Advantages and Disadvantages of Linoleum

Linoleum is the only floor covering market, consisting mainly of natural materials. As the basis for the manufacture of linoleum are used jute fabrics. Linoleum was appreciated throughout the world. Its main advantages - it is environmentally friendly, bright colors, the variety of collections.


Interesting and rich history of the origin of this material: as early as 1627 to cover the floors began to use oiled canvas. In the manufacture of the fabric coated with a mixture of hot linseed oil, resins, bee wax, dye and resin. And already in 1843 they started adding a mixture of cork bark. Thus was created the predecessor of linoleum - kamptulikon (from the Greek "kampto" - "I bend"), having in its composition rubber. He became very popular.


Nowadays the technology of linoleum is highly improved. The founder of the linoleum is Frederick Walton. In 1863 he received a patent in the UK for the manufacture of linoleum and the name, which translated from Latin, means linseed oil. In general, it is the same kamptulikon, only without the rubber.


In 1864 in the UK for the first time began producing linoleum. In the early twentieth century, the primacy of linoleum production was transferred to Russia. The main factories for the production of linoleum were in Riga and Odessa.


At the time of appearance of linoleum was not very attractive. He produced only one brown and had a foul odor of fish oil, but even then the linoleum had high wear resistance, which is why and only used on buses or trains. In the late nineteenth century began to produce the picture, but it was quite expensive linoleum and not very durable.

In the late '50s linoleum production in Russia has been closed. It was decided to engage in the manufacture of synthetic material polyvinyl chloride (PVC). In 1973, during the oil crisis and rising prices, including polyvinyl chloride and on, the producers again reminded of the linoleum.


Production of natural linoleum
In the production of linoleum, there is an initially prepared mass, consisting of linseed oil, crushed limestone, wood flour and resins of conifers. This mass gets maturing in the bunkers during the week. In a lot of added natural dyes and oxidation of linseed oil obtained pellets of different colors. Then the mixture is pressed together. The resulting material is cut into strips 1 m wide, placed overlapping on the basis of jute and again compressed into mangle. The material is then matured in the drying chambers. After two weeks of maturation obtained linoleum. To increase the durability and practicality of the material is treated with a special system of its easy to clean (ETC).


Linoleum comes in the form of tiles and rolls, up to 5 m, and thickness, depending on the wear resistance, from 1.5 to 4 mm.


Linoleum has a high abrasion resistance, antistatic, fire safety, high resistance to chemical reagents


Flaxseed oil is the most powerful preventive and therapeutic agent due to presence of the vitamin F, which prevents proliferation of various pathogenic bacteria. Therefore, natural linoleum, which has in its composition linseed oil, and has antibacterial properties. Linoleum is easy to clean and care, it is completely safe and environmentally friendly material, so it is widely used in health, medical and child care.

Linoleum fire protection. Due to this property as a linoleum floor covering is often used in cafes, bars and discotheques, where a thrown cigarette accidentally can not spoil the surface.


Due to the anti-static properties, natural linoleum is used in special rooms where the special equipment. There are also acoustic and conductive types of linoleum. Linoleum is sufficiently stable to alkalis, greases and solvents.


Now linoleum can be seen not only in specialized or administrative agencies, but also in offices, private homes and even apartments. This choice is not random, because with proper use and care of natural linoleum can last from 20 to 30 years, add to that all the positive qualities of this material and why so diverse and variable range of applications.


Time-consuming installation using special materials - this is perhaps the only disadvantage of commercial linoleum. Laying of the floor covering should be performed by a professional, however, many companies selling commercial linoleum and can offer you quality service for its installation.

And for those wishing to give the interior a home or office the originality and distinctiveness, manufacturing companies’ commercial linoleum each year offer new colors and designs of the floor. You can choose bold linoleum, simulated wood, cork and even crocodile skin, or blurred sand. For aesthetes designers offer linoleum the color scale, based on the paintings of great artists - Van Gogh, Gauguin and others. That many positive properties of natural linoleum make it such a popular subject of long design of experiments and innovations.


So you see, chose linoleum, you will not regret getting a strong, durable, resistant to external manifestation of flooring with the original design and a wide choice of colors.