How to choose linoleum for an apartment: proven recommendations from experts. Which linoleum is best for an apartment: expert opinion

When choosing flooring for your home, you need to approach this issue quite seriously. After all, it carries not only an aesthetic component, but is also a restraining element for loads.

Not all areas in the apartment are subject to the same impacts. The most trafficked areas, and therefore those that have the greatest load on the floor, are the corridor and the kitchen. The living room is a special room in which we not only spend our leisure time, but also receive guests. Therefore, the flooring in it should be not only practical, but also beautiful.

Varieties

For many years, linoleum has been the undoubted leader among floor coverings. It is suitable for any room, you just need to make the right choice. The hall is no exception.

Here are the main points you should pay attention to when choosing linoleum flooring for your living room.

There are several variations of linoleum types:

household: wear resistance class – 21-23, protective layer thickness – 0.3 mm, withstands light loads;
semi-commercial: wear resistance class – 31-32, protective layer thickness – 0.5 mm, withstands moderate loads;
commercial: wear resistance class – 33, protective layer thickness – 0.6 mm, withstands fairly large and long-term loads.

For the living room household linoleum will be enough, since the traffic of this room is small.

Great importance has material. There are products to choose from: polyvinyl chloride, rubber, natural, colloxylin, glyphthalic.

For the hall, choose PVC covering with jute or felt base. Professionals claim that such material the best way Suitable for living room.

There are several types of it:

homogeneous: has 1 layer with lime impurities and quartz sand. It is elastic and quite easy to shape. But due to its small thickness it quickly becomes unusable. In addition, all the unevenness of the floor is visible through it;
heterogeneous: consists of several layers, each of which performs its own function: protective, shock-absorbing, decorative.

Choose the second PVC covering option for the hall. It will hide floor defects, provide thermal insulation, and will last for quite a long time.

How to choose?

To choose high-quality flooring for your room, follow some recommendations:

During the cold season, it is better to purchase linoleum in a store rather than on the market, since it tends to deform under the influence of low temperatures. In addition, it is more convenient to inspect the canvas for defects in the store.
To find out what size the product you are purchasing should be, measure the area of your room and leave allowances of a few centimeters on all sides.

Pay attention to the smell. A quality product should not emit a “fragrance”. This is unacceptable for a recreation area.
This type of linoleum, such as marmoleum, cannot be ignored. It is made from natural materials and has two positive qualities: odorless and antibacterial effect. And this is very important if there are children in your house, because the living room often becomes their play area.
A product with an anti-slip layer is ideal for a living room if it does not have carpeting.

One thing should also be taken into account. If you choose linoleum not for an apartment, but for sports, concerts, assembly hall, then the selection criteria here are slightly different. The main thing we have to rely on is that all of the above classrooms have a high degree of traffic, that is, they are subject to large mechanical loads: walking, rearranging furniture, and the impact of heels. Therefore, the linoleum covering for these halls must, first of all, be durable.

For this purpose, choose at least a semi-commercial type, and preferably a commercial one, with anti-slip properties.

Color spectrum

After the choice on the structure of linoleum has been made, the most pleasant thing remains - deciding on the color. There are also some rules here.

If your living room is spacious enough, any colors will suit the floor: light, dark, bright. Moreover, dark shades will be more practical to use. If the living room is small in size, choose linoleum flooring light colors. They will visually expand the space and relieve the oppressive atmosphere.

It must be remembered that the floor, like any other part of the room, must be combined with the interior.

If your living room is designed in classic style, for it use linoleum in warm, discreet tones. For modern styles bolder solutions in the form of bright colors. And minimalism is favorably emphasized by floor coverings in black and white.

The floor can become the focal point in your room. If the interior items are made in a calm, discreet style, and there is no carpet, liven up the room with beautiful linoleum with an ornament or a large pattern.

Properly chosen, they can visually stretch or expand the space, if necessary.

