flooring
Linoleum Flooring
Linoleum is made out of linseed oil, wood flour, cork powder and pine resins. Linoleum was invented in 1859 and has proven itself over many years for its durability and eco friendliness.
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Linoleum comes usually in tiles that either click together or are glued together, making it easy for anyone to install it themselves.
To walk on linoleum is softer than wood, making it less noisy than wood as well. The house I grew up in has a linoleum floor in the hallway- having dogs, cats and three kids with their friends running over it for many years. It did remain easy to maintain with a mop and is as far as I know without damages.
Advantages of Linoleum flooring:
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Linoleum is very durable
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In addition to being made with renewable materials, linoleum is biodegradable and won’t go into landfills
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Linoleum does not emit harmful toxins (brand new linoleum does have a harmless odour from the linseed oil content that dissipates after a few weeks)
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Linoleum flooring maintains its' looks because the pigments are throughout the thickness of the material, not just on the surface like synthetic floors such as vinyl and laminate
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Linoleum requires little maintenance, which is done with occasional sweeping and damp mopping
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Disadvantages of Linoleum flooring:
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Resilient linoleum can get dented by high heels and furniture legs. The pigments throughout the thickness can camouflage many dents though
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Linoleum can darken or turn yellowish when exposed to sunlight. Some manufacturers apply a protective coat that can prevent discolouring
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Linoleum can potentially take in moisture at the joints and is therefore not the ideal choice for bathrooms and potentially kitchen
