What is marmoleum: a type of linoleum or a new floor covering? Marmoleum is a beautiful and durable coating of natural origin. What is marmoleum made of?
Marmoleum, despite its unusual and somewhere loud name, is considered to be one of the types of linoleum. However, it is this type of linoleum that is singled out as a separate type of flooring. Why? In fact, linoleum and marmoleum are similar only in appearance. Further in this review, we will try to deal with the pros and cons of this flooring, study its technical and qualitative characteristics, consider the installation method, and also understand what marmoleum is. Previously, we have already considered the advantages and disadvantages of laminate and linoleum, and also figured out which one is better. If you're interested, you can take a look.
What is the difference between marmolium and linoleum?
Understanding what is the difference between these floor coverings, it is necessary to identify several factors that determine the uniqueness of marmoleum and the allocation of this material, such as separate species floor covering. Let's list these factors:
1. Material.
The composition of marmoleum includes exclusively environmentally friendly elements. These are cork, jute, resin, various natural oils of natural origin. Marmoleum does not emit any substances harmful to human life or domestic animals, but it contains a number of natural antiseptics that successfully fight pathogens. Thereby useful property marmoleum is highly recommended for use in medical institutions and kindergartens.
2. Increased strength and chemical resistance.
Natural material is not afraid of any household chemicals, and the strength can be judged by the following indicator - the pressure that the marmoleum can withstand is 160 kg / cm2. Heavy furniture that has stood for a long time will not leave any mark on this flooring.
3. Drawing.
The image is carried out throughout the thickness and operation can continue until through holes appear. Compare this indicator of marmoleum with linoleum and its pattern exclusively in the top layer. Marmoleum has a clear advantage.
4. Form of marmoleum.
Unlike linoleum, marmoleum is produced not in the form of rolls, but in the form of separate strips, like a laminate. This form of flooring not only simplifies the work, but also makes it possible to combine stripes. different drawings and colors, giving designers a huge field for creativity. The lock connection, borrowed from the laminate, greatly facilitates the connection of marmoleum strips to each other. Well, it’s worth once again reminding you of the mandatory preparation and leveling the bases before laying. So with an example you can understand the whole process.
5. Fragility.
Another difference from linoleum and the only drawback of marmoleum. When delivering home, you should check the integrity of the goods received.
Do-it-yourself styling. How it's done?
If you have already laid laminate or parquet, then this experience will help you a lot when working with marmoleum. There are many similarities in the way these floorings are installed, but it is true that there are some differences.
Let's imagine the process in the following order:
Foundation preparation
Any Finishing work start from this point. Flooring installation is no exception. If the floor in the room is made of wood, with bumps and cracks, we will need to sheathe it with plywood or OSB sheets. If the floor is concrete, with sags and depressions, then we need a self-leveling screed. It is impossible to ignore the preparation of the base, since any unevenness can cause deformation and violation of the integrity of the marmoleum, due to its fragility.
Marmoleum, like laminate, has a high coefficient of thermal deformation, that is, when the temperature rises, it changes its shape, and when the temperature drops, it acquires its original dimensions. All this must be considered before the process. To do this, a temperature gap is made along the perimeter of the laying area near walls and columns using special liners provided by the manufacturer along with marmoleum. After the end of the work, the liners are removed. Marmoleum is not glued to the base - this will deprive it of mobility and, as a result, swelling will certainly form.
Strip laying
Marmoleum is laid in two ways. If you do not need to select a pattern or perform a design composition, then the material is laid according to the principle of installing a laminate. If it is planned artistic composition using stripes various colors, then the marmoleum should be laid from the center of the room. If you need to cut strips, you will need a regular hacksaw. No special tools are required for this.
As we can see, the process is quite simple and even for a person who decides to do the installation on their own for the first time, it will not cause any special problems and questions. The most important thing is to be mindful of the fragility of this flooring and handle the marmoleum carefully before it is laid on the floor. After laying, he is no longer in danger.