If your floor is nevertheless decorated with a carpet, then the linoleum covering should be laid in a monochromatic and discreet manner so that it creates a background and favorably emphasizes the pattern of the carpet. It is also recommended to observe modesty in color if all components of the interior have rich, catchy tones.

It is difficult to imagine a less whimsical flooring than linoleum, which can serve long time without special care. However, modern repair and construction markets offer so much various options this flooring, that when choosing a floor covering like linoleum for an apartment, you can simply get confused. However, every potential buyer wants to get the maximum comfortable material at an affordable price and good quality.

There are enough qualities, each of which will play a dominant role in the choice for a particular buyer. Most often this is density, color scheme, pattern, width and some specifications linoleum. Much also depends on what room you plan to purchase flooring for.

In addition, you should pay attention to the base of the coating. Thermal insulation, sound insulation and the need for installation of the coating itself will depend on its presence and thickness. Some types of linoleum are so well prepared that they do not require any preparation at all.

Content:

Main types of linoleum and areas of their application

Speaking about the types of flooring, it should be noted that its classification can occur depending on its purpose, class, and thickness. Regarding the purpose, everything is very clear - you should buy it depending on the room for which it is needed. Linoleum is divided into three types, namely:

Domestic
Commercial
Semi-commercial

The most common type is household, which is used specifically in residential premises. The degree of its resistance is minimal, since it is intended specifically for human use for non-production purposes.

Second large group linoleum is represented by a commercial type, which is used for industrial enterprises. In fact, this is a special type of coating with increased strength. It washes unnoticed because it has a wide wear layer. Typically used in retail, medical, educational and other institutions where it will be used regularly.

The third most famous group is the semi-commercial type, which is characterized by an average strength class, located between household and commercial. It can be used in rooms where traffic is average or slightly above average. This type of coating is best suited for apartments in rooms such as a kitchen or hallway.

The coating can be divided depending on the type of material manufactured. For example, the most common linoleum is made from natural materials - resin, linseed oil, cork flour and lime. He considers it environmentally friendly, not causing allergies and at the same time not requiring too much care. In addition, types of synthetic linoleum are available, such as PVC, made on different bases, rubber, which tolerates moisture well, colloxylin (without base) and alkyd.

How to choose the right linoleum video

Depending on the structure, it can be divided into homogeneous, heterogeneous, baseless and with a base. The homogeneous type consists of a homogeneous mixture of PVC and dyes. Heterogeneous - contains several layers of PVC, as well as fiberglass. As for the other two species, their names speak for themselves. The baseless type does not have any backing on the reverse side, while the main one may have a special lining that adds thermal insulation properties to the coating.

Classes of linoleum application, digital wear resistance index

The classification of linoleum by wear resistance indicates what mechanical loads the material can withstand during operation. This indicator depends on the thickness of the material.

It is also worth considering the degree of abrasion of the fabric. That is, how quickly the material loses thickness under certain loads. The degree of abrasion is divided into four main groups, namely:

Group “T” - this includes the most durable types of linoleum, which practically do not wear out. Their maximum thickness abrasion can reach a maximum of 0.08 mm.
Group “P” - this includes very low abrasion models, the abrasion thickness of which can reach up to 0.15 mm.
Group “M” are models of moderate abrasion, where indicators can reach up to 0.3 mm.
Group “F” - highly abraded types. Usually this inexpensive models, the abrasion rate of which can reach up to 0.6 mm.

However, please note that wear resistance and abrasion resistance are not the same. For example, canvases from the “T” and “M” groups may have the same characteristics.

When wondering which linoleum to choose for an apartment, experts recommend knowing the classes of their use, as well as the wear resistance designation index, which we will discuss below.

First of all, it is worth noting that our country now uses the European class determination system flooring material- EN 685, which is an index of two numbers.

The first digit represents the type of room and has three options:

2 - living quarters, houses, etc.
3 - office premises, hospitals, kindergartens, etc.
4 - industrial premises, airport, train stations, concert halls, workshops.

