When you hear the word of honor lino , you may suppose of your grandmother ’s kitchen storey . Durable , yet boring . You might even have believed manufacturers give up on it long ago . But you ’d be incorrect . In fact , because linoleum is made of natural , renewable materials , more consumer , room decorator and builders are choosing it as environmentally well-disposed flooring . It ’s got a long lifespan – 25 to 40 yr . Once that ’s over , it can be whole recycled using a multifariousness of methods .
But that ’s not the only reasonableness linoleum is recover its popularity . Once consider the tiresome stepsister in its role as the mainstay of hospital elbow room and schooling hallways , linoleum has gone through a lulu makeover . The ghoulish grays and deadening ecru of past have given fashion to vivacious tincture and never - end convention . Thanks to new installation method , the flooring is also cheaper and gentle to put down than it used to be .
Over the years , " lino " has become a haul - all term for springy flooring , similar to the fashion Kleenex , Xeroxand other brand names have in their field of operation . But not all pliable floorings are the same . Many citizenry fuddle linoleum and modern vinyl group floor , which is made of synthetics that are crude oil base . Most of today’svinylproducts are composed mainly of polyvinyl chloride ( PVC ) , which is basically formative . Today , only three companies in the world make dead on target form of lino with linseed vegetable oil and other instinctive materials . One of these is Marmoleum , a hallmark own by Forbo Flooring Systems , a British company that has 65 percent of the global market portion [ source : Forbo ] . Forbo has been making lino for more than 100 years , and through the decades , the unconscious process has changed very little . The company boosted the appeal of lino by introducing more color and making the durable flooring easier to maintain .
In suit you were wondering , Forbo ’s Marmoleum sustain its name from the words " marbleized lino . "
What’s in Marmoleum?
harmonise to popular legend , in 1860 English inventor Frederick Walton was watching the path linseed oil constitute a layer ofrubber - similar textile on top of a can of paint when he produce the idea for linoleum . Walton mixed the oil with legion other natural materials then pressed the mixture onto a fiber backing .
Initially , linoleum , from the Latin words " genus Linum " ( flax ) and " oleum " ( crude oil ) , was a plain Jane . The colors were drab and without design , but the flooring was tough and cheap .
In the 1960s , as charge card became more dominant , flooring manufacturers commence make products fromvinyl . It could be produced more chintzily than lino and was just as durable . It also could be press into legion design , which is still one of its appeals today . lino manufacturers could n’t keep up , and the flooring virtually met its dying .
Now , linoleum is pee-pee a return , and Marmoleum is one of the good - betray trade name . It comes in more than 100 colour and designs can be custom-make . For example , installers can cut border and specialty patterns using an Aquajet ( water system - based ) system .
Ingredients in today ’s linoleum remain true to Walton ’s early recipe . Linseed oil , which comes from pressed flax source , is the main component of Marmoleum . Pine - tree diagram rosin gives the flooring durability and flexibility . Mrs. Henry Wood flour or sawdust helps bind the pigments for brighter and longer - endure coloring material , and also contributes to the smooth surface timbre of the floor . Forbo calls the pigments used in Marmoleum " ecologically responsible , " and they contain no weighed down metals such as lead and cadmium . Most are mineral - based . terra firma - up limestone works as a filler , and woven jute serves as the backup for the floor .
Forbo has legion manufacturing plant , but the fellowship ’s readiness in the Netherlands and Scotland are the ones that bring forth Marmoleum .
How Marmoleum is Made
To understand how lino is made , first we ask a chemistry lesson . The film that Walton found on his can of paint was the result of oxidisation . In heart and soul , O molecules in the air mix with molecule in the paint , causing a chemical change and spring a thin plastic film .
But linseed crude oil does n’t oxidize overnight . Forbo speeds the process up by heating the flaxseed oil to mellow temperatures . The resulting cloth is mixed with rosin to produce lino " cement . " When the manufacturer adds wood debris , limestone and pigments , it creates colorful granule of lino .
These granules are blended together to make the lino base , then are passed through a rolled machine prognosticate acalendarto produce sheets that can be marble , flecked or single - hued .
The Marmoleum sheet , which are about 0.1 inches ( 2.5 millimeter ) thickheaded , are pressed onto a jute financial backing . The rule and colors extend throughout the thickness of the material and do n’t wear down . vinyl radical floor , on the other hand , contains only a thin layer of pattern on the control surface , which can fall apart away with heavy use .
The finished sheets therapeutic in huge , heated up room calledstovesfor several weeks to dry out . The chemical substance process also produces a yellowing or " ambering " essence . The coloring is impermanent and disappears once the flooring is exposed to luminance , either natural or indoor . Recently , the company began dry some of its product ingreenhouses , and the natural sun help oneself to fool away the yellowing [ source : Forbo ] .
As a last dance step in the manufacturing cognitive operation , Forbo apply a water - base coating call Topshield to protect the ware , keep the colors bright and help make cleaning and maintenance easier .
Linoleum Installation and Maintenance
Marmoleum come in a variety show of phase . The first is a long , encompassing piece of paper that can be cut to fit any elbow room exactly . It also descend in planks , much like woodwind instrument flooring , and tiles that can be clicked into plaza . The material has an instalment cost of $ 2.75 to $ 3.55 per substantial metrical foot [ rootage : Forbo ] .
Although you could set up Marmoleum yourself , you may recover that a professional installer might be a better choice for several reasons . First , the sub - floor must be plane and organise to take on the flooring before installation . In addition , the sheets are heavy and severe to manoeuvre , and cutting for a perfect fit requires a sure level of expertness .
