The design of the room not only creates a mood and improves the perception of the surrounding world, but also can tell a lot about the owners of the room. If the view of a house or apartment could be depicted in a play, then the flooring would be in the supporting roles. However, the perception of the whole play would depend on his “play”. Paul not only concludes, leads everything around, but also takes on almost the entire burden of the weight of the actors of the first plan: the furniture.
In this path, linoleum is a completely universal actor. And if once his game was cheap and of poor quality, today he has no equal in reincarnations. It is environmentally friendly, can be both natural and artificial, transform into any material or be itself. Meet linoleum - the king of the floor, the winner of the "Oscar" for the game of the second plan in the design of the premises.
What is the best linoleum?
However, not all linoleum is good. Good, high-quality material still needs to be able to choose. For this flooring, there are several recommendations that will help you figure out which linoleum is best. We are talking about the quality of the coating, because it has to withstand considerable loads.
- Appointment of linoleum. The European notation system divides linoleum according to its purpose. There are 3 main purposes:
- Large industrial buildings, plants, factories, warehouse and logistics complexes. This group is indicated by the number 4 or a pictogram in the form of a plant with a pipe.
- The second group - offices of various types, hotels, banquet halls, shopping malls, educational institutions, airport halls, etc. This group is indicated by the number 3 or the pictogram of a high-rise building.
- All private, residential buildings are indicated by the number 2 and have a pictogram in the form of a small 2-storey building.
The purpose of linoleum also determines its price, the stronger and more durable the material, the more expensive it is. However, recommended use does not mean mandatory. For a private house, you can choose linoleum with any purpose, but for large shopping malls, linoleum with the purpose of "private house" is definitely not suitable.
- Abrasion class. In addition to the purpose, each group has 3 classes of abrasion or wear resistance. They are also indicated either by numbers or by pictograms of little men. First class, number 1, 1 man - light load; second class - middle; third class - high load. The purpose and load class for abrasion are applied side by side, complementing one another. So for the most accessible part of the apartment, the corridor at the entrance, assignment 2 and load 3 are suitable, general designation: 23. As well as with the appointment, you can choose any larger class for the premises, the main thing is no less than necessary.
- Additional protective coating. Of the two copies with the same purpose and load classes, how to choose linoleum that will last a long time and will not cause trouble. It is worth paying attention to the additional protective layer. It is offered mainly by proven, time-tested manufacturers. For all manufacturers, it is called and designated differently, therefore it is not worth listing the names. It is only necessary to say that the best linoleum is likely to have such a layer.
- Quality certificates. How to choose linoleum that will not emit harmful substances, does not cause allergies, keeps its shape, does not crack? Pay attention to quality certificates. High-quality products of European manufacturers are certified according to European standards EN, domestic - according to GOSTs. Information about this must be indicated on the label.
- manufacturer and cost. You can buy good linoleum from a responsible manufacturer. The cost of quality material is sometimes comparable to the price of handicraft. How to find a good linoleum, the label will tell. It must contain the address of the manufacturer, his contacts, all information about the product, its service life.
How to choose linoleum for an apartment
You need to choose linoleum for an apartment depending on the number of people living in it and on the purpose of the rooms. For a family of 2-3 people in the walk-through areas, you need to lay linoleum of class 23 and above. In the rest rooms, 22 classes will be enough. If the apartment has an office, a dressing room or a library, class 21 will show itself quite well there. For a larger family, it is better to choose linoleum of higher classes.
The main thing is to choose high-quality linoleum for an apartment, because it will not sell through heavy furniture, and household members will not choke on unpleasant odors or suffer from allergies.
Thanks to various patterns and textures, you can visually increase the area of a small apartment, brighten a dark room or delimit zones in a room. Colors and shades set the mood of the rooms. Warm and muted tones will pacify, create coziness. And bright, saturated ones are conducive to creativity, play, active pastime.
For kitchen
The kitchen in an apartment or house stands apart for a reason. This room is extremely demanding on the flooring. The level of load on it is higher than in all other rooms; in this regard, even the entrance corridor cannot be compared with the kitchen. Therefore, you need to choose linoleum for the kitchen from class 31 and above. And 31 - for small apartments for 1-2 people. Why is that?
Linoleum in the kitchen is subject not only to the usual load from passing people. This is a room with an unnatural microclimate: humidity and high temperature. Under these conditions, various microorganisms feel great. Therefore, it is good if the linoleum for the kitchen also has an antibacterial coating.
In the kitchen, various abrasive materials, grease, acids, and dyes often get on the floor. High-quality linoleum for the kitchen must meekly withstand all the burdens. What kind of linoleum to choose for the kitchen, so that it meets all the requirements without exception? Kitchen linoleum must be with an additional protective layer and must be certified.