The second number characterizes the level of load intensity on the linoleum and includes four options:

1 - low intensity.
2 - medium intensity.
3 - fairly high intensity.
4 - extremely high intensity.

Keep in mind that these grades of linoleum wear advisory nature, and do not mean that you cannot buy wear-resistant coating intended for the office. But you need to know that as the class increases by one position, the cost of the material increases accordingly.

What to consider when choosing linoleum for an apartment

Usually, when purchasing a covering for a home, they pay attention to its external drawing, as well as how it will fit with the rest of the interior design. This often applies to linoleum. However, you should not make this choice, forgetting that the material must have, in addition to a beautiful appearance, other qualities that are important for comfortable living.

The endurance class of the flooring is important; therefore, it is necessary to initially know for which specific room the material is required. Let's say the kitchen requires a higher endurance class than the bedroom due to the increased load. Often, class 23 linoleum, which is considered high, is chosen for the kitchen and hallway, while class 21 may be preferred for the bedroom or pantry.

Since every person cares about his health, the environmental safety of a particular type of coating is not in last place. Despite the fact that there are many types of linoleum on the modern construction market, it is preferable to give preference to its natural type, since it is considered the most environmentally friendly and, as a result, ideal for children's rooms. However, this type of coating is considered very fragile, breaks when bent, and is also expensive.

It is also worth paying attention directly to the surface of the coating, since on sale you can find linoleum that is either smooth or rough. Some relief at the same time adds a certain zest to the design, allowing, with the right ornamentation, to imitate a parquet flooring. Sometimes manufacturers apply a varnish layer to the coating, which manufacturers use to create additional protection.

The thickness of the flooring affects not only its insulating properties, such as heat retention and limiting the penetration of excess sound. The greater the thickness of the coating, the longer it will not be affected by any deformation. Let’s say that a design that is too thin is not suitable for use in a dining room, since even the leg of a chair will leave a decent mark on it.

Which linoleum is better for the kitchen and hallway: household or semi-commercial

As a rule, there are two rooms in an apartment that are subject to excessive use. This is where a coating with the maximum layer of strength is required. The simplest thing you can do on your own when going to the store is to decide on the color of the future coating, so as not to waste time on this among the wide selection of the hypermarket.

The first thing you should pay attention to when purchasing quality linoleum for any room is its smell and appearance. High-quality flooring should not have too strong an odor, otherwise it can be hazardous to health. It is desirable that the coating for a kitchen or hallway have at least five layers, the thickness should be approximately 3 mm.

Please note that it is better to choose class 23 or 24 linoleum for the hallway. However, no one can prevent you from purchasing classes 31 and 32, which are used to mark coatings for industrial premises. Externally, they differ little, but their wear resistance is increased. Be sure to roll out the roll before use, since its smooth surface and even layer will speak in favor of this particular type.

It is believed that for the hallway it is advisable to give preference to PVC-type linoleum, only it is characterized by increased strength and is also not susceptible to rotting. Since in the hallway there are often situations with high humidity, this feature of this coating is a must.

For the kitchen it is also possible to use PVC covering. However, a simple household option will also work here, provided that it has a foam base. If you have a wider budget, you can give preference to the natural type, which will be more practical and of higher quality. Another advantage is that it can be washed by various means, any contaminants will easily and simply leave its surface.

How to choose linoleum for the bedroom and living room

Purchase floor coverings For different rooms requires the right choice. Moreover, this applies not only to those rooms that are subject to maximum wear and tear, but also to rooms such as the bedroom and living room, where traffic is quite low.

When answering the question of which linoleum is better for a household or semi-commercial apartment, most potential buyers bet on buying an option that is too thick for the bedroom. This is the main mistake, since the thickness is in this case won't make any difference at all. A household look with a thickness of approximately 1.5 mm will be quite sufficient for a bedroom.

