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Modern linoleum comes in vivid colors suitable for graphic contemporary designs.
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By Deborah L. O'Mara
It's definitely not your grandmother's kitchen floor. Linoleum is back, and it's better than ever.
What's new is that the product comes in vibrant colors and updated designs in sheet goods (79 inches wide) and square tiles (13 inches x 13 inches). It's also made increasingly from renewable raw materials, but in fact, maintains many of the same natural ingredients as when it was originally developed some 114 years ago, says Kate Macaulay, owner and manager of Green Living in Dallas. Green Living is a retail store that offers earth-friendly and unique eco-products and the latest information on global green issues. (See www.green-living.com for more information.)
Linoleum flooring, developed in the late 1800s, was an English inventor's blend of linseed oil, plant materials such as cork or wood powder and jute backing. "It was originally made with asbestos and other heavy metals that weren't renewable," Kate comments. "Linseed oil is still the main ingredient, but the product has gotten better. Back then, it didn't have the styles and range of colors currently available."
Green Living distributes a linoleum product called Marmoleum, produced by the Swiss company Forbo Holding. Available in more than 100 colors of sheet and 31 colors of tile, Marmoleum is made from natural ingredients and is biodegradable, anti-bacterial and allergen-free.
For those doing period restorations, Kate says the flooring can replicate the original '30s, '40s and '50s coverings often found in older homes, but in a product that's eco-friendly, an important consideration for many homeowners.
Classic style, long life
Linoleum products have an estimated useful life of 40 years, as compared with 10 to 15 years for sheet vinyl. "Linoleum is extremely long-wearing because its color and construction go all the way through to the backing. By comparison, in most vinyl floors the pattern is printed onto the surface, which is then protected by a vinyl or urethane wear layer," Kate adds.
Kate says contractors need to know that linoleum is twice as resilient as vinyl, which is made with petroleum-based chemicals. Another important fact: dust mites can't live and breed in linoleum, a plus for those who need protection against home allergens.
Here's a short punch list of other things general contractors should know about linoleum:
- It has a natural tendency to repel dirt, dust and bacteria,
- It's made from natural raw materials, is durable and withstands heavy loads and wheeled traffic, and
- The product is fire resistant, difficult to ignite and resists cigarette burns.
Lynn Petty, owner of L. Petty Commercial Floors in Corinth, Texas, is a master mechanic with Forbo, which means he is certified to install the Marmoleum product. He says the color selection of linoleum is what really attracts designers and architects to the product. "The colors and patterns are something. It's earth-friendly and biodegradable, and that's what customers want. In addition, you can custom-cut all kinds of designs and patterns from the product for a truly unique look."
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