Linoleum Flooring

It’s Not Your Grandma’s Linoleum Floor! Remember grandma's kitchen floor? Linoleum is back with a whole new look, and with a lot of good reasons. Linoleum is an environmentally friendly, all natural material that takes color beautifully and wears like iron.

Created nearly 140 years ago, linoleum was the flooring material of choice throughout the early 1900s and well into the 1960s when vinyl and wall-to-wall carpets became more popular. It's made of linseed oil, from flax plants, mixed with cork, ground limestone and other stabilizers. The linseed oil gives linoleum its slightly oily feel and characteristic smell. It's also the reason that linoleum floors look their best after they've been down and exposed to sunlight for a while. Sunlight causes the linoleum to 'bloom' - darkening the colors slightly and giving them a richness and depth that vinyl can't match.

Linoleum is a popular choice in kitchens and hallways because of its durability under heavy traffic. It's not suitable for use in bathrooms, or in basements that are below ground level, particularly if they have a concrete sub-floor. Linoleum is subject to moisture damage from below, and care should be taken to prevent water damage.

Installation Tips

Linoleum should be installed over wooden or concrete sub-floors that are at or above ground level. Always do a moisture test on concrete to be sure that moisture will not collect under the floor and damage the linoleum.

Linoleum is quiet and comfortable underfoot. The composition of the floor holds rich colors that just grow deeper and more vibrant as it ages. It does require a bit of special care to keep it looking its best. Here are some tips:

• Spills should be wiped up promptly to prevent any moisture damage.
• Use only high quality wax on a linoleum floor. Avoid products with a pH higher than 10.
• Do not use products containing alcohol or wax on linoleum floors.
• If linoleum become yellowed or discolored, brief exposure to sunlight will brighten it again to its natural color.
• Avoid dragging heavy furniture across the floor. While linoleum is resistant to nicks and scratches, it will tear.
• To avoid scuffs and marks, keep the floor well polished.
• Take extra care with gritty dirt like sand, which can become embedded in the resilient surface. Sweep regularly.

Design Tips and Tricks

Linoleum is resilient and flexible. It's an excellent choice for foyers and stairs, where it can be fitted to the surface. It also cuts easily, making it possible to design unique, one-of-a-kind floor patterns. Unlike most vinyl flooring, which can be brittle, linoleum can be easily shaped into curves and intricate designs that fit together almost seamlessly. If you want to try an inlaid pattern, use a sharp, curved knife to trim edges and fit smoothly together. The results can be a dramatic floor that is completely unique.

If you have a high-traffic area and are considering new floor coverings, you should take a look at the new linoleum. It just might surprise you!