Today it is generally accepted that marmoleum is a new type of linoleum coating, which is made exclusively from natural ingredients. However, this is far from being the case, and natural coatings, similar in composition to marmoleum, began to be used in Europe as early as the end of the 17th century. Modern marmoleum is a modified version of a long-forgotten natural material from which floor coverings were made in elite European houses of the 18th and 19th centuries.
The history of marmoleum
Natural linoleum flooring is one of the very first floor coverings that was created by mankind for decorative purposes. The very first natural linoleum was an oiled fabric canvas, which was created in 1627 and immediately began to be used as a covering for wooden floors. The manufacture of the coating consisted in applying a special hot mixture of beeswax, dyes, resins and linseed oil. As this coating improved, they began to add cork flour to the composition, which significantly increased strength and service life, and the material was also called camptulikon.
For your information. At that time, the components used were quite expensive, which inevitably affected the cost of the material. Such decoration for the floor could afford only financially wealthy citizens.
Later, the Englishman Frederick Walton came up with the idea of replacing linseed oil with linoxin, which is also known as oxidized linseed oil or linseed oil. He also came up with the name of the coating itself. The Latin phrase "Lini Oleum" literally translates as linseed oil, which was used as a binder. Since all the components were natural, hence the name live linoleum or natural linoleum. After the introduction of the technology of hot pressing of fabric with a natural mixture, the material received the name - marmoleum, which has been preserved in Europe to this day.
Marmoleum production
Modern flooring marmoleum is made using the latest technologies. The composition of the material includes such components as:
- wood flour;
- resins coniferous trees;
- crushed lime;
- Linseed oil.
First of all, all components are mixed in the right proportions into a single linoleum mass, which is stored for some time in special sealed bins at a temperature of +30 degrees. Natural dyes are added to the mixture, which cause the linseed oil to oxidize and as a result, characteristic colored granules appear.
For your information. Natural linoleum Marmoleum Walton and Marmoleum Vivace has distinctive design in the form of multi-colored granules. This is achieved by mixing granules different colors, which are then pressed in special calender machines.
Then the resulting pressed strip is cut into equal pieces and laid on a fabric or jute base, after which it is again passed through a pressing machine at a temperature, which creates the same fabric-based marmoleum. Further, the ready-made natural linoleum marmoleum is placed in special drying chambers, where the temperature is maintained from +22 to +26 degrees with minimal humidity. In these chambers, the marmoleum surface is coated with special composition Eazy to clean, creating a transparent protective film for ease of maintenance and wear protection. The result is a ready-to-use material, an example of which is shown in the photo below.
Advantages and disadvantages of marmoleum
Marmoleum flooring has a number of advantages over its artificial counterparts, including:
- Environmentally friendly linoleum, absolutely safe and does not cause any allergic reactions;
- Wear resistance due to the protective layer and pattern throughout the thickness of the coating;
- Hygiene. Due to the presence of coniferous trees in the resin, marmoleum linoleum has bactericidal characteristics and can be used in children's rooms and medical institutions;
- Fire resistance. Marmoleum does not burn and does not support combustion processes;
- Resistant to chemicals;
- Ease of installation and reusability;
- Long service life provided quality styling and leaving. Based on consumer reviews, we can say that the average service life is 18-20 years.
For your information. Natural linoleum - marmoleum can be safely used for installing underfloor heating, as it is able to withstand high temperatures while maintaining physical characteristics and at the same time, does not emit toxic components. However, it simultaneously significantly retains heat from the heating elements.
It is also important to note that the natural linoleum coating is UV resistant and does not lose color. A large number of color solutions and shades are actively used by interior designers to create complex and unique compositions. However, the material also has its drawbacks, which include:
- Fragility. With a strong bend, natural-based linoleum breaks and this must be taken into account when laying and transporting the material. This is especially true of the tiled type of coating;
- Rigidity, which creates some inconvenience when cutting material in complex geometric rooms;
- Price. The average price of high-quality marmoleum varies from 18 to 24 dollars per m2.
