How to choose glue for linoleum: varieties, advantages and disadvantages, features of use

Linoleum is a popular floor covering used in both public and residential areas. Its widespread use is due to its affordable price and rather high performance characteristics. However, during operation, linoleum can deform, which leads to loss of appearance, damage and the need for premature replacement. To minimize the negative effects of thermal deformations, the material must be tightly attached to the base. The most reliable way to do this can be glue for linoleum. How to choose the correct composition of the adhesive mixture, what are the advantages and disadvantages of different types? You will find answers to these and other questions in our article.

Adhesives for linoleum - a variety of choices and specific uses

Do I need to glue linoleum to the base

Many masters, especially when renovating residential premises, just lay the linoleum on the base without any fixing. Can you do this? What are the advantages and disadvantages of gluing the floor covering?

Benefits of securing linoleum over the entire base area:

It looks like linoleum, which was not glued to the base, after several years of operation.

The use of glue also has its drawbacks:

Linoleum in the bathroom needs mandatory fixing, this will provide additional waterproofing and protect the neighbors from below from flooding

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Varieties of adhesive mixtures for linoleum

Linoleum glue brands on the market can be divided into two main categories: reactive and dispersive. They differ significantly in their characteristics, methods of application and cost. Let's consider their main operational parameters in more detail.

Dispersion adhesive mixtures

The dispersion adhesive contains acrylic, latex, chalk as a filler, cellulose glycolic acid. It is a water-based, odorless mixture. A weak, unstable specific aroma can last several hours after the end of pasting. No toxic or carcinogenic substances are released into the air during work. Recommended for residential use.

Dispersion compositions from various manufacturers of three main categories are presented on the market:

Bustilat is a versatile compound that can be used to fix most types of linoleum

Acrylic adhesive ensures the strength of the linoleum attachment to the hygroscopic base

Humilax - used for fixing household and semi-commercial linoleum

Dispersion adhesives have certain technical limitations. The main disadvantage is its high sensitivity to humidity and low temperatures. After freezing, dispersion glue loses its main properties: elasticity decreases, the adhesive layer begins to crumble under mechanical stress. At high humidity, adhesion is significantly reduced, up to peeling off the base.

Reaction adhesives

Reactive adhesive mixtures consist of two components: base and hardener.The bonding process is a polymerization reaction of a substance after mixing two main components. Epoxy and polyurethane polymers are used as active agents. The advantages of using them are as follows:

The price of reaction compositions is much higher than dispersion ones. They have a pungent chemical odor and emit significant amounts of volatile flammable substances during mixing and application. Therefore, during the performance of work, it is necessary to comply with fire safety requirements and ensure good ventilation of the room. All manipulations with such adhesives must be carried out only in personal protective equipment - respirators and gloves.

A two-part epoxy adhesive used to bond commercial high-traffic PVC coatings

Reactive adhesives are used to fix homogeneous linoleum, PVC tiles, linoleum on a foam basis. Such an adhesive is unsuitable for felt and fabric substrates.

Depending on the level of adhesion, the reaction compositions are divided into three main groups, which are recommended to be used to perform a certain type of work:

Polyurethane formulations are more versatile. They can be used both for fixing linoleum and for parquet

How to choose glue for linoleum

It is advisable to choose adhesive mixtures for fixing linoleum according to the following criteria:

A hygroscopic (absorbent) surface, which includes reinforced concrete panels, cement-sand screeds, polymer-cement fillings, wooden coatings, requires the use of dispersed water-based adhesives. For substrates with a low absorption rate: ceramic tiles, natural stone, dense rocks and similar materials, only reactive compounds are suitable.

In small rooms, linoleum, as a rule, is laid with a whole canvas. The adhesive is applied in a continuous layer over the entire surface of the base. Water-based dispersion adhesives are the best option for this fixing method.

Large-area floor coverings and commercial linoleum are glued in staggered segments. In addition, a particularly strong fastening must be performed at the joints (seams) between the canvases. For this, a reactive two-component adhesive based on epoxy resin or polyurethane. Seams are additionally fixed by cold or hot welding.

