Household linoleum: types, application. Reviews about the manufacturers of linoleum. Household linoleum How to choose a good household linoleum

Linoleum is in great demand and confidently leads in sales in the niche of affordable flooring. Modern production and the introduction of new technologies have allowed manufacturers to produce truly cheap material with high performance.

Household linoleum- This is the simplest and most budgetary type of roll coating. The main scope of application is typical apartments, private houses, cottages and other residential premises. It is distinguished by a wide choice of colors, sizes, availability various types substrates and low price.

Structure and characteristics

Standard household type PVC linoleum has a five-layer structure. The bottom layer is a polyvinyl chloride base, which acts as a substrate and comes into contact with the floor surface during installation.

This is followed by a layer of fiberglass or a carrier base for a decorative pattern. Fiberglass is used only in more expensive household coatings and acts as a stabilizing substrate, reinforcing the frame and stability of the material. Coatings with fiberglass are less worn out and spread during operation.

The decorative layer is applied to the substrate using special machine with rollers. The color and applied texture depends on the specific collection in the manufacturer's line.

To protect the pattern, a protective layer up to 0.7 mm thick is applied to its surface. The thicker this coating, the more wear-resistant linoleum has, and thus has a longer service life.

The material has a rich selection of colors and textures.

The last but not least layer is a polyurethane film of small thickness, which protects the linoleum from abrasive and impact load. When buying, it is recommended to pay attention to the presence and thickness of the two outer layers.

There are also more multilayer coatings. For example, warm views household coatings have an additional base that increases thermal insulation properties material. The presence of additional insulation increases the moisture-resistant qualities of the coating and allows it to be laid in rooms with high humidity.

To the most important characteristics household linoleum include:

  • wear resistance class;
  • abrasion group;
  • degree of flammability;
  • toxicity.

The wear resistance class is determined by a two-digit index: 21, 22, 23, 23-31. The first digit indicates the household belonging of the coating, the second is the ability to withstand heavy loads.

The larger the second number, the more durable and wear-resistant the material is. The abrasion group indicates how the lining is deformed during operation under the influence of an abrasion load. The most priority is to choose a coating with the “T” index.

The combustibility group is how linoleum behaves under the influence open fire. It is marked with a letter and a number: G1, G2, G3, G4. The lower the number, the less flammable the material is.

Toxicity characterizes the ability of a coating to release harmful substances in use. Marked by analogy: T1, T2, T3, T4. It is desirable that linoleum belongs to the first or second group.

The thickness of the protective layer varies from 0.1 to 0.35 mm. Roll width from 1.5 to 5 m.

Types and characteristics

In the presence of felt base the material has high thermal insulation qualities

The classification of household linoleum can be performed according to several criteria. The most common grouping is according to the structure and type of substrate material. By structure, linoleum is divided into homogeneous (single-layer) and heterogeneous (multi-layer).

Homogeneous coating is not in great demand, due to the complexity of production and inappropriate for this variety. Multilayer linoleum is the main form of release, as it has a low price with very high performance.

Depending on the thickness, linoleum is divided into two groups:

  1. Thin-layer - thickness up to 1.5 mm.
  2. Thick-layer - thickness from 1.5 to 4 mm.

The thin-layer coating does not have a base and requires the use of a full-fledged substrate. It is used quite rarely due to low strength and wear resistance. Thick coatings are more durable. It can be laid without a substrate, subject to the quality of the preparation of the bearing surface.

The basis of household linoleum is made of PVC, polyester, felt or jute. The PVC base is the most common and is used for most types of linoleums.

Coating structure from the manufacturer Tarkett

The felt base gives the material increased thermal insulation qualities. It is used when laying linoleum on a cold floor is required, without the installation of a full-fledged heat-insulating layer. The felt also provides good cushioning and walking comfort.

