What thickness of linoleum is best for an apartment. Which linoleum is better for an apartment - household or semi-commercial, foam-based, or felt? Additional types of linoleum

Hello Dear blog readers! Get ready, as this topic will be very voluminous and dedicated to which linoleum is best for an apartment. In today's construction market, you can see hundreds of options different quality and from different manufacturers. Color variations of linoleum can also excite the imagination. Why is linoleum so popular? The fact is that this is the most popular flooring among the population, which has an average income. They also love it for its durability and ergonomics. In our topic, let's start about everything in order.

Summary of this article:

Which linoleum is better to choose for an apartment - household, commercial or semi-commercial?

There is no specific and unambiguously correct answer to this question. If you start talking about household linoleum, then, as the name implies, it is used mainly only in residential areas.

Of the advantages in it, the following can be distinguished:

Profitability. It has a very attractive price.

Very easy to care for. You don't need any expensive special equipment.

As we stated, it has a rich color palette.

Very flexible and easy to transport.

Well insulates the room.

Has good moisture resistance.

As for the semi-commercial option, it is worth saying here that it is something in between a household and a commercial option. It can be laid in places with moderate traffic, which, in principle, means that you can lay it in the presence of a large family home. It has almost the same benefits. Only it's a little more expensive.

Which linoleum is better to lay commercial or semi-commercial, or household - you decide. All options are well suited for housing. The last thing that could be noted is that in choosing household linoleum you still have great freedom in terms of color and type of coating (there are imitating wood, parquet and others).

Commercial linoleum is not often used for laying on the floor in an apartment, because. its cost compared to household and semi-commercial types is very high. If the budget for repair costs is “rubber”, then this is quite a good flooring option that will easily serve you for more than 10 years without any jams, creases, etc.

Which linoleum is better - on a foam basis or felt?

Foam-based linoleum is usually made using foamed PVC on fiberglass. The advantage of foam-based linoleum is its strength. Also resistant to high moisture. Of the minuses of such linoleum, one can single out the price, which is several points higher than that of analogues.

As for the felt base, the advantages of such linoleum include its elasticity and softness of the coating. This, by the way, directly affects the comfort of use.

This option is much cheaper than the foam base, but unlike the latter, the pattern in linoleum with felt base applied to its entire thickness, which means that when “rubbing” it will not lose appearance.

Based on this, we can conclude that in this matter you should be guided by what is most important to you - durability and strength or appearance. As you can see, everything is extremely simple.

What are the dimensions of linoleum?

Now let's move on to the numbers part. As for the size of linoleum, then the situation is as follows:

By building codes the thickness of linoleum ranges from 0.7 mm to 4.5 mm. There is also an option with a thickness of less than a millimeter, but such material, as you might already guess, is completely unsuitable for everyday life.

The most common linoleum in thickness is from 1.5 to 3 mm. Thanks to this thickness, sound insulation and heat insulation are well kept.

How wide is linoleum?

Regarding the width, the following options are available on the construction market:

2 meters.

2.5 meters.

3 meters.

3.5 meters.

4 meters.

5 meters.

As you can see, there are enough variations in width, which will allow you to avoid a large number of seams when laying. We spoke in more detail about the possible width of linoleum once in the article - what width is linoleum, be sure to study.

What classes is linoleum divided into for wear resistance and fire safety?

By wear resistance, linoleum is divided into the following classes:

Virtually indelible (dense wear-resistant linoleum).

Weakly abraded.

Moderately abraded.

Heavily abraded.

As for fire safety, things are much more interesting here. To protect yourself, you should choose it according to the following parameters:

Flammability.

Toxicity.

Smoke generation.

Smoke propagation speed.

Now in more detail..

Flammability is one of the most important indicators fire safety. In this regard, linoleum has the following marks - from G1 to G4. In this case, G1 indicates low or no flammability, while G4 is an indicator of easy flammability.

When buying coverage, be sure to pay attention to these labels. Especially if linoleum is chosen in a room where there is frequent contact with fire. Practice shows that it is forbidden to lay G4 linoleum where people need to be evacuated in case of fire.

As for toxicity, this indicator characterizes the amount released during a fire. toxic substances. The level of toxicity here is determined in a similar way to flammability labels - from T1 to T4.

The T1 coating is low toxic, while the T4 coating is highly toxic and can cause rapid poisoning of the body when the material burns.

Smoke generation is another important factor. It shows the amount of smoke emitted during combustion. D1 - practically does not emit smoke during combustion. D4 - during combustion, it is formed a large number of smoke and the room quickly becomes smoky.

The rate of spread of smoke - refers to the indicators above. WP1 - smoke spreads slowly or does not spread at all. RP4 - when ignited, almost instantaneous smoke occurs.

Summing up, let's say that when choosing linoleum, do not forget to pay attention to all related marks. This will protect you and your home from unforeseen circumstances.