When fixing linoleum coatings in a large room, special attention is paid to the joints

The adhesive composition is selected according to its main characteristics based on compatibility with the linoleum material. Usually, manufacturers' recommendations are indicated on the packaging. However, the basic rules are better to remember:

Leading manufacturers and popular brands

Unfortunately, the quality of the glue can only be checked after using it, when the substance is not only impossible to return to the seller, but the floor coverings are often damaged. In this case, it is better not to save money, but to purchase adhesive mixtures from reliable manufacturers:

Manufacturing companies of high-quality adhesives

Table 1. Glue brands and areas of application

Among the many brands of glue, you need to choose the most suitable

Highlights of bonding technology

The process of gluing linoleum is quite simple and accessible even for inexperienced craftsmen. The basis for a quality work is a thorough preparation of the base. The use of primers, mastics or repair compounds depends on the base material.

Concrete, cement-sand screeds

Any materials where present cement, regardless of their density, are capable of absorbing moisture to one degree or another. This property is practically ideal for the process of gluing with dispersed mixtures. However, linoleum, like every finishing material, is subject to wear and tear and requires periodic renewal. The following requirements are imposed on the adhesive mixtures used for fixing linoleum on concrete:

Adhesive application to concrete

Linoleum for laying on concrete or cement-sand screed must have a fabric or glyphthal bottom insulating layer. When using a homogeneous single-layer coating that does not have a base, it will be necessary to form a subfloor from fiberboard, chipboard or OSB.

Applying glue to chipboard

The sequence of actions for gluing linoleum to a concrete floor:

1. The base is thoroughly cleaned of all types of dirt, the floor is washed and dried. If there are cracks and cavities on the surface with a depth of 2 mm or more, they are sealed with a cement-based repair mortar.
2. During the work, the temperature in the room should not fall below + 15 ° C. To prevent thermal deformation, linoleum must be left in a warm room for 2 days.
3. Holes are drilled along the perimeter of the room for fixing the skirting boards.
4. To improve adhesion, a day before starting work, the base is primed.
5. It is important to ensure that the components of the primer cannot react with the main constituents of the adhesive. As a rule, compatible substances are indicated on the packaging of the adhesive mixture.
6. Linoleum is rolled out, the canvas is trimmed to size. The distance from the cover to the wall should be about 5 mm.
7. The cut-to-size linoleum sheet is rolled up and placed at the far end of the room. The adhesive is applied to the substrate in a thin layer with a spatula. In accordance with the requirements of the manufacturer, a certain pause is maintained for setting.
8. Linoleum is pressed to the floor and smoothed out with a special construction rolling pin. Movement on the floor is prohibited for 1.5-2 days.

The process of trying on linoleum can look somewhat chaotic.

Cutting corners is best done with a special tool.

After gluing, the coating surface is rolled with a special roller, especially in the joints

Bases made of wood, chipboard, plywood, OSB

The general principles for installing linoleum on wooden bases are the same as on concrete ones. The main difference is surface preparation. If necessary, paint and varnish should be removed with a building hair dryer or chemicals. After that, the floor is thoroughly washed and dried for at least a day. The gaps between the boards are putty with special polymer compounds. The drying time is indicated on the manufacturer's packaging. As a rule, it is from 1 to 2 days. Wood and wood composites are not primed. The substrate must be dry and clean. The air temperature at the time of work is not lower than + 15 ° C with a relative humidity not higher than 60%.

Preparing a wooden floor for laying linoleum, removing old paintwork

The junction of linoleum and wood floor

Joining seams

If the room is large enough, it is necessary to dock several linoleum canvases. In this case, the following actions are performed:

1. The adhesive is not applied at a distance of 15 cm on either side of the joint line.
2. The linoleum sheet is located with an overlap of at least 3 cm.
3. The joints are connected only after the glue has completely dried under the rest of the surface.
4. The joint line is cut along both canvases at the same time. A metal ruler is used as a template.
5. For convenience, the edges of the canvases are pre-fixed with double-sided tape.
6. After cutting, the edges are turned away, and the base is smeared with adhesive. For this, a higher quality and more expensive two-component adhesive is used.
7. The edges are set in place, rolled with a roller, excess glue is removed, and a load is placed on the surface.
8. Drying time is at least two days.

Video of the gluing process

Pre-fixing and trimming the seam between two linoleum panels

Applying glue to the seam

Removing excess cured adhesive

Summing up

Despite the rather laborious process of gluing linoleum, as well as certain difficulties in choosing an adhesive composition, the advantages in the further operation of the fixed floor covering fully compensate for all costs incurred.

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