The base of the bedroom cover can be foam or polyester. The level of cross-country ability here is minimal, and accordingly, too much thickness of the protective layer is also not required. It is enough for it to have values from 0.15 to 0.2 mm.

Natural material would be a good option for the bedroom, since it does not cause allergies and has antimicrobial properties. In addition, it is distinguished by great durability, which is why the version made from PVC material. However, be prepared for the fact that the cost is much higher than the synthetic analogue.

The living room's traffic is perhaps a little higher than that of the bedroom. However, you don't need a very thick version here either. Linoleum, the thickness of which is no more than two millimeters, will be sufficient. In this case, the protective layer must be at least 0.15 mm; it can be played by a foam part, which will make the floor softer.

Which linoleum is best for children's rooms?

The highest degree of responsibility when choosing linoleum is required if this material is planned to be purchased for a children's room. It is simply necessary that the material has the safest possible qualities, is not harmful to the child’s body and is not subject to rapid wear and tear. It is worth considering that this room can be considered a room with sufficient traffic and with an increased possibility of mechanical damage.

If you are going to choose linoleum for a children's room, do not forget to ask the seller for a quality certificate, which will indicate its safety for health. Ideal options in this regard, there will be a natural type coating, which does not contain any negative substances, and also has an anti-microbial coating.

For those who find the cost of natural coating too high, it is better to opt for PVC-type linoleum, protective layer which will be at least 0.3 mm. It is advisable to give preference to a foam base, which in turn will add a certain amount of thermal insulation, which is important for children’s games on the floor.

Modern manufacturers of flooring materials offer their customers quite interesting colors of coatings that will perfectly harmonize with common interior children's room. Instead of boring colors like parquet or laminate, you can opt for more interesting patterns.

Tarkett linoleum production video

When wondering which linoleum to choose, household or semi-commercial, you should take into account many parameters. In particular, the main point is for which room you plan to purchase flooring.

The word "linoleum" actually means oiled linen. Even the ancient Vikings oiled the sails of their ships to protect them from exposure to water and moisture.

They began covering floors with this material in the mid-18th century. And then he was completely natural.

In the middle of the 20th century, due to a shortage of raw materials, natural linoleum gave way to polyvinyl chloride.

Nowadays, linoleum is the most common type of flooring. There is a huge selection of it in construction supermarkets and markets.

Consumers want to choose linoleum that will last longer, be safe for health and look beautiful. And for this you need to know how to choose it correctly.

Types of linoleum depend on:

material from which it is made: natural, polyvinyl chloride, rubber, nitrocellulose, alkyd.
Application areas: household, commercial and semi-commercial.
the presence of a basis: based and unfounded.
structures (number of layers): homogeneous and heterogeneous.

Main selection criteria

Which linoleum is better to choose for an apartment?

Destination

An unprepared buyer pays attention only to color and design. Those who have already encountered or studied the issue of choosing linoleum for an apartment know that you need to start from the type of room.

IN different rooms– different loads on the floor covering. This means that linoleum in different rooms should differ in its quality characteristics.

Ecological purity, naturalness

More and more consumers prefer natural materials. And flooring is no exception.

The ideal solution would be to choose high-quality natural linoleum for your apartment; it is also called marmoleum.

It is made from natural ingredients: vegetable oil, resin, cork flour, limestone powder and burlap (jute fabric).

Natural dyes are also used.

It happens that for greater wear resistance, such linoleum is coated with a polymer, but you can also find a 100% natural coating. The composition most often includes linseed oil, and it has bactericidal properties.

Good fire resistance.
Easy to clean dry.
Wet cleaning is acceptable.
Does not accumulate static electricity.
The colors do not fade.

This coating will be ideal for the floor of a bedroom, nursery, or living room.

The only way to scare the consumer is high price, and also the fact that this material is quite fragile and only a professional can lay it.

Concentrated acids, alkalis, piercing and cutting objects and high humidity can ruin it.