According to European standards, linoleum has certain marking from two numbers. The first digit characterizes the type of room. The second is the intensity of the load.

The first digit is:

2 - living quarters.

3 - office premises.

4 - industrial premises.

The second digit is as follows:

1 – low intensity loads.

2 - average load intensity.

3 - high load intensity.

4 - very high load intensity.

If you choose linoleum, then follow the following markings:

21 - rooms for short-term use (this includes, for example, bedrooms)

22 - linoleum for living rooms, kitchens, children's rooms.

23 - linoleum for hallways, corridors and places common use in communal apartments.

These are the main residential markings. After them, there are already markings for the number 3 and 4. Such linoleum is already suitable only for hotels, commercial premises, shops, warehouses, etc.

Is natural or artificial linoleum better for an apartment?

This question is very interesting and almost always excites the minds of those who are going to choose linoleum. So let's figure out which linoleum to choose for an apartment.

In the production of linoleum from natural ingredients, oak bark flour is used, as well as ordinary wood flour. It is not uncommon to add various organic oils and pine resin.

Practice shows that linoleum made from natural ingredients is an environmentally friendly material and is especially popular with those people who have a child or have allergies.

It is suitable for those who decide to save money, but it is worth remembering that given material not as fireproof as its natural counterpart (due to lack of oils). It also has a rather unpleasant chemical smell.

Our advice is as follows - if you are faced with the choice of natural or artificial linoleum, then pay attention to factors such as the frequency of use of the premises and the presence of children or pets. These are the most basic things to focus on.

These two concepts can turn out to be a dark forest for the average buyer. In fact, everything is simpler than it seems, and we will help you not to get confused in this terminology and easily distinguish one material from another and not make a mistake when buying.

What is heterogeneous linoleum?

Heterogeneous linoleum is a linoleum that consists of several layers. Their thickness is usually from 2 to 6 mm. The basis of such linoleum is a reinforcing fiberglass, which is coated with PVC.

Coated on PVC different pattern. It is worth saying that heterogeneous linoleum is a rather difficult material to manufacture.

Homogeneous linoleum what is it?

Unlike heterogeneous linoleum, homogeneous is a homogeneous material. Its thickness varies from 1.5 to 3 mm. Also, the main difference between homogeneous linoleum is that it provides a narrower selection of patterns.

It is also worth considering the fact that this linoleum already has a specialization - it is most often used in shops, corridors of public places, front doors.

Now let's move on to the main question - which of these two linoleum is better for an apartment?

The answer will be unequivocal - the best option for an apartment is a heterogeneous option. Homogeneous ones have one very unpleasant property - it is almost impossible to clean it with ordinary detergents due to the presence of lime in it.

It absorbs dirt well and may need to be cleaned. Grinder, which is not a very good option at home. Therefore, it is worth leaving this option more for technical rooms.

As for heterogeneous linoleum, in terms of cleaning, the usual detergent soap-based, which is always available at home.

Most people are interested in a reasonable question - which company's linoleum is the best for laying on the floor in an apartment? We answer .. To date, Tarkett linoleum is considered the best and most reliable option.

Of course, there are other manufacturers of linoleum, whose products can also be safely laid on the floor in apartments. For example, such as - Grabo (Grabo), Forbo (Forbo), Ideal (Ideal), Gerflor (Gerflor), Juteks (Dzhuteks) and others.

Their price/quality ratio is very good, ie. when laying on the floor, you can be sure that the flooring will not be worn down to holes in the coming years.

That's all. Now you know which company (brand) of linoleum is better to lay on the floor in the apartment. The choice is naturally yours - we only give advice and recommendations.

Next, we will consider the nuances of choosing linoleum under certain type home premises. This is a very important part of our article, because, based on all of the above, you can see that linoleum is not such a simple material as it might seem at first glance.

How to choose linoleum for the kitchen?

It should not be hidden that linoleum has already become a traditional material for the kitchen, which never ceases to be popular. The kitchen is a very picky place, so the choice of flooring should be approached with all care.

Most main question, which should be put in front of you when choosing linoleum - natural or synthetic coating?

If you decide to choose a natural coating, you can be sure that it will consist of environmentally friendly materials. It will have the following benefits:

The cover will be hygienic.

Fire resistant thanks to natural materials.

You can choose from a large variety of coloring pages.

It is resistant to heat, which means that it is possible to carry out a floor heating system under it.

Synthetic material differs from natural only in some parameters. Advantages of synthetics:

It has dielectric properties.

Heat resistant.

It has a low price, unlike its natural counterpart.

So what to choose? Here it is worth considering that natural material is more expensive, and synthetic is more affordable. The main advice - if you have money, then of course you should choose a natural option.

But if you decide to save money, then synthetics will also be a good choice. We talked in more detail about the choice of linoleum for the kitchen in the article - which linoleum for the kitchen to choose, I advise you to study.