The color scheme of linoleum for the kitchen is also slightly different from the general apartment. If you want your family to have a good appetite, choose warm colors, like to sit with your family in the kitchen and have a quiet dinner, enjoying your time - look at calm, neutral, uniform tones.
How to choose linoleum for a private house
It would seem, what difference does it make where the floor is located, in an apartment or in a house. But there is a difference. First of all, in the load, the abrasion of the surface layer. In private houses, with the same number of residents, the load on the surface is higher than in apartments. Therefore, you need to choose linoleum for a house of higher classes than for an apartment. For rest rooms, class 23-31 is suitable, for common areas - 31-32, for rooms with increased load (furnace, corridor, warm veranda, kitchen) - 33 and above.
The design of linoleum for the home is often chosen to match the overall interior. Recently, it has become fashionable to create a natural, ecological interior from natural materials. If finances allow, you can lay natural linoleum on the floor, it is much more durable and stronger than its PVC counterpart. However, its colors leave much to be desired.
If you choose PVC linoleum for your home without saving on quality, it will last for many years. And it can be matched to the color and pattern of the walls, imitating wood, stone, brick, various ceramics. For the attic, designers offer an interesting option - light walls and light linoleum, this will visually expand the attic, avoid the "overhanging" of the walls.
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 softness and springiness, and at the same time it is durable - it does not crack, like, for example, wood or ceramic flooring. Today, a huge selection of different types of this flooring is available to the consumer, and, as you know, a competent choice of linoleum is a guarantee of 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 is an important selection criterion
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 a balcony, in an unheated loggia, as well as in a veranda and a garden gazebo, any linoleum will deteriorate very quickly, since this material does not tolerate direct sunlight and temperature changes.
Choice of decor and colors
Linoleum is attractive with an endless palette of designs and colors. Manufacturers give natural linoleum bright, rich colors that do not fade 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 boards have become very popular. Linoleum perfectly reproduces oak, beech, cherry, and even such exotic tree species as, for example, zebrano, bamboo, rosewood. At the same time, the 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.
Reading 6 min. Published on 09.10.2018
Linoleum refers to budget floor coverings with a long service life. Moreover, today you can choose almost any color. All this makes linoleum really popular.
In order for such a coating to last as long as possible and please the eye, it is necessary to take its acquisition responsibly.
Varieties
Today, several varieties of linoleum are on sale. They have advantages and disadvantages, as well as certain features of use. This must be taken into account when buying.
natural linoleum
For its manufacture, linseed oil, a mixture of cork and wood flour, special limestone powder, pine resin and dyes of natural origin are used.
The basis is jute fabric. Since this type of linoleum is environmentally friendly, it can be used in apartments where asthmatics, allergy sufferers and children live.
Advantages:
- abrasion resistance;
- environmental friendliness;
- preservation of color and structure for a long time;
- bactericidal properties;
- incombustibility;
- simple care;
- rich selection of colors.
Flaws:
- brittleness, due to which cracks can form during bending;
- not recommended for use in rooms with a high level of humidity;
- high price.
PVC linoleum
The basis of such a floor covering is a woven or non-woven base with thermal insulation properties. It should be noted that today even domestic products are created taking into account the latest European technologies.
Advantages:
- the presence of dielectric properties;
- low thermal conductivity;
- environmental friendliness;
- resistance to decay;
- a large selection of shades and patterns;
- ease of installation.
Flaws:
- sensitivity to elevated temperatures;
- instability to alkalis and various chemical solvents;
- decrease in elasticity with a drop in temperature.
Synthetic linoleum
There are three types of such flooring:
- Commercial - designed for office space. It is quite durable and wear resistant. The service life is approximately 20 years.
- Semi-commercial - can be used in apartments and offices. Service life fluctuates within 7-20 years.
- Household - quite thin and cheap. Used in residential areas. The service life is a maximum of 5 years.
Glyptal linoleum
Created by applying alkyd resin to a special fabric base.
The advantage is considered to be excellent heat and sound insulation properties, the disadvantage is the fragility and complexity of installation.
Colloxylin linoleum
The basis of such flooring is nitrocellulose.
The advantages of this type are elasticity, incombustibility and moisture resistance. The disadvantages include a tendency to shrink and sensitivity to temperature changes.
Linoleum relin
Such linoleum consists of two layers: crushed rubber with bitumen and a mixture of pigment, rubber and a special filler.
The advantage of relin linoleum is considered to be increased moisture resistance and elasticity. The disadvantages include the presence of harmful volatile substances in the coating, which is why such material is not recommended for flooring in residential premises.
Marking and thickness
To find out how to choose linoleum for an apartment, you need to understand the markings. The first digit has the following meanings:
- 1 - rooms with low traffic;
- 2 - apartments;
- 3 - offices;
- 4 - various production facilities.