Low price, waterproofness, noise-absorbing ability, variety of colors, ease of maintenance attracts people to synthetic linoleum. But be careful: it may contain substances harmful to health.

Therefore, to protect yourself from harmful purchases, ask the seller for certificates.

As a rule, household linoleum intended for residential premises is safe for people.

Thickness and density

For many, the wear resistance of the coating is important: so that the linoleum does not “press through”, it is resistant to mechanical damage, and so that the paint does not rub off.

It is not always better to choose linoleum for an apartment based only on its thickness; thicker does not mean better. It depends on what for.

If children's safety is important, a really thick foam cover with a polyester backing is the best.

But for heels and furniture legs - not always, a semi-commercial option will be better, and it will look thinner than a household one.

Additional coverage

This is protection from deep penetration dirt, it is easier to care for such a coating. The protective layer, also called the working layer, is found on all types of linoleum. This upper layer coverings. It can be from 0.15 – 0.6 mm thick.

It is he who protects from abrasion. On, in the corridor and vestibule, a coating with a base is suitable PVC thick not less than 3 mm, and the thickness of the working layer should be above 0.25 mm. Semi-commercial linoleum will also work well here.

Linoleum base

Its sound and thermal insulation depend on the base. It can be made of foamed polyvinyl chloride (PVC). Such linoleum can be different thicknesses. The foam base is moisture resistant and has a service life of 10 years.

Baseless linoleum is homogeneous PVC, its second name is homogeneous. This is a fairly thin linoleum (1.2-1.6 mm). The service life is 5-7 years; to extend it, linoleum needs to be treated with special protective agents.

Linoleum on a heat and sound insulating base is also popular. TZI - material, manufactured in accordance with all sanitary and hygienic standards, has good warmth and soundproofing. This explains its popularity. But he doesn't like moisture.

The double base - foam and polyester - gives linoleum more strength.

In addition to wear resistance, other characteristics make linoleum convenient and comfortable to use.

Important criteria when choosing are thermal insulation, noise absorption, and moisture resistance. There may also be requirements that it be antibacterial (for a nursery) and antistatic (for example, for an office).

We determined the type of room where linoleum needed to be laid, and found out what the load intensity was there. Now you can look at the product labeling.

How to read the label correctly

It is generally accepted that, according to load intensity, all premises are divided into residential, industrial and office.

Floor coverings have pictograms on the packaging that indicate the room.

House, which indicates living quarters (number 2), image multi-story building stands for office space(number 3) and the image of the plant building (number 4) are production.

Each room has a different intensity of impact on the flooring.

On the same packages it is indicated by pictograms - men: one, two, three and four men.

The more figures, the greater the intensity of the load. The coverage class can be shown by numbers, or by a combination of pictograms.

For example, a house and two men indicate that the coating is suitable for residential buildings with low load intensity.

Classes 21, 22, 23 are for residential premises.
From 31 to 34 – for office premises.
From 41 to 44 – production.

Some manufacturers also provide additional markings:

	Coating thickness, mm.
	Working layer thickness, mm.
	Weight of one square meter, kg.
	Resistant to moisture
	Can be used for underfloor heating, max. 27°C
	Resistant to furniture on caster feet
	Impact resistant furniture legs and heels
	Resistant to color fading
	Index fire safety(V2, RP1, D2, T2)
	Abrasion, g/m³
	Absolute residual deformation, mm.
	Change in linear dimensions, %
	Winding of a standard roller, r.m.
	Width in the current collection, m.

How to choose a class of linoleum

What kind of linoleum to lay in different rooms in an apartment?

For the bedroom, office, dressing room - they have a low load intensity, 21 classes of coatings are used.
If 1-2 people live in the apartment, you can lay class 22 carpet in the living room.
With children's rooms it is a little more difficult, you need to take into account the behavior of children: for a child under one year old or a calm older child - it is enough to lay linoleum of class 22, but if the children are active, give preference to class 23.
In living rooms and bedrooms, you can lay a thinner coating (about 1.5 mm), with a working layer of 0.2 mm.
Class 23 carpeting should also be laid in the hallway if the family is small. When the traffic is high, it is worth thinking about coatings of classes 31 and 32; these are, by the way, installed in small offices.