What is the best linoleum for the bathroom?

Regarding the choice of linoleum for the bathroom, there are the following basic tips that must be strictly observed:

Choose waterproof linoleum. In the bathroom, the humidity is much higher than in other parts of the house/apartment.

Be sure to choose options with a coating that has ribbed elements. They will protect you from unforeseen falls, as linoleum becomes a very slippery surface after water has entered.

Also choose linoleum that will be resistant to the physical stress of objects pressing on it (washing machine, sink, etc.), as well as that will withstand the effects of various detergents.

Masters advise putting homogeneous coatings in the bath.

How to choose the right linoleum for the bedroom?

Everyone knows that a person spends almost a third of his life in the bedroom. And for the bedroom, linoleum only from natural materials is better than ever.

Since such linoleum is bactericidal, it will have a pleasant effect on your well-being. It also withstands the sun's rays well and does not emit harmful substances into the air.

By the way, natural linoleum in the bedroom is very good. suitable for people with allergies or bronchial asthma.

Linoleum for the hall in the apartment how to choose right?

For the hall it is worth choosing household linoleum. Pay attention to the thickness - it should be medium, since the hall is a place with a moderate load.

A semi-commercial option is perfect. It should have the 21-23rd wear resistance class. good options for the hall you can call linoleum on a jute or felt basis.

These materials are quite elastic, soft and retain heat well. It is very pleasant to walk on them and they are absolutely safe for your health. A nice bonus is that these materials are easy to wash and easy to care for.

If there are pets, then due to the antistatic properties, wool will not stick to them (materials).

Linoleum for the hallway and corridor what to use?

Most masters advise choosing semi-commercial linoleum in the hallway and corridor. It is ideal for the reasons that the corridor is the place with the highest traffic in the apartment.

Semi-commercial linoleum will not allow footprints to appear on it. Also, practice shows that it is almost impossible to damage this coating by force.

Choose semi-commercial foam-based linoleum - it will last longer, unlike other options. As for colors, although semi-commercial linoleum is not replete with the same print options that are available in the household, there are also plenty to choose from.

How to choose linoleum in the nursery?

The most basic advice in choosing linoleum for a children's room is naturalness. Among children Lately a large number of allergy sufferers can be observed and linoleum made from natural materials in this case will the best choice from your side.

Remember that the children's room is a rather aggressive place. Your child will play with toys there and drop things on the floor. Naturally, this will affect its integrity.

The second main advice is that in order to avoid frequent replacement of the floor covering, it is worth choosing linoleum with a thickness of at least 3 mm in the nursery. Foam-based household linoleum is perfect.

As for the colors, it is better to choose the material for the children's room as brightly as possible. This will delight and cheer up not only you, but also your child.

What is the best linoleum to lay on a wooden floor?

Perhaps most people experience a lot of wear and tear. wooden surfaces. This is especially true for gender. Over time, it loses its original appearance, which even careful polishing does not allow to restore. What to do in this case? The answer is simple - lay linoleum. But the next question arises - which linoleum is best placed on a wooden floor?

For laying on a wooden floor, it is better to choose linoleum with good thermal insulation properties. Together with wood, this will give an excellent effect and the heat will remain indoors for a long time. As for its options, it all depends on the room in which it will be used, so it's up to you to decide whether to choose a household, semi-commercial or commercial option.

As for the specifics, fabric-based linoleum is well suited to a wooden floor. Also linoleum without a base, which has a uniform structure. Masters also advise colloxyl linoleum, it is flexible and easy to install, but if the room is not ventilated for several days, a natural chemical smell remains.

What is the best linoleum to lay on a concrete floor?

Since the concrete floor is an inhospitable cold coating, in terms of choosing linoleum, it is worth giving preference only to multi-layer options with a foamed and insulated base.

Why only this type? If you choose any other linoleum, then of course it will also lie well on concrete, but all year round you will notice that the floor is cold. This can have a huge impact on health.

Is it possible to paint linoleum and with what paint?

It just so happened that not everyone has the opportunity, after the appearance of defects in linoleum, to immediately re-lay the entire coating. Most resort to cunning methods. One of them is painting. Let's just say right away - you can paint linoleum. Another question is what kind of coloring composition to do this so that it does not turn out worse?

The most popular paints for linoleum are oil, alkyd and acrylic options. With them in order:

Oil paints - the most a budget option. If we follow the dynamics of development construction market, then this paint is already outdated. But on the other hand, it fits well on the surface and does not create irregularities. Of the minuses, only a rather sharp and unpleasant odor can be distinguished during painting and during the drying process. Also, this paint must be periodically updated, as it wears off over time.

Alkyd paints are much more advanced than the oil version. Such paint is very elastic, resistant to water and is distinguished by its durability. It also does not fade in the sun. It dries fairly quickly (in just a couple of hours). The only negative is that, like the oil version, when painting, it has a pungent odor.