For your information. Marmoleum has a large specific gravity compared to analogues. new material has a characteristic pungent smell, but it is not dangerous and quickly disappears. Also, real eco-linoleum is difficult to cut and, if not sharp knife leaves torn edges.
Types and characteristics of marmoleum
modern linoleum natural materials can be produced in several forms:
- Rolled, has a fabric or jute base. Typically, a household coating is made in rolls with a thickness of 2 to 2.5 mm. The width of the roll varies from 1.5 to 6 meters and the weight of the roll can be from 60 to 120 kilograms;
- Tiled, made in the form of separate modules, 30x30 and 50x50 cm in size, mounted as tile on an adhesive base;
- Panel. This is usually commercial natural coating with a thickness of 2.5 to 4 mm. The standard panel size is 90x30 cm.
Also, marmoleum can be with or without a base. The material with the base is laid on concrete or wooden base floors, used in areas with high traffic. Coating without a base requires the use of additional substrates and is used in residential areas.
For your information. The most famous manufacturer is Armstrong, which produces natural Marmorette linoleum. The coating has a protective layer of transparent polyurethane and can be used in all types of premises.
Depending on wear resistance, marmoleum is also divided into several main classes:
- Commercial. Belongs to class 41-43 and is used in rooms with high traffic. Thickness protective coating usually more than 3 mm;
- Semi-commercial. This material belongs to class 31-33 with a sewn thickness of 2.5 to 3 mm;
- Domestic. It belongs to the 21-23 wear resistance class and is used only in household premises with low traffic.
Manufacturers do not recommend laying material in rooms with high humidity. For an example of using coverage, we offer a review from one of the consumers and video material at the end of the article.
Modern consumers place quite high demands on floor coverings. And, although the choice of materials in stores is impressively large, finding the perfect coating in all respects can be difficult.
The floor should not only be aesthetically pleasing, but also strong and durable. It should not be afraid of moisture and exposure to detergents, it should be as natural and environmentally friendly as possible. At the same time, few people will be able to pay a lot of money for really high-quality flooring, as, for example, for a cork floor.
Most of those for whom the choice of flooring is relevant will want to take a closer look at marmoleum. It is this material that is confidently winning more and more new fans.
What is marmoleum?
The words "marmoleum" and "linoleum" are consonant and have a similar nature. The difference is that linoleum is synthetic material, and marmoleum is natural. It is made from a mixture of various natural ingredients: cork, wood flour, chalk, jute. All this is impregnated with natural oils and dyes, pressed, cut. The manufacturing technology of marmoleum is constantly being improved, which ultimately gives the consumer more choice colors, textures and greater wear resistance of the canvas.
Marmoleum coating composition
Marmoleum is chosen for flooring in residential premises, but it is so reliable that it can be successfully used in in public places. So, manufacturers offer 3 classes of this material.
- 41-43 - the most stable and reliable, can be used in areas with constant high traffic, such as train stations and airports. The thickness of its decorative layer is more than 3 mm, which makes it unsurpassed in terms of wear resistance.
- 31-33 - is considered an industrial marmoleum. Can be laid on the floor of large offices and enterprises. The thickness of the decorative layer is already less than 2.5 mm, but still this allows us to talk about many years of service for such a coating.
- 21-23 - the thinnest and cheapest, but does not mean bad at all. It is used for apartments, private houses and small offices. The warranty period of such marmoleum is at least 20 years!
Advantages of marmoleum linoleum
Marmoleum is perhaps the only floor covering that has such an impressive list of advantages over competitors. Let's label them all:
Marmoleum - moisture resistant, excellent for country houses
The advantages of marmoleum are enough to make it popular among buyers. However, in fairness, it is necessary to point out the shortcomings, although they are not so significant.
Marmoleum is a material that will be equally appropriate in the kitchen, in the nursery, and in the living room. In pursuit of durability, experts do not recommend taking a coating of the highest wear resistance class. Such marmoleum weighs heavier and costs more, but does not justify its price.
