Linoleum Flooring
Linoleum is a resilient flooring material, meaning that it compresses and yet bounces back when walked on, giving it a slight cushioning effect. Vinyl and cork are other types of resilient floorings.
Linoleum comes in glue-down sheets and snap-together tiles. It’s made from all natural, renewable materials including linseed oil, cork powder (which gives linoleum its bounce and resilience), pine resins and wood flour. Limestone dust may be added for hardness and durability. Pigment dyes give linoleum flooring various colors and patterns that range from subtle to vividly expressive.
Some manufacturers add a protective coating to their linoleum that helps protect the flooring from scratches and fading from exposure to sunlight. Without a coating, linoleum should be cleaned and waxed every two or three years to maintain its luster.
Although it’s often confused with vinyl flooring, sheet-type linoleum is a much stiffer material than sheet vinyl, which can make installation a challenge. DIYers may be better off opting for snap-together tiles that are designed as part of a floating floor system.
(1) In addition to being made with renewable materials, linoleum is biodegradable and won’t take up space in landfills.
(2) Linoleum does not emit harmful VOCs
(3) Linoleum flooring maintains it’s good looks because the pigments are throughout the thickness of the material, not just on the surface like vinyl and laminate floorings.
(4) Linoleum requires little maintenance, needing only occasional sweeping and damp mopping