Acrylic paints are the most suitable option for linoleum. Dries quickly, withstands mechanical damage well. The service life of such paints is very long. From pleasant things- the composition of the paint withstands chemical attack well (especially useful when you need to wash the floor with various means).

As we were able to find out - it is possible to paint linoleum. The approach to paint depends only on the size of your budget. Of course, if it is not big, then it will suit you. oil paints, if medium or good - then alkyd and acrylic. But practice shows that it is better to pay money for good material than to spend big money on redoing the work.

Is linoleum harmful to health?

After all that we have listed in this article, a specific question creeps in - is linoleum harmful to health? As we found out, linoleum is made from natural material, and sometimes it is made of PVC and its analogues. The first, of course, is completely safe.

The second can be harmful to children and adults with allergies. In fact, with proper care, linoleum made of artificial materials will also be safe. Simply do not neglect the rules of laying and caring for the latter.

Most importantly, remember:

If you have artificial linoleum, then ventilate the room at least once a day.

Do not put artificial material in nurseries and bedrooms.

Use only specialized detergents.

So, it was decided - there will be linoleum on the floor. Now you can go buy something "fun". However, there is no need to rush. After all, there is a whole range of products with different operational parameters on the market. How choose linoleum? You need to be aware of these settings..For the most FAQ buyers will be answered by Tatyana Kuznetsova, Marketing Director of the Household Linoleum category of the company Tarkett in Eastern Europe.

- What are the advantages of using linoleum as a floor covering?

To begin with, the decision to use it is an excellent choice in itself. This - unique material, which combines high performance. It is wear-resistant, not afraid of moisture, easy to install. It is easy to take care of him. At the same time, it has good indicators of heat and sound insulation. From the old days there was an opinion that linoleum is something unpresentable. But today, such a coating provides the greatest freedom in interior design. Manufacturers are constantly bringing new trendy collections to the market, and you can choose a design for any room in the apartment.

- They choose most often according to the drawing. Is this correct, or is there something else to look out for first?

- It is clear that at first a person looks at color and design. Well, you can start with this. However, in any case, you need to find out whether the product you like meets your requirements. I would advise first of all to remember, strange as it may sound, about health. the best way to protect yourself will ask the seller for a hygiene certificate. Also, look for special signs on the label. Products that have passed the examination that confirmed them ecological cleanliness, are marked. It should be noted that today the only Russian label recognized by the international community and included in the Global Ecolabel Network (GEN) is "Leaf of Life". It is issued by the St. Petersburg Ecological Union. Among our products, linoleum collections are marked with this sign "Moda", "Discovery" And "Idyll".

- When choosing linoleum, is it necessary to take into account in which room it will lie?

Yes, today there are types of coverage with different characteristics. The easiest way to determine for what operating conditions a particular linoleum is intended is to use the European classification system for floor coverings EN 685, which is also used in Russia. According to her, everything rooms are divided into three types. The number 2 denotes residential, the number 3 - office, the number 4 - industrial. Another number determines the intensity of the load: 1 - low, 2 - medium, 3 - high, 4 - very high. The combination of two numbers and the corresponding pictogram (house and little men) denotes flooring class. For example: 22 - residential premises with an average load, 33 - office space with a high load, etc. What kind of coverage do you need?, you can look in the catalog or ask the sales assistant. So, class 21 linoleum is suitable for a bedroom or an office, 23 for a kitchen and a corridor in an apartment where 1-2 people live. And the same kitchen in an apartment where 3 or more people live needs class 31.

- Is it possible to find out by eye whether this linoleum is wear-resistant or not?

It is this parameter that is difficult to determine just by looking at the coating. The fact is that how resistant the material will be to abrasion depends on the design of the coating as a whole and, first of all, on the thickness of its upper working layer. It is also called transparent (which means "transparent"). Modern linoleum is a "layer cake", in which each layer plays a special role. So, the worker is made of pure PVC, a very durable material. The transparency protects the drawing. The thicker the layer, the longer the coating will last. It is with this indicator that the classification of heterogeneous linoleums is more connected. They are separated for household(21-23 class; transparency thickness 0.1-0.3 mm), light commercial or semi-commercial(31-32 grade; 0.4-0.5 mm) and commercial(33 class and beyond; not less than 0.6 mm). The coating class is determined not only by the thickness of the transparent layer, but also by compliance with many other requirements. Therefore, even at home, there may be zones corresponding to class 31 or even 32 in terms of load (for example, a kitchen or a corridor)

However, as you can understand, due to the small thickness, compare the transparent layer of two different linoleums on the eye is not so easy for a layman. Therefore, it is better to focus on wear resistance classes.

- What linoleum will not stretch?

