How to choose linoleum for the kitchen

Due to the uniqueness of the properties, linoleum, the origins of the creation of which go back more than 200 years, still enjoys high demand. This is not surprising, because over time, the performance characteristics of the flooring material only improve, and the color scheme acquires more interesting combinations, which allows you to choose the material that blends harmoniously with any interior.

The great variety of linoleum, The view differing only in the color range, significantly complicates the choice. However, with a thorough study of information about the flooring it becomes known that each species is different structure, making elements aimed at manufacturing the finished product, wear resistance.

How to choose linoleum for the kitchen

In any apartment, the kitchen is the most actively used room, therefore it is more susceptible to contamination and, subsequently, cleaning by means of household chemicals. To protect the floors in the kitchen, linoleum has all the necessary qualities. Many types of linoleum, with their own advantages and disadvantages, led to the development of a number of criteria necessary to determine which linoleum for the kitchen is better. Among them:

• moisture resistance coating;
• resistance to chemical compounds;
• grooved surface;
• easy care;
• wear resistance;
• resistance to deformation under mechanical stress.

Types of linoleum for the kitchen, their advantages

Based on the materials that make up the linoleum structure, two main types of floor covering are distinguished:

1. Natural linoleum is formed as a result of a combination of cork, wood flour, limestone, linseed oil, natural dyes and resins. The basis of the finished product is nonwoven materials or jute fiber.

Advantages:

• environmental friendliness;
• fire resistance;
• hypoallergenic material;
• has antistatic, anti-slip effect;
• good noise-absorbing and heat-insulating properties;
• high wear resistance;
• resistance to the effects of most solvents, fats;
• the presence of linseed oil gives the product bactericidal properties throughout the life of the product;
• resistance to contamination;
• the useful life reaches 30-40 years.

Disadvantages:

• stacking complexity due to poor elasticity of the material;
• decomposes on prolonged exposure to alkali;
• loss of shape, the appearance of bloating make it impossible to use it in rooms with high humidity;
• high price.

2. Artificial - is produced on the basis of various kinds of synthetic components, fillers, plasticizers, dyes and diluents.

Pros:

• possibility of warping at a temperature exceeding 50 ° C;
• low cost;
• low thermal conductivity;
• is not susceptible to rotting;
• resistance to contamination;
• the possibility of concealing small defects in the floor due to the thickness of the coating;
• high wear resistance;
• moisture resistance;
• easy installation.

Cons:

• no anti-slip effect in many models;
• low fire safety;
• , some models are easily damaged due to mechanical impact;
• is destroyed by prolonged contact with acetone, other strong solvents;
• a short operational period of 5-15 years.

Both types of cover are suitable for the kitchen, however, in order to save money, synthetic linoleum will cost much less, and with the appropriate quality, declared by the manufacturer, will serve slightly less than natural.

Versions of artificial linoleum

Acceptable price, high performance characteristics, not less than inferior to the natural surface, maintain a stable demand for linoleum coating. However, before you buy linoleum for the kitchen, it is worth exploring the elements that make up it, because the variety of types of coverage differs in a number of ways.

Based on the binder, the following types of linoleum are distinguished:

• Polyvinyl chloride - based on the combination of polyvinyl chlorides, plasticizers, dyes, fillers and diluents. Essential disadvantages are the chemical odor that escapes after 1-2 months of use, and the possibility of slight shrinkage.

• Glyftalic or alkyd - contains an alkyd resin applied to a non-woven substrate. It has good sound and heat insulation properties, but the tendency to breaks makes it impossible to use it as a household floor covering.

• Colloxylin is made from nitrocellulose. Sufficiently thin, homogeneous, base-free linoleum differs good elasticity, moisture resistance, but easily burns.

• Rubber - contains 2 layers. The wrong side is bitumen with crushed rubber, and the front side is a combination of rubber, fillers and dyes. Characterized by high resistance to moisture, excellent elasticity, anti-slip surface and small dimensions corresponding to the floor carpet. In view of the release of harmful substances into the atmosphere, it is contraindicated to flooring in a dwelling.

Of the variety of artificial floor coverings, the most suitable linoleum for the kitchen is polyvinyl chloride.

Types of PVC coating

Based on the destination area, there are 4 types of linoleum:

• Household - flooring for residential areas with low transmission and low loads, because the thickness of the protective layer ranges from 0.15-0.35 mm.

• Commercial - characterized by a high degree of wear resistance and a protective layer of up to 0.8 mm, which is used in places of increased terrain. Use in domestic conditions is unreasonable because of the high cost.

• Semi-commercial - ideal for everyday life and premises of medium patency, due to the thickness of the protective layer, which is 0.4-0.6 mm. Has the advantages of domestic and commercial coverage.