Photo: marmoleum linoleum is good in the kitchen
The coating is sold in tiles, panels or small rolls with a width of 2 meters. Since this item is piece-by-piece, pieces can be combined different shades(fortunately there are several hundred of them), creating a unique floor covering.
Manufacturers of natural linoleum constantly offer consumers some innovations. One of the latest is a marmoleum with a locking mechanism like a laminate. Such material will allow you to create ideal flat surface no visible seams.
No matter how much you want to quickly see the marmoleum in the interior, you should not lay it right away. The material must be allowed to "lie down" in the room and acclimatize. This is especially true in the cold season.
Marmoleum does not require a substrate or additional processing gender. The main condition is a surface with irregularities of no more than 2 mm. At correct styling This flooring will last for many years. The only negative is that it will have time to get bored during the time of impeccable service!
Out of ignorance, some consumers confuse marmoleum with linoleum. Similar comparison quite incorrect, since these two facing material have nothing to do with each other. Marmoleum is a modern flooring that is environmentally friendly and made from natural materials.
What is the peculiarity of this material and how to use it correctly, read the article below.Repair and Construction "Wrong" water heated floor in a private house
What is marmoleum
The composition of marmoleum has no synthetic components. Marmoleum is made from wood raw materials, crushed cork, resins conifers, oils of flax, chalk and lime. In order not to spoil such a rich composition, dyes are also selected exclusively natural. Natural linoleum was originally taken as the basis for the production of marmoleum, hence the confusion among the consumer. However, for a long time, the production of marmoleum has been separated into a separate branch. Marmoleum has higher performance characteristics, is able to withstand more weight, without damage and deflection. Marmoleum is supplied in three types:
- rolls 2 m wide;
- tiles standard sizes 30x30 or 50x50;
- panels 90x30.
If you want to do the laying of marmoleum with your own hands, I recommend taking a closer look at the tiled option, since the roll in the roll has big weight, inconvenient to transport and easily damaged at the edges. While the tile has a convenient slot lock on the principle of laminate, and its installation will not cause difficulties even for a novice builder.
Before buying marmoleum, pay attention to the material class:
21-23 - indicators of household marmoleum. Suitable for an apartment. Differs in high wear resistance, thickness of the top layer is up to 2 mm, reasonable price.
31-32 - industrial marmoleum. Such material is purchased for laying in small and large industries.
41-43 – top class marmoleum. Fits in public places with high traffic: shops, shopping centers, airports, hospitals. The thickness of the top layer reaches 4 mm.
Pros and cons of marmoleum
It's time to explore the benefits of marmoleum.
- The natural composition is an advantage not only for connoisseurs of environmental friendliness. Marmoleum is hypoallergenic, allowed for laying in a children's room.
- Caring for marmoleum is simple: wet cleaning with a minimum amount of chemicals.
- Marmoleum is not afraid of moisture, mechanical stress, the flooring does not fade from ultraviolet rays.
- The low thermal conductivity of marmoleum helps to save on the heat-insulating layer during installation.
- Coating does not emit harmful substances, fireproof, non-flammable, does not accumulate static electricity.
- A wide range of colors and textures, there is a choice for every buyer.
- The cost of the material, although higher than linoleum, but in a complete set with laying, the price for marmoleum is comparable to installation quality laminate or parquet board.
Among the disadvantages of marmoleum, the fragility of the material stands out. This is especially true of the corners of the coating, which must be handled with care. When buying a rolled marmoleum and no experience with it, seek help from a team of specialists.
Marmoleum laying
Do-it-yourself installation of marmoleum consists of several successive stages.
- Prepare the base surface. The floor must be level, dry and clean. If there are irregularities, arrange a sand-concrete screed, wait for it to dry.
- Bring the material into the apartment a day before laying, especially in winter time and transportation at low temperatures.
- The laying pattern of marmoleum depends on design solution: someone starts from the far corner, someone from the center.
- Follow the instructions for adhesive composition, do not apply too much glue so that it does not have time to dry. The glue is applied to the marmoleum tile with a notched trowel; it is not necessary to apply glue to the base.