Well, this flaw is definitely a ghost of the past. The "skeleton" for most modern coatings is fiberglass. It is located in the middle of the "pie" and ensures the stability of linear dimensions. It is thanks to fiberglass that linoleum does not shrink or stretch. Unfortunately, today coatings without fiberglass can still be found on the Russian market, but they are quite easy to "identify".

- What characteristics should you pay attention to?

We have already said that modern linoleum has several layers ev. The thickest of them is the back. Most often it is made of PVC foam, also called the base. Back - because it is located on the back of the fiberglass. Several important characteristics depend on it at once. First, sound and heat insulation. And the thicker the foam, the warmer the floor. You can navigate by the total thickness of the coating, which is mainly determined by the back layer. At the same time, these characteristics depend on the density of the foam. The smaller it is, the more sound and heat insulation. But during operation, the buyer is unlikely to feel the difference, which is determined by the density of the foam, since the very presence of a foamed base already makes the linoleum warm.

Further, the base provides the linoleum with resistance to deformation - from heels, furniture legs, etc. So that after such point loads there are no traces left, the base must have sufficient density. And the greater the density, the more resistant the linoleum will be to such influences. This parameter can be estimated by comparing the weight of several coatings with the same thickness (the heaviest material is the densest). Another way to squeeze linoleum with your fingers. The less the thickness of the coating changes under pressure, the higher the density of the base and vice versa.

The basis of foamed PVC is sometimes supplemented by a duplicating polyester. The main advantage of combining these materials is when used in country houses seasonal residence. A layer of polyester, located under a layer of foam, protects it from freezing. This is important because PVC foam does not tolerate freeze-thaw cycles well. Polyester also provides reliable protection. Stratification is excluded here, since both materials are interconnected at molecular level. Thus, coatings on a duplicated basis - perfect choice for gardeners.

- Are there linoleums that are best suited for specific spaces, such as the kitchen?

In addition to wear resistance, it is worth paying attention to the additional protection of the material. Large manufacturers apply another additional layer on top of the transparency. protective layer- varnish. Covering micro-irregularities, it greatly facilitates cleaning, preventing the penetration of dirt into the structure of the coating, which is very important in the kitchen. In this case, matte and glossy varnish is used. The latter at any time gives the impression of a freshly washed floor. Tarkett has, for example, products with a combined lacquered. Glossy and matte areas alternate according to the pattern, creating an original effect. Another protective layer - antibacterial - may be relevant for the kitchen or nursery. Its mechanism of action is simple and does not involve any side effects. Upon contact with air moisture, silver ions are released from the layer, which have antibacterial properties. Thus, the reproduction of microbes on the floor surface becomes impossible. Usually similar virtues manufacturers do not hide, so you just need to read the label more carefully.

First, of course, the color scheme should match the use of the room. Cold light shades visually enlarge the space, warm ones make the room more comfortable. A bright contrast pattern is invigorating, while a monotonous pattern is soothing. For example, a living room in warm muted colors encourages relaxation, reflection, calm communication, and in intense cold colors with clear elements, it gives energy and sets the mood for friendly parties. All this applies to flooring. Especially if a complete change of interior begins with linoleum. But even if the task is simply to update the floor, then here you can achieve excellent result. The coating will visually enlarge the room if you choose small tiles as a pattern for a small kitchen. The same effect is obtained by placing any "tile" or "board" pattern diagonally. The abstract design of the floor remarkably emphasizes the dignity of interior items - furniture, decorative elements. Fans of everything original can pick up linoleum with a voluminous, three-dimensional design. It is created by fusing pieces of PVC (called "chips") into transparency, as well as other artistic techniques.

Now we are armed enough with knowledge to go to the store. Guided by the expert's answers: how to choose linoleum, any buyer can choose quality linoleum that meets all requirements.

Linoleum, which is one of the most popular materials for arranging floors in a residential area, is very widely represented in many trade enterprises, which allows you to decorate the interior in strict accordance with the tastes of each homeowner. Knowing how to choose the right linoleum, you can choose a variant of this versatile flooring that would both match personal preferences and have excellent performance.

So, what points should be decided when choosing linoleum. We tell.

First question: where do we put it?

Since the linoleum options offered for sale differ significantly in their qualities, depending on the place of installation, they can be conditionally divided into the following groups:

for flooring in - it is best to use polyvinyl chloride linoleum here: the high resistance of such a material, the possibility of processing it with chemicals - which is especially important when fats get on it - allows you to keep the cleanliness and beauty of the flooring. The presence of a protective top layer increases the degree of resistance mechanical influences and aggressive substances

flooring in living rooms is best done with multi-layer linoleum on a foam base: the presence of increased noise and heat insulating properties ensures that the required temperature is maintained in the room and the absence of extraneous sounds.

A discreet pattern is preferable for the kitchen, but in the rooms you can already select a pattern on linoleum to your taste: in a flower, “under the parquet” - any options in the living room will look great, emphasizing the individuality of the room, its style and the owner’s taste.