It has been noticed that the more wear-resistant the coating, the higher its cost. It is not always advisable to overpay.

It is better to choose a fairly reasonable covering option that suits the premises so that it serves its intended purpose for a long time and does not overpay.

And the best part is the choice of design

Having decided on the class, you can approach the most pleasant and exciting thing - choosing the design of the future floor. Here, too, it’s hard not to get confused, because the colors a large number of. There are patterns:

Color associations.

For most, beige is associated with warmth and comfort, orange, bright yellow, red - invigorate, blue - calms, blue induces drowsiness, gray creates a working mood.

Remember cool and warm colors.

The play of colors is often based design techniques. For example, if you need to visually enlarge a room, use a coating of cool, light colors. And warm colors will visually make the room smaller and make it cozy.

Warm shades will add warmth to a “northern” room, and cool colors will refresh a bright, sunny room on a hot summer day. Bright colors They invigorate, attract attention, they are ideal for accents, they are good for demarcating zones.

Use of geometric patterns on flooring.

Need to expand narrow room– direct the lines across long walls or diagonally.

Small tiles will be appropriate only in a small room and will visually enlarge it, while large squares are suitable for large room. Design for natural wood and stone give the room an “expensive” and “eco-friendly” look.

Subtleties of purchase

Of course, store sellers will praise their products, but you must be vigilant. Having decided on the design, look at the linoleum again before paying for the purchase.

In the store, rolls should not lie on a horizontal surface; they either stand in rolls or are fixed horizontally.

Otherwise, they may become deformed and these irregularities will be difficult to smooth out. When choosing a material, pay attention to this.

Feel free to smell the linoleum. High-quality - both natural and synthetic, should be odorless, if it smells like outright chemicals - it’s better not to buy such a coating!

Ask for a hygiene certificate.

Bend the linoleum - if a white stripe forms on the fold, it may mean that there is a lot of lime in the composition, so stains may appear on it over time.

Check the quality of the coating in its unfolded form, there should be no peeling, no bumps, the pattern should be clear, the color should be the same everywhere, there should be no greasy sheen.

You cannot fold linoleum - the creases may not be smoothed out, and in general the material may break.

You cannot use tape on the front surface, because it will be very difficult to wash off the mark and you can damage the coating.

The variety of colors and textures gives great freedom in the design of any interior. And the correctly chosen and most best linoleum for an apartment will last a long time, delighting with its unchanging qualities.

On last stage When renovating a room, the question arises about choosing a decorative floor covering. If you don’t have any special preferences, then you can make your choice in favor of an inexpensive, but quite durable and popular material - linoleum. But the difficulty is what to choose quality linoleum for an apartment it’s not so easy because of the rich assortment.

Linoleum is decorative material, made in the form of a dense roll covering. Its division occurs depending on the underlying material and the strength class of the coating. Let's figure out how to choose the right linoleum for an apartment so that you don't have to change it in a couple of years.

Natural linoleum consists of jute fabric impregnated linseed oil with wood flour and resin. This coating is safe for human health, so its installation is allowed in any premises.

PVC linoleum consists of synthetic polymers and dyes, so the colors of the coating are distinguished by their sophistication and variety. Due to the low cost of basic materials for the manufacture of linoleum, its final cost remains affordable. But along with the advantages, there are also disadvantages - the material is fire hazardous.

PVC linoleum is divided into three types:

Homogeneous is a coating without a base; it consists of limestone, talc and kaolin. The main advantage of this coating is its high strength, allowing it to be used in the harshest conditions. The choice of colors is limited to solid shades.
Heterogeneous (composite) is a material consisting of several layers: fiberglass construction, foamed polyvinyl chloride, decorative layer and a protective layer in the form of a transparent film. It is not as durable as its homogeneous counterpart, but the richness of colors of this coating is almost unlimited, both in color combinations, and in the drawings.
Mixed consists of foamed PVC, fiberglass and polyurethane film.