- Leave a technical gap of 7-15 mm between the coating and the wall so that the marmoleum does not warp during operation.
- When the first row is completed, the second row can be attached one tile at a time, or you can connect a tile row and attach it at the same time.
- Cut the edge tiles of marmoleum with knives. Make the first cut with a straight blade knife, then finish with a hook blade.
- After laying the marmoleum tiles, walk over the surface with a special roller weighing 50-75 kg. Such a roller can be purchased for rent at hardware stores.
Self-assembly of tiled marmoleum will not make it difficult for a person who has minimal experience in construction work. Tiles are securely fastened together lock connection, and delight the consumer for decades.
Marmoleum is an environmentally friendly material for finishing gender. The flooring has a natural composition, is made of cork, jute, resin, vegetable oils. Reviews about marmoleum in the apartment are mostly positive. Consumers say good things performance characteristics floor covering.
Natural material managed to occupy a niche in the market thanks to:
- resistance to contact with chemicals;
- strength in relation to physical impact;
- moisture resistance, inability to deform under the influence of water;
- natural composition that does not cause an allergic reaction;
- simple installation that does not require special skills;
- ability to withstand high temperature, which allows you to install a floor heating system;
- bactericidal properties of marmoleum, making the material suitable for use in children's, medical institutions;
- the possibility of reuse, provided that the surface is thoroughly cleaned of glue;
- resistance to sunlight;
- no need for careful sealing of seams, careful leveling of the base due to the property of the material to spread, harden over time;
- interesting external design(for example, wood-like marmoleum, stone, etc.), effective combination of shades, which creates a unique pattern.
Important disadvantages
Flooring, in turn, has certain disadvantages. Reviews speak of the following shortcomings:
- fragility, high probability edge damage. When transferring, during the transportation process, care is required;
- Rigidity, lack of flexibility. This creates certain difficulties during storage, transportation;
- The property of spreading, hardening. When purchasing marmoleum, you need to pay attention to the production date and shelf life;
- Impossibility of application for finishing walls, ceilings. The coating retains residual plasticity, is able to "float" under its own weight;
- Difficulties in cutting, a problem with creating a smooth edge. The material is cut only along the walls, where the edge of the flooring will be covered with a plinth;
- High cost, explained by the use of high-quality natural raw materials.
Specifications
Natural flooring confidently occupies its own niche in the flooring market. The material owes excellent technical specifications to its composition. What is marmoleum made of? The cover is made from:
- ground cork tree bark;
- jute stems;
- vegetable resin;
- crushed chalk (calcium carbonate);
- linseed oils.
Compound In the manufacturing process, all components are combined in a certain proportion, mixed. The resulting mass is settled for a week. Next, a natural color pigment is added, due to which the flooring acquires a certain color. This is followed by pressing, cutting to a given size, which can result in rolled material, square slabs or long stripes. The final stage in the manufacture of flooring is the drying of products.
Release form
Marmoleum forbo is produced in the following types:
- Touch - a material with a relief surface, anti-slip properties. Modern coverage designed for fitness centers, gyms;
- Walton is a discreet solid color flooring. The material has an interesting texture, allows you to implement stylish design solutions;
- Artoleum - a coating with a bright pattern, made based on the works of famous artists;
- Marmoleum is a hardwearing flooring with a striking pattern reminiscent of natural stone.
Classes
The produced flooring has varying degrees wear resistance, designed for a certain load. Marmoleum is presented in the following classes:
When choosing, consider class affiliation - 21-23 - the thinnest coating with the most affordable price. The material is intended for an apartment, a private house, a small office with low traffic. The warranty period for marmoleum of this class is 20 years;
- 31-33 - industrial flooring with a decorative layer thickness of 2.5 mm. The coating is able to withstand an average load, suitable for laying in an enterprise, in a production workshop, in a large office;
- 41-43 - the most durable, reliable flooring with a top layer thickness of 3 mm. The coating is designed for places with high traffic - shopping centers, airports, train stations. The flooring is able to withstand up to 100 thousand attacks daily for 5 years.