Question two: what is the optimal roll width and what are its other dimensional characteristics?

When deciding which linoleum to choose for an apartment, you should pay close attention to the width of the roll. The standard sizes are in the range of 1.5-4.0 m at a step of 0.5 m. The material consumption when laying on the floor, as well as the degree of complexity of cutting and the number (they still have to be repaired) largely depend on the width!

Usually, the length of one sheet of linoleum in a roll is 3 m or more, which allows you to cut a piece of the required length and thereby minimize material consumption during installation.

The thickness of the coating can also vary significantly: from 1.6 to 5.0 mm. The average thickness of linoleum intended for laying in a living room can be considered 2.5 mm.

Binder material - question three

When choosing linoleum, which will be laid in rooms with high traffic (corridors, rooms without carpets), you should focus on options that are as resistant to abrasion as possible. All types of alkyd linoleum with high rates of heat and sound insulation perfectly retain their initial qualities and appearance. However, their low resistance to moisture makes this option not very suitable for the kitchen.

Linoleum made of PVC is considered the most resistant to moisture. On the shelves of trade enterprises, it is represented quite widely. As practice shows, the slightly higher cost of this type of flooring is a direct consequence of its improved qualities.

Color solution

The variety of colors of linoleum is pleasing to the eye, but it also makes the choice difficult. Linoleum with a simple ornament (“under the parquet”, in squares) is the easiest to cut. In this respect, import options differ from domestic brands V positive side. The convenience of their installation lies in the fact that the pattern on imported linoleums is often applied in such a way that the opposite edges of the roll have a pattern that is a continuation of itself.

The main rule for choosing an ornament when choosing linoleum is that a large pattern looks most impressive in large rooms, and a small pattern will “play” in small rooms.

Wallpaper matching and colors flooring creates a harmonious impression of the room. Therefore, when choosing, it is necessary to take into account the prevailing color in the room.

When deciding which linoleum is better to choose, you should adhere to following tips from professionals:

You should buy linoleum a little more than is required according to the measurements of the room being made out.
The presence of a quality certificate can protect the buyer from low-quality fake having low hygienic and operational properties.
You can check the quality of the selected type of linoleum as follows: wrinkle a small sample of it in your hand. In the absence of creases, pronounced cracks and loss of color brightness, we can safely talk about the high quality of the product.
The choice of PVC foam coating samples will provide more long term linoleum service due to the lack of its contact with concrete slab gender.
The clarity of the applied pattern, the absence of its blurring also speaks of the high quality of the material.

The rating of the main brands of this flooring, compiled by experts, will undoubtedly help guide you in the selection of linoleum.

The following video will certainly help you navigate the world of linoleums:

Choosing a floor covering for your home is always a difficult process, because just looking at the color is not enough, you also need to have an idea about its quality and application features.

We will talk about which linoleum is better for an apartment and why, as well as about the varieties of this material, later in the article.

What to prefer among the variety of materials

Since there is a huge selection of linoleums on the market, it is impossible to pick up best option for all occasions. Each type of coating has its own characteristics, designed for use in certain conditions.

Therefore, when answering the question of how to choose the right linoleum, one should take into account its class and type, as well as where it will be used.

Linoleum classification

Depending on the main component, linoleum is divided into:

alkyd;
natural;
nitrocellulose;
polyvinyl chloride;
rubber.

Of course, the best linoleum for residential premises is natural, as well as PVC. Both one and the other can be found on sale in construction stores. However, at a price, natural material will cost much more than synthetic linoleum.

Most safe linoleum- it is, of course, natural, because it does not contain chemical components and does not emit any toxins and odors.

Natural linoleum has a number of advantages:

antistatic, that is, does not accumulate electricity;
wear-resistant;
durable;
not subject to mechanical abrasion and tear-resistant;
practically incombustible;
resistant to alkalis and acids;
attractive in appearance;
environmentally friendly and safe for health.

Nevertheless, in fairness, we note a few negative points in the operation of natural linoleum. Firstly, such material does not tolerate sharp temperature fluctuations - it begins to deteriorate and crumble. Secondly, it is sensitive to permanently low temperatures- becomes brittle and brittle.

Therefore, even good quality natural linoleum is not recommended to be laid in country houses where people live permanently only in the summer.

In addition, the material made from natural fibers is afraid of moisture, because because of it, fungus and mold begin to grow on the back of the coating, and the fibers begin to rot.

For the premises of the apartment, which differ high humidity and intensity of use, such as kitchens, bathrooms, hallways, it is advisable to choose high-quality PVC-based linoleum.

Although the PVC coating is completely synthetic, it differs in a number of ways. positive qualities, such as:

acceptable price;
rich palette of colors and textures;
a wide range of sizes and shapes;
resistance to the formation of fungus and decay;
mechanical strength and resistance to abrasion;
good heat and sound insulation.

