Which linoleum to choose for your home?
INChoosing a floor covering is an important step in renovation. It's over, there is attractive wood and durable parquet, beautiful laminate and practical tilesbut all this is quite expensive. Linoleum gives a good imitation of natural materials and almost all types of flooring. And for this reason, we decided to raise the problem of which linoleum to choose for the home, because the market offers not just a large, but a huge assortment and it is difficult not to get lost in it.
The content of the article
Species diversity
If you think that linoleum is 100% synthetic material, then you are mistaken. It appeared a long time ago, much older than the production of PVC coatings, and at the moment there are enough natural linoleums on the market, but their price is certainly higher. So, let's consider what types of coatings are.
Natural
He is a "dinosaur" among all linoleums, because he appeared about a hundred years ago. It remains very popular to this day. The raw materials for its production are natural ingredients - flax oil, oak cork bark, limestone and wood flour, resin. All this is mixed until a homogeneous consistency and applied to the jute fiber, then it is dried. This gives it strength and excellent performance properties. Such linoleums are good heat insulators. They also have an antistatic effect and sound absorption. They are distinguished by excellent bactericidal properties. Its disadvantages include a small selection of colors and a high price.
Pvc
This is an artificial material, it differs in the degree of wear resistance and can be household, semi-commercial and commercial. The first type is for use in private housing, as it has a wide assortment range - colors and textures for every taste. But it is not suitable for every room in the house, since it does not have a sufficient level of durability. The other two types, it is clear from the name their scope of application, although these are the ones that should be laid in the kitchen or hallway... That is, in the place that most of all feels the feet of household members.
Although the material is man-made, it is environmentally friendly and can be used even in children's room... It differs by average numbers on the price tag. But don't rush to stack linoleum for warm floor or in places with significant temperature changes - it will not withstand this.
PVC linoleums are:
- Alkyd Is an alkyd resin that is applied to a fabric base. It has increased warmth and soundproofing... But it is very fragile and this complicates its installation.
- Colloxin - its base is nitrocellulose, it is produced without a base. It is moisture resistant, flexible and fireproof. In contrast to this, it can shrink and react painfully to temperature changes.
- Relin - it has a two-layer structure. The lower one is old crushed rubber and bitumen, the upper one is rubber and pigment filler. It has increased moisture resistance and elasticity, but harmful substances are released from it, so you should not install it in living rooms.
Attention to size
Manufacturers try to focus on the standards of modern housing construction and produce linoleum with an appropriate width. Now you can forget about soldering or cutting off excess pieces of the coating. And it is precisely on the size of the coating that you need to pay close attention to when choosing. A certain problem may arise if there is a dilemma of which linoleum to choose for a private house, because such construction projects may differ from stands.
Please note that those linoleums that are now being produced will not shrink either in width or length, so if you have a room 5 meters wide, then this is exactly how much should be in the covering canvas. As for the length, it is still better to make a margin, since there may be defects in parallel walls, up to 10 cm, and it is difficult to notice this with the naked eye.
Marking
On any type of linoleum there is a marking - this is an indicator of its durability, and you need to choose one or another type in accordance with the purpose of the room. We will present a classification of all options:
- 1 - these are the rooms where there will be a minimum passability;
- 2 - living rooms;
- 3 - offices or a kitchen with a hallway in the house;
- 4- production.
The numbering will also have a second digit, which means the degree of load on the pavement - here you can also find numbers from 1 to 4, where 1 is the lowest load indicator, and 4, respectively, is the highest.
Choice by room
Which linoleum to choose for the house - it's not just that they took one roll and laid it in all the rooms - its choice should correspond to the purpose and passability of the rooms. Each dwelling has a kitchen and the corridorand it is these premises that have the greatest stress from the feet of residents and their guests. For them, choose linoleum with a thickness of at least 3 mm. It is important to note that for these premises the best option is not a household one, but a semi-commercial one. The structural palette is the familiar tile and laminate flooring.
For living room 1.5 mm is enough, since the permeability in it is less than in the kitchen and corridor. Bedroom - this is the place where you only sleep. So a thin layer of coating - 1.2-1.5 mm is enough here. Here, the best option would be household linoleum.
A separate conversation is the children's room. Although the permeability here is not high, every child is a researcher - and damage to the coating cannot be avoided. If the child is already older, then you can use a household one, but if the researcher is just starting his journey, then still the best option would be a semi-commercial coating with a protective layer.
Important nuances when choosing
- Before choosing linoleum for your home - smell it. A strong odor is an indicator of the use of harmful additives.
- The entire canvas should have a clear pattern, without smearing and unpainted areas.
- Ask for security certifications.
- Roll out the linoleum and inspect it for cracks, bumps, or other defects.
- If you buy large volumes, then pay attention to the fact that the linoleum is from the same batch, as there may be a slight difference in shades. Even in the same product line.
conclusions
It is not so difficult to choose the linoleum for the house, which will be the best in all respects. It is important to decide on its functionality and colors. It is good if you have an idea of its types and marking on the coating, with such knowledge no consultant will confuse you.
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