Among the advantages of household linoleum are:

  • ease of installation - the flooring technology of the coating is not complicated. You can do the work yourself after studying the brief instructions;
  • availability - average cost material does not exceed 400 rubles / m2. There are also cheaper products from various manufacturers;
  • content - linoleum is easy to clean with plain water with the addition of a minimum amount of detergents;
  • range - color palette and the number of textures is extensive, which makes it possible to choose a coating for a different interior.

The main disadvantage of such linoleum is its service life. If we compare it with other types, then the household look has a maximum service life of 8-10 years, depending on the load and operating conditions.

Differences from semi-commercial coverage

The choice of linoleum is inextricably linked with the search for more quality coverage under specific conditions. The most pressing question is how household linoleum differs from semi-commercial one, because not a single consumer wants to overpay for the material.

Semi-commercial linoleum is almost the same household type with higher wear resistance, strength and additional qualities. The coating itself consists of 5 or 7 layers. The seven-layer coating has a layer of fiberglass, which enhances rigidity and gives higher strength indicators.

The front layer of the semi-commercial coating is thicker. The average thickness varies from 0.35 to 0.5 mm, which increases the service life of the cladding up to 15-17 years. This also affects the cost of the material, which is significantly higher than household counterparts by 200-300 rubles / m2.

If we compare these types in terms of the appropriateness of the choice, it is recommended to build on the patency of the room. Household types are best laid in the bedroom, children's room or office.

Semi-commercial coating is desirable to be laid in the hallway and kitchen, since it is in these rooms that increased wear resistance is required. The rest of the use this material not always justified.

That is, it does not make sense to lay more expensive material if the flooring is temporary, laid for 5-7 years, etc. A more detailed comparison of both types can be seen in the table above.

The instruction for laying household linoleum provides that the cladding is laid on a pre-prepared base. The main requirements are a flat and dry surface without cracks, potholes, chips.

Brief laying scheme with adhesive fixation

In the process of preparation, it will be necessary to dismantle the old floor covering up to the ceiling. Next, debris, dust is removed and an inspection is carried out for damage.

If the base has pronounced concrete damage, then a leveling device is performed cement-sand screed. The minimum layer thickness is 7 cm. For reinforcement and strength, it is better to use ready mix brand M500 and fiberglass.

The load-bearing base without damage with a slight displacement relative to the level is repaired by pouring a self-leveling compound. This is a thin-layer self-leveling floor 1-1.5 cm thick. The mixture is poured onto a cleaned surface, covered with a primer in 2 layers.

It is recommended to lay linoleum in one piece without welding individual pieces. This will ensure reliable sealing of the base and protect the material from water ingress under the coating. To do this, you will need to purchase a roll of linoleum slightly wider than the room itself.

For example, for a room 2.5 m wide - a roll 3 m wide. The material should be delivered to the repair site 2 days before laying. This is necessary to adapt the linoleum to air humidity and room temperature.

The coated roll is rolled out along the length of the room with an overlap on the walls. Further, with the help of a construction knife, it is adjusted according to the size of the room. If necessary, it is laid with a minimum number of joints, which are glued together using the cold welding. For fixing to the floor, a special glue is used, which is applied to a clean floor treated with a primer.

The range of modern high-quality floor coverings in the construction supermarkets of our country is growing steadily. Nevertheless, many buyers prefer the time-tested linoleum. And this is understandable. Household linoleum is perfect combination quality and price. It is considered the easiest to care for coating of all currently in existence. In addition, it is much cheaper than parquet, laminate, tiles, and it is much easier to lay it. And from a huge variety of types and textures, each buyer can choose the option that is suitable for his home.

Kinds

All linoleum produced today can be divided into three main groups:

  • Household linoleum, which is used in residential premises.
  • Semi-commercial (used in rooms with an average level of traffic).
  • Commercial - designed for rooms with intensive use.

In this article we will talk about the advantages and disadvantages of these types.