If you are in doubt about how to choose linoleum by color for the interior, with PVC coated you won't have any problems. Since this material is available in a wide variety of colors, you can easily find exactly what you need in a particular case. According to the structure, PVC linoleum is divided into heterogeneous and homogeneous.

Homogeneous PVC linoleum

This type of material assumes that its composition is uniform throughout the thickness of the coating. That is, during the manufacturing process, granulated polyvinyl chloride is mixed with colorants. Thus, the distribution of the pattern is achieved not only on the surface, but throughout the entire thickness of the linoleum.

This quality of the homogeneous material allows it to be used for more than 10 years, while the appearance of the coating remains unchanged.

heterogeneous linoleum

This type of material is a multilayer coating. As a rule, the number of layers can be up to 6. Applications for these coatings include both domestic and commercial use. The main components of such a material are fiberglass and polyvinyl chloride granules.

A number of materials include several dissimilar materials, such as natural fibers as a substrate, PVC foam as an interlayer, non-woven fabric, and others. Such a complex structure of the floor covering is produced in order to optimize its characteristics, reduce thermal conductivity and enhance noise-absorbing qualities.

It is noteworthy that linoleum with a heterogeneous structure can be used both in residential premises and in utility rooms.

Scopes of PVC linoleum

You can answer the question of how to choose linoleum for an apartment in terms of quality if you consider in detail the distribution of varieties of this coating by application.

So, according to the intensity of use, linoleum can be distinguished:

domestic;
semi-commercial;
commercial;
special purpose.

Household linoleum

Such material is intended for laying in rooms where the load level is low. The basis for the manufacture of such material is foamed polyester.

The thickness of the household type of PVC linoleum ranges from 1-4 mm. The service life of this material is short, therefore, after 5 years, the floor covering requires a complete replacement.

A somewhat more complex structure has coatings for domestic use based on polyvinyl chloride.

Advantages of household PVC linoleum:

ease of installation;
weakly conducts vibration and extraneous noise;
soft;
does not require specialized care during use;
wide range color solutions and invoices.

semi-commercial linoleum

Solving the problem of how to choose good linoleum, it is worth dwelling in more detail on this type of coating. In structure, this type of linoleum is similar to household one, that is, it contains a base, a layer of decor and protection.

However, for semi commercial linoleum a protective layer thickness of 1 mm is inherent, which allows it to be used in rooms with increased load, for example, in offices, as well as in public places (details: ""). Optimally, such linoleum is also suitable for laying in residential premises.

commercial linoleum

Such material is characterized by higher strength, since it is intended for rooms where the load on it is extremely high.

Commercial linoleum has a high degree of wear resistance, however, the number of textures and colors is very small (read also: ""). Although such materials were originally made for use in public places with maximum load, no one forbids choosing such a coating for the home.

The advantage of commercial linoleum over domestic is the presence of a large range of material sizes.

Special Purpose Linoleum

This group of materials contains coatings used for sports halls, medical institutions or commercial organizations. Each of the linoleum models from this category is adapted to certain operating conditions inherent in any particular area.

In particular, linoleums are made with antibacterial protection that can protect family members from infection with infectious diseases.

Regardless of which linoleum is better to choose for laying in a particular room, the installation of such a coating is not particularly difficult and can be done independently.

The subfloor under the linoleum should be perfectly flat. Although household linoleum is easier to handle due to its smaller thickness, it is very demanding on the quality of the base, since even the smallest flaws will be clearly visible.

Laying commercial linoleum does not require special tools, so it can be done by hand. In this case, it is only important to carefully fix the coating on the subfloor.

Since the household type of coating has a small weight and small thickness, it is successfully used to fix it. Double-sided tape, mastic or glue.

At the same time, only mastic or glue can be used for semi-commercial, commercial and special types of linoleum - tape is not suitable in this case.

Another difference between the types of linoleum is the method of fastening the seams.

In particular, the seams of household linoleum can be masked cold welding. But for all other materials you will need special equipment, since their thickness does not allow the use of adhesive compositions.

Results

Thus, if you decide to make repairs in the apartment and prefer to lay linoleum, then when choosing a coating, be based primarily on your aesthetic preferences. Carefully choose the color and texture of the coating to match the style of your interior.

Linoleum is a publicly available democratic material that has been used to cover floors for the second century. Despite the variety of existing floor coverings, linoleum is still quite popular in our country today. This is natural, because it is interesting in design, easy to install and relatively cheap. This flooring differs from others in its softness and springiness, and at the same time it is durable - it does not crack, like, for example, wood or ceramic flooring. Today, the consumer has a huge choice various kinds this flooring, and, as you know, a competent choice of linoleum is the key to the durability of this material. How to choose linoleum and what to look for when buying it, so as not to worry about wasted money later? This is what we will try to understand in this article.