The second digit in the marking is the expected load. A one is considered the lowest, and a four is considered the highest. Accordingly, class 23 or 24 is suitable for the hallway, and 21 for the bedroom.
It is also necessary to pay attention to the protective layer, namely its thickness. This indicator should be at least 0.25 mm.
If the linoleum will be laid on a perfectly flat surface, then you can take a thin material. Otherwise, more thickness will be required.
Linoleum for an apartment
For residential premises, most often they buy natural or synthetic material. To choose the most suitable option, it is worth considering in which room it will be used.
Hallway
This room has a high level of traffic. Therefore, it is better to choose a coating with a minimum thickness of 3 mm. The protective layer of the material must be at least 0.25 mm.
If you choose the maximum thickness, then the attractive appearance of linoleum will remain unchanged for a very long time.
For the hallway, a semi-commercial variety is usually chosen. Experts recommend taking only PVC coating for the hallway. It is characterized by increased strength and resistance to decay.
Kitchen
Some apartment owners prefer not to puzzle over the question of how to choose linoleum for the kitchen.
They immediately buy a semi-commercial coating, which is designed for medium and high traffic areas. Also suitable for this purpose is household linoleum, the basis of which is foamed polyvinyl chloride.
For the kitchen, natural flooring is often chosen. Its main advantage is a long service life, as well as the preservation of the main characteristics and original appearance. This coating can be washed with various detergents. All kitchen dirt is removed very easily.
Living room
The traffic in this room is average. Accordingly, linoleum with a thickness of 1.5-2 mm is suitable. The thickness of the special protective layer must be at least 0.15 mm.
As a rule, in the living room there is a high probability of various mechanical damages, so it is advisable to use an inexpensive material based on polyester.
White linoleum for the living room is considered not the best option. This color can be safely used only in the absence of pets and small children.
Children's
If children live in the apartment, the choice of linoleum should be taken very responsibly.
Since babies often crawl on the floor, natural material should be purchased. At the same time, the thickness of the coating should be at least 3 mm, because in the children's room the probability of various damage to linoleum is very high.
The protective layer must have a foam base and a thickness of at least 0.25 mm.
Bedroom
Those who do not know how to choose linoleum for the bedroom often mistakenly buy thick material.
In fact, a coating with a thickness of about 1.5 mm will be quite enough, because there is a low level of patency. The basis of the covering for the bedroom can be polyester or foam. The thickness of the protective layer should be 0.15-0.2 mm.
If the budget allows, you should pay attention to natural material. Firstly, it is more durable, and secondly, it has antimicrobial properties.
Many consumers are interested in how to choose high quality linoleum. This is easy to do if you take into account certain nuances.
First you need to decide for which room you need the material. Based on this, a list of required characteristics is created. In order for linoleum to fit into the interior, you need to carefully approach the choice of shade and pattern.
- Before buying, be sure to smell the coating. A strong smell indicates the presence of harmful substances in the composition. Quality material does not smell at all. In addition, it does not have a greasy sheen, and the drawing itself looks very distinct.
- The width of the canvas should correspond to the size of the room. Despite this, the material should be taken with a margin, because sometimes you have to adjust the pattern or cut the panel at the joints. It is also worth considering all thresholds, ledges and niches for batteries.
- The coating must comply with safety standards. The material that has passed the examination has a certain marking. In addition, the seller must provide the appropriate certificate.
It is necessary to check the quality of the panels only in rolled form. This will help to determine the presence of bumps, waves or peeling of the film. If these defects were found, such a coating is considered defective. It's not worth buying.
- When choosing linoleum, you need to think in advance whether it will be possible to bring the entire roll into the room. It is also worth deciding on the method of transportation.
- In order for linoleum to retain its original appearance longer, you should purchase a coating with a protective layer.
- The sheets cannot be folded in half. It is also forbidden to stick adhesive tape on the top layer, because it will leave a mark on the surface. If at the time of purchase the roll was rolled upside down, then it must be additionally wrapped with a protective film.
Linoleum remains one of the most popular floor coverings. Many, when repairing an apartment, are faced with the need to select the right coverage, and many questions arise here, since there are a lot of varieties of linoleum. In this article we will tell you how to choose linoleum for an apartment and specifically for each type of room.
Natural or artificial material
Before starting the selection, it is necessary to clearly define what type of linoleum you will use, natural or artificial. Natural linoleum includes such components as:
- wood flour;
- natural resins;
- Linseed oil;
- natural dyes.
Of course, this material is environmentally friendly, meets all fire safety standards, and is easily cleaned from various types of contaminants. However, the cost of such material is an order of magnitude higher than that of artificial analogues. The natural coating does not conduct electricity and practically does not shrink after installation.