Linoleum household

This type of material is characterized by 21 or 23 wear resistance classes. Quite affordable cost, high sound insulation, pleasant to the touch surface, environmental friendliness - these are the criteria that manufacturers of this type of material are guided by. Linoleum from the middle price segment looks very impressive. At the same time, models of this type of coating are characterized by low wear resistance. This is due to the small protective layer, which does not exceed 0.35 mm.

It should be noted that household linoleum is suitable for laying only in residential premises. In the kitchen, hallway, it is desirable to lay material with a high level of wear resistance.

And at the same time, this is a very popular material - household linoleum. Customer reviews indicate that it has undeniable advantages. This is a variety of textures that is rarely seen in commercial series. For example, you can buy household linoleum in the form of tiles, with imitation of stone or wood. Household linoleum imitates not only color, but also texture.

Reinforced household linoleum

This coating is used for floors in rooms where the level of traffic is quite low. Such linoleum is very affordable. Its structure consists of three layers:

  • substrate;
  • a layer with a pattern;
  • protective covering.

Felt, jute, polyvinyl chloride can be used as a substrate. The layer with the picture sets appearance coating. The protective layer (depending on its thickness) guarantees durability. For reinforced linoleum, it is up to 0.3 mm. In this case, the total thickness of the material is not more than 5 mm.

The advantages of this coating include a variety of colors, ease of installation, heat and sound insulation, and fairly simple maintenance. For a dwelling with an area of ​​\u200b\u200bno more than 20 sq.m, it is enough to fix it with skirting boards. Such a coating will not last too long - no more than ten years.

Linoleum commercial

Commercial linoleum has completely different characteristics. Household is significantly inferior to it in durability and wear resistance. This is a great option for creating floors in offices and salons, as it can be applied to any pattern or company logo. At the same time, it is often used in residential areas with high traffic (hallways, kitchens, swimming pools, etc.) According to the production technology this species linoleum is divided into hetero- and homogeneous.

The second option is a panel with a thickness of not more than 3 mm. The drawing is always monochromatic. The composition of this material includes talc, limestone, kaolin. If a specifications are not observed, the fillers come to the surface and form a dirty coating. Therefore, in the manufacture of this coating, polyurethane protection is applied to it. The disadvantage of this protective coating It can be considered the need for its polishing every six months.

Heterogeneous linoleum is really versatile material. It has a multilayer structure. The basis of this coating is fiberglass. Front side impregnated with PVC paste. The first layer is covered with another layer of PVC. Then the surface is shaped with a pattern, which is fixed with the next layer of PVC, very durable and transparent. The wrong side of the material is a fiberglass base equipped with a backing. It can be jute, fabric or

semi-commercial linoleum

This variety in structure is very similar to household linoleum. The semi-commercial analogue is distinguished by a thicker protective layer. This material is used in public spaces, as well as in residential and walk-through rooms. There are synthetic and natural.

The advantages of this coating include ease of care - it is easy to clean, it is not scary to spill water on it. In addition, it has high sound insulation. However, there are plenty of downsides to this coverage.

In the manufacture of synthetic linoleum, some toxic resins are used that can be released into the atmosphere. Toluene and xylene, which are part of it, irritate the eyes, cause serious skin diseases and can even cause some disorders in nervous system. Polyvinyl chloride can decompose even when room temperature. When inhaled by the decomposition products, it enters the human body, and through the pores of the skin it enters the bloodstream, poisoning the liver. Therefore, it is better to choose natural samples.

Linoleum natural

It is an environmentally friendly and harmless material. It is not subject to deformation, wear and tear. The composition of this coating includes linseed oil, cork flour, resins, limestone powder, natural dyes. Often this type is covered with polymers, but in large specialized stores you can buy natural linoleum that does not have a varnish layer.

Linseed oil gives the material unique bactericidal qualities that do not disappear with time. This linoleum is fire resistant and easy to care for both dry and wet.

Natural linoleum does not change color, does not fade, is resistant to ethyl alcohol, fats and non-concentrated acids. Only alkalis can damage it and mechanical impact. Therefore, many believe that this is the best household linoleum.