The color and texture of linoleum - important criterion choice

Criteria for choosing linoleum

When purchasing linoleum for your home, you need to focus on the following selection criteria:
1. Does the coating correspond to its purpose (for a nursery, hallway, kitchen, bedroom, bathroom).
2. Will it withstand the load on the floor, given the number of residents and the degree of patency of the place.
3. Does the selected coating meet the requirements (antistatic, thermal insulation, moisture resistance, noise absorption, antibacterial properties).
4. Does it fit into the design of the apartment (it can be monophonic, with an abstract pattern, or imitating various textures - fabric, wood, tile, stone, etc.).

In terms of color and texture, the traditional solution for these premises is linoleum for ceramic tiles.

Living room

In the living room, traffic is moderate. Therefore, linoleum with a thickness of 1.5 mm will be optimal.

Household linoleum in the living room

Bedroom

For a bedroom, as a room with low traffic, you can choose thinner linoleum - from 1.2 to 1.5 mm thick.

Polyester-based household linoleum is well suited for the bedroom.

The best option is polyester household linoleum or linoleum on a foamed polyvinyl chloride base.

Children's room

A children's room is considered a room with an average degree of traffic, but with a high degree of probability of mechanical damage.

PVC foam linoleum in the children's room

Therefore, in a room for children, you can lay household linoleum on a polyvinyl chloride foam base, and even better - semi-commercial linoleum with a protective top layer of at least 0.25 mm.

Balcony

On the balcony, in the unheated loggia, as well as in the veranda and garden gazebo any linoleum will deteriorate very quickly, since this material does not tolerate direct sunlight and temperature extremes.

Choice of decor and colors

Linoleum is attractive with an endless palette of designs and colors. Manufacturers give natural linoleum bright, juicy colors, not fading over time. The decorative possibilities of synthetic linoleum are even better. It can imitate natural materials such as stone, wood, ceramic tiles very authentically.

Dense semi-commercial linoleum imitating ceramic tiles

Recently, types of decor that imitate expensive parquet or parquet board. Linoleum perfectly reproduces oak, beech, cherry, and even such exotic tree species as, for example, zebrano, bamboo, rosewood. Flooring reproduces both the pattern and the texture of natural wood.
Linoleum is in great demand, imitating wood mosaics and solid boards.
Bold and extraordinary people will choose fantasy decors and unusual colors.

Fantasy linoleum decor - for bold and extraordinary people

For those who like to experiment with interior design, manufacturers offer original geometric and abstract patterns.
Linoleum looks very impressive, imitating stone - granite or marble.

Looks impressive linoleum, imitating stone - granite or marble

Sometimes there are coatings that reproduce artificially "aged" materials - wood with traces of time or worn stone.

Consider how to choose the right linoleum for your home.
1. First of all, let's trust our sense of smell: the presence of a pungent odor indicates the poor quality of the coating and that it contains additives that are harmful to health. High-quality natural and synthetic linoleum does not smell of anything. In addition, a good linoleum should not have a greasy sheen, the pattern on it should be distinct and look natural, the optimal number of layers is at least five.
2. The width of the coating canvas should, as a rule, match the size of the room. But you need to take it with a margin - to adjust the pattern, trim the panel at the joints. When calculating, it is necessary to take into account the presence of thresholds, niches for batteries, and other ledges in the room.
3. It is recommended to buy the coating not on the market, but rather in a heated room. In the store, it is also more convenient to check its quality.
4. It is worth checking the coverage for compliance with safety standards. The material that has passed a special examination has the appropriate marking, and the seller must have a hygienic certificate.
5. You need to check the quality in a rolled form to see if there are waves and bumps on the surface, or areas where the top film is peeling off. These indicators indicate a marriage, you cannot buy such a coating, the existing irregularities will not be smoothed out in any way.
6. When buying the same linoleum in several rooms, it is better to purchase it in one piece. But at the same time, it is necessary to first calculate whether it will be possible to bring a long roll into the room and whether it will be possible to transport it through narrow openings and stairs.
7. It is strictly forbidden to fold the panels in half. Do not stick adhesive tape on the front surface, as it will leave a sticky residue that is difficult to remove. The linoleum is rolled upside down, and if it is rolled upside down, the roll must be wrapped with a protective film.
8. When choosing a coating, preference should be given to linoleum, which has a special protective layer. Such linoleum is easy to clean and will retain its beautiful appearance for a long time.
9. Samples of linoleum, if possible, should be examined in the room where it will be laid. This is convenient for a more accurate selection of the appropriate tone in the interior (cold or), because it is not so easy to do this from memory.
10. All purchased linoleum must be from the same batch, since different batches sometimes differ in color, even when their article numbers are completely the same.
All the above tips, recommendations and explanations will help you make a successful purchase of linoleum from any price segment.