If you want patterns or borders , flooring specialists can check right conjunction . Seams must be bonded using a warmth process , which also require some training .
Marmoleum require adhesive to install . There are many varieties usable , and the kind of adhesive an installer uses depends on where the base is located in the nursing home , the wet depicted object of the way and how muchtrafficthe flooring will receive .
Marmoleum Click , a late invention for Forbo , is a floating floor that does n’t ask adhesives . or else , it feature a lingua - and - vallecula organisation , which makes it easier to set up than the original Marmoleum . Forbo suggests having a professional installer handgrip Click , but with the veracious tools , an experienceddo - it - yourselfershould be able-bodied to deploy the floor .
cleanup is jolly easy . former linoleums demand regular waxing to keep colors vibrant and the floor looking its best . But Forbo says Marmoleum with Topshield is quick to expend and does not necessitate excess topcoats of close unless the trading floor is damaged .
While Marmoleum is water resistant , it is n’t waterproof . You should wipe up spill immediately to forfend damage and to keep the material bacteria resistant . Regular cleaning includes teetotal mopping to eliminate dirt and other rubble , and damp mopping with dilute Marmoleum Floor Cleaner . Forbo says you should avoid ammonium hydroxide - based and other harsh cleaning intersection , which may damage the flooring .
In the event the floor is for good stained or damaged , you should clean Marmoleum exhaustively . You may also need to apply several coat of Topshield to return the flooring to its original state . It ’s a beneficial idea to enforce soft material to the understructure of chairs , table and other furniture on a Marmoleum flooring to protect the material from mule and scratches .
If you ’re go to put rugs down on your floor , be sure to habituate only colorfast , woven area rugs . The chemicals inrubberor rubber-base paint - back mat can stain the trading floor .
How Marmoleum Stacks Up
Consumers have a variety of knock down options to take from depending on their lifestyles . Price , performance and lastingness factor into any purchase . So how well does Marmoleum compare to other popular flooring material ? lease ’s take a expression :
Solid wood / bamboo– High point : born and beautiful , it come in a variety of colors and is environmentally friendly . It can be sanded and refinish several time to hold its beauty . It ’s easy to clean with ironical swabbing . Low points : Spills and high humidness can damage woods flooring . Wood also indent and scrape easy , so you have to be careful to protect it from the wear and tear of furniture . It ’s hard to install . toll : $ 7 to $ 12 per solid foot .
Plastic laminate– high-pitched points : The flooring is elusive and easy to install , using a sort of methods , including float . It mimics the expression of hardwood , but is less likely to be damaged by piddle or tumble . It ’s easy to clean . Low points : Laminate can not be refinish . Cost : $ 4 to $ 8 per square foot
Vinyl– High points : Vinyl flooring comes in a form of patterns and is sound for baths and kitchen . It ’s easy to install and resists break , moisture and brand . low-pitched points : Vinyl is made from petroleum and may not be as durable as lino . price : $ 4 to $ 9 per square understructure
Linoleum– High points : Linoleum is warm and lively and works in a multifariousness of elbow room . It resists moisture and scratch and also has antibacterial and anti - allergenicproperties . It go anywhere from 25 to 40 years . It ’s also prosperous to clean house . Low pointedness : The surface wear varies . Cost : $ 4 to $ 9 per square metrical unit
Ceramic tile– high-pitched points : It ’s unspoiled for bath and kitchens ; tile resists wear and most damage . It ’s made using born materials and resist bacteria and allergen . you could install tile yourself to keep money . Low points : roofing tile can crack and be dusty and tricky . You should apply sealants once a yr . The grout you habituate to set up the roofing tile can stain . monetary value : $ 8 to $ 15 per square metrical foot
Carpet– in high spirits points : low-pitched maintenance , quiet and gentle . come in a variety of roughage , patterns , textures and colors . Low points : Carpet can sometimes difficult to make clean , especially spills . toll : Beginning at about $ 2 per square foot
Marmoleum’s Environmental Footprint
genuine lino are considered environmentally friendly because the ingredients are made from raw , renewable materials . That mean linoleum is nearly CO2 achromatic throughout its lifetime . Forbo lay claim that Marmoleum is 96 percent constitutional [ source : Forbo ] . No toxic chemicals or volatile organic compounds ( VOCs ) are used in the manufacturing process .
One report looked at how flooring product contributed toglobal warming . Carpeting ranked high while lino was at the humiliated end of the spectrum . [ beginning : Petersen ] Oak flooring has the fewest emissions .
The linseed oil in Marmoleum continues to oxidize after installing , making the flooring firm over prison term . That ’s why the product , and all linoleum , is so long - lasting , making it a good flooring for both high - traffic commercial operations and residences . purportedly , the Rockettes at Radio City Music Hall danced on the same linoleum floor for more than 20 geezerhood [ beginning : Wilson ] .
The same chemical substance change help grow the flooring ’s anti - bacterial properties , which is why linoleum is so often used in wellness - maintenance deftness and schools . The oxidization process either shoot down bacteria or provides an uninhabitable berth for it to thrive .
lino is by nature anti - stable , so rubble does n’t have a chance to stick to or embed itself into the floor , unlike wool or celluloid carpeting . That attain it appeal for modern housekeeper . Marmoleum Click requires no adhesive agent to instal , hit it pop with citizenry who have asthma or allergies .
Forbo and other green builders cope that Marmoleum does n’t release foul - smelling chemicals that can be associated with other floor program , especially vinyl radical . The company says its cleaning product for Marmoleum are water - based and do n’t breathe chemicals , either .