Manufacturers

Today on Russian market five major linoleum manufacturers are fighting for the championship, with whom we want to introduce you.

Gerflor (France)

The world-famous Gerflor company has been fruitfully working in the flooring market for 70 years. The brand has been a leader in the market for a long time thanks to a huge range of unique solutions who are fully responsible regulatory requirements. The company pays great attention to product quality.

Of the variety of floor coverings, PVC-based artificial household linoleum combines enough high strength and wear resistance, a huge variety of colors and textures and an ideal price / quality ratio. The linoleum coating is very easy to lay on the prepared surface, this allows you to do the work on your own, it is easy to clean with any household detergents which makes maintenance easier.

different thickness protective film and some differences in the main layer of the material allow you to choose linoleum for residential and public spaces without extra costs, having obtained balanced coating characteristics depending on the purpose of the room. In the bedroom, living room, study and other similar rooms, linoleum is used, which characterizes acceptable price, sufficient strength characteristics and the richest collection of textures and colors, allowing you to choose harmonious combination in any style.

The order of prices in the article is indicated in rubles based on the dollar exchange rate 1 $ = 65 rubles.

The main characteristics of household linoleum

Currently released great amount various household class linoleum with different material fundamentals and manufacturing techniques. Linoleum happens:

  • Natural, PVC or glyptal;
  • Baseless, with natural base woven fabrics or strong synthetic fibers;
  • Various thicknesses and widths;
  • Homogeneous (single layer) or heterogeneous (multilayer);
  • Painted over the entire thickness of the coating or with a thin decorative layer.

Household grade linoleum made from natural linseed oil, natural resins, fillers and applied on a jute fabric base has a unique wear resistance and excellent environmental performance. But its price is so high that the cost of such a coating is comparable, and in some cases exceeds the cost of natural floors. parquet board, this sharply limits the possibility of its use in low-cost repairs.

Using synthetic materials, managed to obtain acceptable quality, optimal price and good environmental characteristics of linoleum, which led to its wide distribution. Prices for household linoleum start at 200 rubles / m2. But the optimal ratio of price and quality in most cases is at around 400-500 rubles. per metre.

Until recently, the manufacturing technology of domestic linoleum made it possible to obtain mostly thin-layer uniform coatings with a dull monotonous pattern, but with the advent of multi-layer heterogeneous linoleum, the situation has changed radically. Now even cheap household linoleum is produced using multilayer technology.

The foamed underlayment of linoleum provides excellent heat and sound insulation properties, which are especially important when laying floors on concrete bases. porous structure PVC backing is able to withstand alternating loads, bending under the weight of a person walking along it and instantly restoring original form after unloading. Therefore, walking on such linoleum is very comfortable.

A durable fiberglass mesh impregnated with a special paste, which determines the strength characteristics of linoleum and largely eliminates its main drawback - a significant coefficient of linear expansion with temperature changes. Some models of linoleum do not use mesh, but use a thicker foam base.

Next comes the decorative layer, which is responsible for the tactile characteristics of the coating and its appearance. This layer, due to the low heat transfer coefficient, creates the impression of a warm surface upon touch, which is pleasant to stand on not only in shoes, but also barefoot, and the applied decorative pattern allows you to create original patterns or imitate various natural materials.

For the wear resistance of linoleum, a protective layer of durable and transparent polyvinyl chloride is responsible, which for household-grade linoleum does not exceed 0.3 mm, and the service life guaranteed by the manufacturer is 15 years. In some cases, an additional polyurethane layer is applied to the surface, which increases the resistance of the surface to abrasion, which is important when installing floors in a kitchen or corridor.

How to choose household high-quality linoleum?

There is a huge variety of materials from foreign and domestic manufacturers on the flooring market. Mostly Belgian trade marks IVC, Beau Floor, Ideal, Jutex brand from Slovenia and household linoleum Tarkett, whose production is located in Russia.

