasion, linoleum can be:
- Household . Covered with a thin protective layer (up to 0.35 mm), as a rule, it is used in residential premises, where only a few people will walk on it.
- Semi-commercial . This linoleum has a thicker protective layer (0.5-0.6 mm) and is used for rooms with low traffic intensity. It can also be used in residential areas.
- Commercial . The protective layer is thicker than others (0.7-0.8 mm), and it is practically not used in residential premises, since it is rather unpleasant to the touch, and its cost is slightly different from the cost of the laminate.
But that is not all. Before choosing linoleum for a room or for any other residential premises, you should also find out what material its base is made of, which can be of several types:
- With a base of polyvinyl chloride . It has excellent heat and soundproof qualities, and also has good environmental safety. The only drawback is that it is afraid of low temperatures.
- Alkyd . It also has good heat and soundproof qualities, but more fragile, which makes it difficult to install.
- Cellulose based . It features a pleasant texture and appearance, elastic, not afraid of moisture. However, it is very sensitive to temperature extremes, and also has a high fire hazard.
- Rubber It is used in rooms with high humidity, but it is absolutely unsuitable for residential premises, because it emits harmful substances.
Knowing what kind and what material linoleum is made of will help you make the right choice.
For example, how to choose linoleum for a bedroom or for a nursery? First of all, it is necessary to take into account the fact that the bedroom is the only place in the house where a person should not feel any discomfort. Therefore, the most optimal option is considered to be thin linoleum on a foam basis with the use of natural materials. In the nursery, it is advisable to use a thicker coating (about 3 mm). Of course, also on a natural basis, because in addition to its attractive appearance, it has excellent antimicrobial properties. As for the colors, it all depends on the features of the interior and personal preferences of the owners of the apartment.
How to choose linoleum: general recommendations
There are a few simple rules that you should follow when choosing this type of flooring.
- If possible, the width of the web should match the width of the room. However, it should be borne in mind that during the installation process you will have to adjust the drawing, especially if the room is non-standard. Therefore, the total area of linoleum should be greater than the area of the room.
- It is better to purchase coverage in a store where it is possible to check its quality. Before choosing linoleum, you should ask if there is an appropriate certificate for it.
- If there are waves, bumps or areas with a peelable top film on the rolled roll, it is better to refuse the purchase. Subsequently, these irregularities will never get better.
- If you purchase a coating of the same type, but in different rooms, it is better to take a whole piece. Also, even before choosing linoleum, you should take into account all the nuances of transportation and lifting to the floor, taking into account the width of the door and stairways.
- Polyurethane linoleum must have a cardboard reel inside the roll.
- In no case should you bend the cloth. Also, do not stick tape to the front surface, which is subsequently very difficult to remove. Therefore, the roll must be folded with the front side inward. If this is not possible, you should wrap it with paper or cellophane.
- Not covered with a special protective layer linoleum is quickly contaminated, and therefore it is better not to take it.
- Before choosing linoleum in the store, it is advisable to consider the sample in the room where it is planned to be laid, since it is difficult to choose the appropriate tone from memory.
- You need to purchase linoleum from one delivery. Different batches may vary in color, despite the coincidence of the article.