• Special purpose - it is used in rooms, which are subject to increased requirements( in particular, anti-slip, noise insulation, etc.).

Of all types of PVC coatings, special preference is given to semi-commercial linoleum. With regard to household coating, it is more wear-resistant and has increased resistance to deformation. It is not necessary to purchase a commercial linoleum in the kitchen, whose price is an order of magnitude higher than the semi-commercial - an inefficient waste of money.

Structure of PVC coating

Two types are distinguished with respect to the structure of linoleum:

1. Homogeneous - single-layer coating.

Features:

• no substrate;
• homogeneity of the structure over the thickness of the coating, ranging from 1.5-3 mm;
• simplicity of drawing;
• limited choice of colors;
• surface roughness;
• high resistance to abrasion.

To check the quality, it is necessary to fold the corner of the linoleum, since the absence of a white band on the bend indicates the observance of the technological process. The appearance of the strip indicates a large amount of lime in the structure of the coating, which makes it sufficiently brittle, so it is better to refuse such an article.

2. Heterogeneous - multilayer coating including:

• substrate consisting of expanded PVC, felt, non-woven materials;
• reinforcing fiberglass, which acts as a skeleton, on which subsequent layers of coating are applied;
• a layer of foamed PVC, necessary for drawing the pattern and providing noise, heat insulating properties;
• protective layer, which determines the wear resistance of linoleum and protects the pattern from damage.

Features:

• the thickness of linoleum ranges from 2-6 mm;
• wide range of colors;
• the complexity of the drawing;
• wear resistance of the coating depends on the protective layer( 0.15-0.8 mm), protecting the pattern from erasure;
• no deformation during the operational period.

So, homogeneous linoleum, which has a greater elasticity than heterogeneous, allows the most densely to lay edges along the perimeter walls, preventing penetration of moisture under the coating. However, the width of the roll is from 1.5-2 m, so avoid docking linoleum will not work.

Heterogeneous linoleum with the proper approach to the choice of material will suit any room in the room, and thanks to the foam layer additional heat and noise insulation of the floor will be provided. In addition, the width of the roll is 1.5-4 m.

Basis of floor covering

Based on the presence / absence of the substrate, the following types are distinguished:

• Baseless. In the absence of a substrate, the thickness of the linoleum varies from 0.72 to 2 mm, so it is used for flooring in rooms with a low enough permeability, requiring detailed preparation of the base before laying.

• With a base. As the basis are:

1. Foamed polyvinyl chloride. Linoleum on a foamed basis is quite elastic, durable, moisture resistant, and relatively low cost makes it more affordable, compared with other types of coatings. The basis of foamed linoleum is glass fiber, the purpose of which is to maintain the dimensions of the finished product. The foam layer on both sides of the fiberglass contributes to sound absorption, heat preservation and is applied in 2 ways:

• mechanical - provides an open cell structure. At pressure on a covering by a heavy subject air will pass from one cell in another, without deforming a linoleum;

• chemical - the presence of a closed cell structure. Under the influence of a heavy object, the bubbles burst, forming a dent on the coating.

2. Cloth, felt. Linoleum on a fabric basis, felt is characterized by high noise, thermal insulation, and also hides minor surface irregularities. The coating does not have a long service life and low price. In addition, the deformation of linoleum occurs under the influence of moisture.

Thus, a good linoleum for the kitchen should have a foam base, applied mechanically.

Differences in natural coating from synthetic

• Natural linoleum exudes the smell of linseed oil, and the artificial gives up chemistry.
• The natural coating has the rigidity of thin plywood, while the synthetic coating is more elastic, so it easily bends.
• As a protective layer, natural linoleum is susceptible to processing with special natural mastics, and artificial is covered with chemical composition.
• From natural linoleum it is easy to break a piece, and from a synthetic one - just cut it off.
• On the reverse side of the natural coating, a jute net is visible, and the reverse side of the artificial linoleum can be made up of various materials other than fibrous and non-woven fabrics.
• The high price of natural linoleum, exceeding in 2-3 times the cost of synthetic coating.

Some tips

When determining the quality of linoleum, you should consider:

• absence of a sharp chemical smell;
• the presence of a protective layer;
• no peeling of the layers from each other;
• match the batch and the number of workmanship when purchasing coatings from different rolls used for docking in one room.

To buy linoleum it is necessary only known manufacturers( for example, Tarkett, IVS, Juteks).

Do not bend the linoleum during transportation, just roll it up.

Before laying, the coating must be steeped until it is fully spread out.

Thus, the most optimal variant of flooring is semi-commercial linoleum. However, with a lack of financial resources, you can always find an alternative solution, and the many options for linoleum for the kitchen, photos of which are provided in the article, will help to quickly solve the problem.