Read detailed instructions so, depending on the room.
Characteristics and sizes
Marmolyum forbo is produced in the following form:
- Roll coating with standard width 2 m. The thickness of the flooring varies between 2 and 4 mm, depending on the class of the flooring. This is the earliest form of material release. Rolled marmoleum is used in spacious rooms, requires professional skills when laying;
- Square slabs measuring 50 by 50 cm or 30 by 30 cm. This marmoleum is relatively easy to work with, allows you to create beautiful patterns and compositions on the floor;
- Panels 90 by 30 cm, equipped with a locking system. Laying the material is simple, reminiscent of the installation of a laminate.
How is laying
Often the installation of marmoleum does not require careful preparation grounds. Natural flooring can be laid over the old flooring using a mounting adhesive. If the previous material is very worn out, it is better to dismantle it. In this case, the coating is laid on concrete base without additional thermal insulation, as required by linoleum. Marmoleum perfectly retains heat.
Mounting square tiles with glue If the differences in the height of the base do not exceed 2 mm, additional leveling is not required. Otherwise, you need to remove the sharp protrusions with a drill or grinder. After processing, the dust is swept off the floor, the rest is collected with a vacuum cleaner, the base is sprayed with water. For the installation of natural linoleum on the old coating, square plates fixed with glue are suitable. Due to their fragility, oblong panels are recommended to be laid on a concrete base.
Getting started, you need to determine the number of solid elements, establish the need for cutting. Then the rows are counted, which will be located along the length of the room. When measuring, a gap of 1.5-3 cm around the perimeter should be taken into account. The coating tends to deform, rise over time. The resulting joint is closed with skirting boards.
Installation of natural flooring can be done using the tools used when laying laminate. Marmoleum requires great care. The edge of the coating is fragile, can be easily deformed. Ideal for work rubber, wooden hammer, a clamp-hook having a hook of at least 15 cm.
Rolled marmoleum flooring
The rolled material is laid mainly in spacious commercial premises. Mounting process decorative coating similar in general to the flooring of commercial, semi-commercial types of linoleum. At the same time, working with marmoleum is more complicated, it requires special knowledge and skills, taking into account the characteristics of the material.
Adhesive laying There are some basic nuances that you need to pay attention to. For the installation of flooring, absolute cleanliness and strength of the base are required. Before laying the material, remove traces of paint, any oily substances. The roll coating is fixed with special glue. Seams are welded using a special low-melting polymer cord.
Tile "click"
Square tiles equipped with a locking system are laid on plastic material. The overlapping film prevents the formation of condensate under the marmoleum. The "click" tile does not require the use of a binder, the laying is carried out by the "floating" method. The flooring is mounted and fixed by the "groove-comb" system. The first slab is laid 1 cm from the wall with a ridge to the wall and a groove in opposite side. Subsequent elements are inserted at a slight slope into the groove of the previous plate.
The second row is laid in the same way at an angle, taking into account the compensation gap. The necessary seam is formed using a bar placed under the tile. After the installation is completed, the bar is removed, the locks snap into place. Part of the groove is removed from the last element, then a little glue is applied to the coating. The tile is lined with a bar. Upon completion of laying, check the evenness of the rows, the presence of expansion gaps near the walls. Next comes the installation of the plinth.
Panel laying
Marmoleum flooring, produced in the form of panels, is easy to install. In terms of the speed of work, the installation of panels is ahead of the laying of traditional tiled material. When finishing the floor, it is required to follow safety rules, carefully handle the coating. The material is brittle, cracks and deformations easily form on it. The spikes on the sides of the element may be damaged.
Care
In a residential area with a minimum load, daily dry cleaning with a vacuum cleaner is recommended. How to wash marmoleum? Wipe the floor once a week with a well wrung out cloth using a soft detergent. It is undesirable to wash the marmoleum with abrasive sponges that can damage upper layer. The presentable appearance of the floor can be maintained by using special cleaning products.