The composition of artificial linoleum includes polyvinyl chloride and many other chemical components. Household and semi-commercial material is safe, but when exposed to temperatures above 27 degrees, it begins to exude toxic substances. In addition, it has a much greater shrinkage than natural, but it is much cheaper.
Important. When repairing apartments, experts do not recommend laying commercial and rubber linoleum in residential premises, since environmental safety requirements for them are underestimated and their use is only permissible in office buildings with good ventilation.
Linoleum class selection
When deciding which linoleum to choose for an apartment and specific rooms, you need to study the coverage classes:
- In rooms with low traffic, such as a bedroom or study, you can lay linoleum of 21-22 wear resistance class;
- In the living room, you can lay a floor of class 22, if 1-2 people live in the apartment. If the family is large, then it is better to use class 23;
- For children's rooms, class 21 is used if there is a small child or class 22-23 if there are several children;
- In the presence of a large family and the frequent reception of guests, it is better to use class 31-32 linoleum in living rooms and hallways.
Note. The higher the class of coverage, the higher its cost.. If you have limited financial resources, then you should not buy coverage of a larger class than the room requires.
Selection of linoleum for a specific room
Kitchen linoleum
When choosing a linoleum coating for the kitchen, you need to be guided by two main criteria, the material's resistance to mechanical stress and moisture resistance. The best solution for the kitchen will be natural linoleum, which also has the name "marmoleum". This is a natural fabric-based coating, which is usually used as jute. This linoleum will last long enough, has high strength and makes it possible to easily remove various contaminants using modern detergents.
If financial possibilities do not allow the use of a natural coating, then you can also buy synthetic linoleum, only at the time of purchase it is necessary to clarify the service life of the material. You should not save on kitchen linoleum, make sure that the material meets GOST standards and quality certificates from the manufacturer.
Important. When deciding which linoleum for an apartment to use in the kitchen, take into account the opinion of experts who recommend using a semi-commercial coating. This linoleum has a durable decorative layer, reinforced protective coating and has sufficient density to withstand accidental drops of kitchen utensils.
Usually, for the kitchen, material is chosen that imitates natural stone, parquet boards or ceramic tiles. It must be remembered that increased antiseptic indicators are needed for the kitchen. Natural linoleum itself is an antiseptic due to the use of flax. With synthetic coatings, it is necessary to use a substrate with antiseptic characteristics, such as jute.
Important. Try to choose the width of the roll in such a way that the coating does not have joints, since this is the most vulnerable point of the material with the features of the kitchen.
Linoleum for the corridor and hallway
The most vulnerable linoleum in the apartment is in the corridor and hallway, since these are the premises with the highest traffic, which greatly accelerates the process of abrasion of the coating. If one or two people live in the apartment, then it makes no sense to overpay and you can use coverage of class 22-23.
With a large family and high traffic in the premises, the coating must have at least 0.25 mm of the protective layer and a thickness of at least 4 mm. The most reliable option would be to use a class 31-32 coating, which is also used in office premises with low traffic.
Important. Before laying the material in the hallway, make sure that the floor is a perfectly flat surface that does not have bulges and depressions. Use PVC backing or cork. A jute or linen backing is not recommended, since it has a low density and will only increase the abrasion of the coating.
Linoleum for an office or bedroom
Soft foam coating is the best linoleum for an apartment that can be laid in a bedroom or office. In these rooms, the minimum permeability and the density of the material can be sacrificed for the sake of the maximum level of comfort. For these purposes, a class 21 household artificial surface is used, which has a foamed PVC base, as well as a single-layer material laid on a soft jute or linen substrate.
Note. In the children's bedroom, it is strongly recommended to use only the natural coating of the household series with a stronger base of grade 22-23, since an active child creates a considerable load and mechanical impact on the coating when playing with toys.
Linoleum for the living room
When choosing which linoleum is best for an apartment, household or semi-commercial when laying in the living room, one must proceed from the degree of load on the coating. For example. If a large family of 4-5 people lives in the apartment or the owners often like to receive guests, then it is better to lay semi-commercial class 31-32 linoleum, which is also used for the corridor. With frequent reception of guests, there is a high probability of damage to the linoleum, so you should not lay an expensive coating, since it will have to be changed after 7-9 years of operation.
But if 1-2 people live in an apartment, then the patency of the room is minimal and a household coating of class 22-23 with a protective coating thickness of 0.15 to 0.20 mm is sufficient.
Tatyana, city of Voronezh
During the renovation, synthetic linoleum was laid in the hallway and a linen backing was used. On the coating were clearly visible traces of not only my heels, but also from my husband's shoes, which disappeared over time. Initially, they thought that they had got low-quality linoleum and wanted to make a claim to the store. But then it turned out that it was necessary to use a denser substrate. They changed jute to cork and the traces stopped appearing.