Rubber linoleum consists of synthetic rubber or rubber compounds. The coating has several layers. Each of them performs its own functions. The face covering is attractive appearance And protective functions. The bottom layer replaces the substrate and provides good adhesion to the base.

Alkyd linoleum consists of fabric coated with alkyd resin and other fillers. The coating is produced in various color ranges. This linoleum has thermal and sound insulation. But at the same time it is fragile and unstable to temperature changes.

Synthetic linoleum is not resistant to high temperatures Therefore, when heated, its structure is destroyed and substances harmful to human health are released.

Classes

Linoleum is divided into strength classes: household, semi-commercial, commercial and commercial special. Each of them has its own strength characteristics and is intended for installation in rooms with a certain load (traffic). Each type is designated by a two-digit number. The first number indicates the class of linoleum, and the second indicates its thickness (strength).

Domestic has the lowest strength indicators. Marking: 11, 12, 13, 14. That is, the first unit indicates that the linoleum is household, and the second indicates the thickness of the protective layer.
Semi-commercial used in rooms with low traffic – residential premises. The markings are similar: 21, 22, 23, 24.
Commercial used in areas with heavy loads: offices, shops, corridors. Markings: 31, 32, 33, 34.
Commercial special linoleum is used in industrial or warehouses. Markings 41, 42, 43, 44.

Characteristics of household linoleums

Household linoleum is decorative coating for rooms with low loads (traffic), for example, a bedroom. This coating is not designed to withstand high mechanical stress, so it is very easily deformed and destroyed.

Household linoleum can be of various types:

On a foam base (PVC). This type of coating consists of several layers laid on a fiberglass base. His distinguishing feature– this is durability and variety of colors and patterns.
Felt or jute base can be covered with a layer of PVC or natural products. Distinctive properties this coating is soft when walking and warm surface. However, the strength characteristics are inferior to PVC linoleum.

Another one important characteristic household linoleum is coating thickness. It varies between 1-4 mm and directly affects strength. The front side of linoleum is covered protective film to increase strength, and there is also antibacterial protection. This coating is used in children's rooms.

How to choose high-quality linoleum for an apartment

Not all manufacturers follow the technology for manufacturing floor coverings. Such linoleum does not meet quality standards and is practically unsuitable for use. He will lose decorative properties in a couple of years. Let's figure it out.

Signs of quality material

Smell. Synthetic materials do not have a pronounced odor. Natural linoleum smells like linseed oil, but it cannot be confused with the smell of chemicals that impregnate low-quality linoleum. A distinct “chemical” smell also indicates that the coating is unsafe for human health.
The surface of linoleum should not shine like a varnished coating.
Linoleum should be stored in an appropriate climate, since changes in temperature and humidity of the surrounding air have a destructive effect on the coating. Therefore, it is better to purchase material in stores closed type equipped with climate control equipment.
Certified product. High-quality linoleum has documents confirming that it has passed the test. You can request them from the seller. In addition to the documents, special marks are made on the coating itself.
Before purchasing the material, you must unroll the roll on the floor and make visual inspection for visible defects: sharp bends, peeling of the protective layer, dents, cracks and abrasions. It is better not to purchase material with defects, even at a reduced price, because they are most likely irreparable.

Precautions after purchase

Linoleum should be rolled into a roll, but not folded, because despite its flexibility it can be deformed.
The coating is rolled up front side inside. You should also avoid sticking tape to the front surface of the coating.
When rolling a roll of linoleum, you should take into account its size, whether it will fit into the car, or whether it will fit in the entrance.
It is better to purchase coverage with a small margin. After all, it is not always possible to purchase a small piece of the same coating.