When choosing a material, you should adhere to several simple recommendations it’s better to trust especially “sales consultants”, who sometimes have little idea quality characteristics the goods they offer:

  • We focus primarily on our sense of smell. If linoleum emits a very sharp "chemical" smell, then you need to stay away from such a coating. The best linoleum almost no smell.
  • Considering the vending sample, you should pay attention to the condition of the surface, which should not have spots or too pronounced gloss. Quality linoleum has a uniform, closer to matte, surface with a clearly defined pattern.
  • Choosing household new linoleum, it would be useful to ask about the thickness of the protective layer, on which the wear resistance and durability of the coating depend, which come close to the parameters of semi-commercial models at a slightly lower price.
  • After looking at the model you like, especially the manufacturer is unknown, do not be too lazy to check the linoleum in the rolled state for the absence of dents and bumps that can occur when the production technology is violated, leading to material heterogeneity.
  • Be sure to pay attention to the factory marking, in which the manufacturer indicates the characteristics and features of the use of the material.

multinational transnational corporation TARKETT, developing the production of flooring in Russian Federation, produces about 640,000 square meters linoleum per year, which is recognized as one of the highest quality on the market and offered at the lowest price.

Household linoleum Tarkett has two dozen collections of very different price ranges. Collections Grace, Fashion, Favorite, Magic, Discovery, Empire, Grand, Favorite are presented in 21-32 wear resistance classes and provide customers with roll coating up to 4 m wide. Premium household linoleum, which has a reinforced protective layer of 0.3 mm, can be successfully used in a bathroom or kitchen without reducing its service life.

The adequate order of prices for premium linoleum is in the range from 800 - 2000 rubles / m2.

Having chosen linoleum as a floor covering, you should definitely think about whether it makes sense to use it in an apartment expensive models commercial coating in pursuit of strength and durability. Is it worth overpaying for characteristics that are unnecessary in everyday life or limiting ourselves to high-quality household coatings with a long service life.

Linoleum is exactly the material that is most often seen on the floor in most apartments. Construction companies, who sell turnkey apartments, use linoleum for decoration due to performance characteristics and low cost. , it is easy to care for it, and it looks decent in any room, you just need to choose the right color for the interior of the room.

The choice of linoleum in construction stores very rich, so it's not surprising that some just get lost between the rows of rolls. Let's look at the types and their features.

A little about the classification of linoleum

There are several main areas of linoleum: household, commercial and semi-commercial. Commercial linoleum is rougher to the touch, it has different requirements for strength and other performance characteristics. It must withstand heavy loads (walking in shoes, falling and moving objects, etc.) and not lose its appearance.

Household linoleum has a wider variety of patterns, it is softer and thinner than its commercial counterparts. The price of a household type of linoleum is also lower than that of a commercial one. In addition, these types differ among themselves in the number of layers.

There is a variety of household linoleum material - household reinforced linoleum. It is advisable to use such a coating in rooms with high traffic. If in such rooms lay the usual soft material, then soon it will be covered with scratches, dents and even tears. This applies to the corridor, kitchen, balcony, room with sports equipment.

Note: For safety net, such linoleum can be laid in the nursery, but it is desirable to put it on top carpet covering unless, of course, the child has an allergic reaction to dust.

Very often, such linoleum can be seen in kindergartens, schools, developing children's clubs.

Linoleum in three colors from Tarkett

To date, it is not at all difficult to buy household reinforced linoleum, almost everyone major manufacturer produces this type of material. The price of retail and wholesale, of course, is different.

There are many manufacturers of linoleum coatings on the market, the largest and most famous of them: Juteks, Sinteros, IVC.

There are a wide variety of colors available. It can be a plain coating, a wood-like coating imitating laminate or parquet, with various floral patterns or geometric shapes, "marble", abstraction and others. It all depends on your preferences and fantasies.

You can buy plain linoleum in different color solutions and make a drawing of linoleum strips yourself. To do this, you need to glue the roll coating well and control the quality of the joining of the strips.