We would like to use sheet linoleum flooring on our utility, bathroom,hall, kitchen. The utility room would be the first place a dripping wet person enters the house from the screened porch next to the pool, leading into the other mentioned rooms. Is linoleum a bad idea for those areas and that kind of traffic? We don’t want real high maintenance, but we would be willing to invest in a “buffing” machine to perform the “dry” maintenance that I’ve read about in the linoleum manufactureres literature.
We tried to find sheet vinyl with a linoleum look but most of it looks like simulated tile. We want a fun speckly retro look. We really like the Forbo Industries “marmoleum” and “artoleum”. I’ll soon be seeing some samples of Lonseal’s vinyl. There’s is only 12′ wide though, and requires chemical seams which I’m not sure will look good.
Does anyone have long term maintenance experience with linoleum?
Or do you know of any cool-looking vinyl. Armstrong’s new Urban Settings line looked pretty goofy to us when we received actual samples.
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What product are you calling linoleum? I'm not aware of any on the market.
To make linoleum, one would tack down a canvas to the floor and paint it with a pattern. Then to preserve it and make it washable, multiple coats of linseed oil (lending its name to lin-oil'um) were applied over the painted pattern.
Sheet vinyl and Congoleum type products are the choies now unless I'm missing something.
There are true linoleum's on the market.
I think that they are all made in Europe, but they are being marketed here.
Here are a couple of links to suppliers
http://www.armstrong.com/reslinoleumna/index.jsp
http://www.forbo-linoleum.com/home/index.html
I have no idea of what they cost.
Very interesting and some advantages over vinyl but I note that they recommend professional installation only and not for installation in bathrooms or below grade where excessive moisture can appear.
Every time I've been asking in a flooring store, they tell me that you can't buy true lino any more. Reading between the lines, it is harder to work with and subject to more callbacks.
They mnake it clear that it is a natural substance that will "bloom" or yellow and re-colour according to sunlight and can stain. It does require re polishing as upkeep but nicks and scrapes can be repaired Excellence is its own reward!
real lino does exist....not sure where it comes from...but it's spec'd in lotsa hospitals and such because of it's natural anticeptic qualities.
Jeff.......Sometimes on the toll road of life.....a handful of change is good.......
Forbo Industries makes a beautiful true linoleum. One called Marmoleum, one called Artoleum and I forget the other product name. It's a true linoleum in that it has a jute backing and it's made of wood powder and linseedoil (all natural, anti-microbial ingredients) It looks and feels great. Armstrong just came out with it's competition called Marmolette? something like that. It's nice but much more limited pattern choices.