Choosing the color and shade of linoleum

If the room is residential, then warm colors are very suitable, but you should choose shades that match the overall interior and furniture. If a wood-colored coating is used, then the choice can be made to match the doors and color-match the baseboards.
The color of linoleum for the kitchen and hallway is selected from dark and non-marking shades, but the choice is made in accordance with the interior of the room.
The color of the flooring for the nursery can be chosen from bright colors and with an interesting structure.
In addition to the colors of linoleum, there is also a structure: longitudinal, transverse and diagonal lines. Each of them creates his own visual effect increasing the space of the room.

Now you know how to choose high-quality linoleum for your home. All that remains is to choose the color and texture of the coating to highlight the interior of the room.

Video - how to choose linoleum for an apartment based on quality and performance class:

We will send the material to you by e-mail

IN Choosing a floor covering is important stage under repair. Of course, there is attractive wood and durable parquet, and, but all this is quite expensive. good imitation natural materials and almost all types of floor coverings are made from linoleum. And for this reason, we decided to touch upon the problem of which linoleum to choose for your home, because the market offers not just a large, but a huge assortment and it’s difficult not to get lost in it.

Linoleum in the interior of the house

If you think that linoleum is a 100% synthetic material, then you are mistaken. It appeared a long time ago, much longer than production PVC coatings, and at the moment there are enough natural linoleums on the market, but their price is of course higher. So, let's look at what types of coatings there are.

Natural

It is a “dinosaur” among all linoleums, because it appeared about a hundred years ago. It remains in great demand 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 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 product range - colors and textures for every taste. But it is not suitable for every room in the house, as it does not have a sufficient level of wear resistance. The other two types, their scope of application is clear from the name, 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 artificial, it is environmentally friendly and can even be used in a children's room. It is distinguished by average numbers on the price tag. But do not rush to lay it or in places with significant temperature changes - it will not withstand this.

PVC linoleums are:

Alkyd is an alkyd resin that is applied to fabric base. It has increased heat and sound insulation. But it is very fragile and this makes it difficult to install.
Colloxin– its base is nitrocellulose, produced without a base. It is moisture resistant, elastic and fireproof. On the contrary, it can shrink and react painfully to temperature changes.
Relin– it has a two-layer structure. The bottom one is old crushed rubber and bitumen, the top one is rubber and pigment filler. It has increased moisture resistance and elasticity, but it releases harmful substances, 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 the appropriate width. Now you can forget about soldering or cutting off excess pieces of coating. And it is precisely 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 about which linoleum to choose for a private home, because such construction projects may differ from the stands.

Please note that those linoleums that are produced now will not shrink either in width or in length, so if you have a room 5 meters wide, then this is exactly how much there should be in the covering fabric. As for the length, it is still better to make a reserve, since there may be defects in parallel walls, up to 10 cm, and this is difficult to notice with the naked eye.

Marking

Any type of linoleum has a marking - this is an indicator of its wear resistance, 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 rooms where there will be minimal traffic;
2 – living rooms;
3 – offices or kitchen with hallway in the house;
4- production.

There will also be a second digit in the numbering, which indicates the degree of load on the coating - here you can also find numbers from 1 to 4, where 1 is the lowest load indicator, and 4, respectively, the highest.

Selection by room

Which linoleum to choose for your home - it’s not just taking one roll and laying it in all the rooms - its choice should correspond to the purpose and traffic of the rooms. Each dwelling has a kitchen and a corridor, and it is these rooms that have the greatest load 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 domestic, but semi-commercial. The structural palette is the usual tiles and laminate.

For the living room, 1.5 mm is enough, since the traffic in it is less than in the kitchen and corridor. – this is the place where you only sleep. So a thin layer of coating – 1.2-1.5 mm – is enough. Here the best option There will be household linoleum.

A separate discussion is the children's room. Although traffic here is not high, every child is a researcher - and damage to the surface 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 the best option would be a semi-commercial coating with a protective layer.