Linoleum has an undeserved bad rep. Mistakenly lumped in with vinyl, it's seen as cheap and environmentally disastrous. But, in fact, linoleum is an altogether different material—one that's durable, green (it's biodegradable), and affordable. Is it time to give linoleum a chance? We think so and here's why:
Above: A kitchen in Denmark with a hard-wearing Marmoleum floor. Photograph by Pernille Kaalund for Bolig Magasinet. (Like the color? See more Kitchen Floors Gone Green.)
What is Linoleum?
The name "linoleum" is derived from the Latin Linum (flax) and Oleum (oil), and gives a clue to its makeup: Linoleum is a made of natural, renewable ingredients, including linseed oil, wood flour, cork dust, tree resins, jute, ground limestone, and natural pigments.
Above: A gray linoleum floor offers the look of concrete with a softer feel underfoot. Photograph via vtwonen.
What's the difference between linoleum, Marmoleum, and vinyl flooring?
The only thing that linoleum and vinyl flooring have in common is affordability and, to some extent, appearance. Vinyl is a synthetic material made from non-renewable, petroleum-based materials that release VOCs, melt under high heat, and have color and patterns that are applied to the surface only. Linoleum, on the other hand, releases no VOCs (only a linseed oil scent when first installed), is long lasting (estimated lifespan, 30-40 years), and its color runs throughout. To give vinyl some credit, it is highly waterproof, whereas linoleum is porous and requires a sealant to match vinyl's water repellence.
Marmoleum is to linoleum as Levi's is to blue jeans; Marmoleum is a brand of linoleum made by Forbo. It's the longstanding market leader in linoleum flooring. Armstrong is another leading brand of linoleum.
Above: Architect E.B. Min of San Francisco firm Min|Day, a member of the Remodelista Architect/Designer Directory, installed an orange linoleum floor in the mudroom and office of a Sonoma ranch house. "Linoleum is a utilitarian, cost-effective material, and we knew it would be durable," Min says. "Linoleum gave us an opportunity to think about the floor differently— a solid color gives the floor a monolithic feel." For more, see The Architect Is In: A Ranch-Turned-Farmhouse in Sonoma County. Photograph by Bruce Damante.
What colors does linoleum come in?
This is not the linoleum of the past. The color palette now extends far beyond school-cafeteria drab. In addition to a rainbow of solid and multi-colored options, offerings include marbled, stone-look, flecked, and wood-grain patterns.
Linoleum's natural finish is a grainy matte. It can, however, be buffed to a smooth honed surface, or polished to a shine.
Above: Two of the 100-plus colors of Forbo Marmoleum include the wood-grain-like Welsh moor (L) and yellow moss (R).
Above: Brown-and-white marbled zig-zag linoleum from Sinclair Till.
Above: Forbo offers a subdued palette of 12 colors chosen by Dutch architect Piet Boon. The Piet Boon Marmoleum Selections include the blue-hued Piet Boon 12.
Above: Another Piet Boon Marmoleum color (Piet Boon 04) has a stone-like look.
Does linoleum flooring need to be sealed?
Because linoleum is a porous material, it needs to be sealed before installation. The product is evolving, however, and most linoleum now comes with a non-toxic sealer that is applied during the manufacturing process. When sealed, it is in impenetrable and resistant to water damage, making it a good choice for kitchens, bathrooms, entries, and laundry rooms. Some linoleum floors should be resealed annually, while those with factory sealants often have long warranties (Forbo's Marmoleum Click Classic, for instance, comes with a 25-year warranty).
What about cleaning and maintenance?
Naturally antistatic and antibacterial, linoleum is easy to clean. A duster or vacuum is recommended for debris, while a damp mop with a very mild cleanser is suggested for periodic cleaning. Harsh chemical compounds are to be avoided.
Above: In their Hamptons house, New York architects Russell Groves and Neal Beckstedt, members of the Remodelista Architect/Designer Directory, selected seamless linoleum for the kitchen floor. As The New York Times put it, "the neighbors may be appalled, but Mr. Beckstedt is a big fan of the affordable, much-maligned flooring. Linoleum is 'very, very chic,' he said. 'It’s like wall-to-wall carpeting, except it’s a hard surface and you can scrub it.'" Photograph by Eric Striffler for The New York Times.
How is linoleum flooring installed?
Linoleum is available as tiles and sheets, each with its own requirements.
Modular Tiles and planks: Easy to lay out and install, tiles and planks (akin to strips of wood flooring) can be fixed with an adhesive to the subfloor. Some versions are available in a click-together, tongue-and-groove format that can be quickly installed on top of any flat floor without adhesives.
Sheets: Sheet linoleum is more complex in terms of installation: it requires cutting, fitting, and an adhesive "glue-down" to apply it to a flat sub-floor— work that's typically done by a professional.
How much does linoleum flooring cost?
While slightly more costly than vinyl, linoleum is a bargain compared to wood, ceramic tile, and natural stone. A good ballpark estimate is $3-$5 per square foot installed. By comparison, hardwood flooring costs an average of $8-$15 per square foot.
Above: UK designer Mark Smith used gray-and-white zigzag marbled linoleum flooring from London company Sinclair Till in his own kitchen. Photograph by Simon Brown for UK House and Garden.
Linoleum Flooring Recap
Pros:
- Produced from renewable and recycled natural ingredients
- Does not emit toxins or use toxins in the manufacturing or disposal process
- Recyclable and biodegradable
- Affordable
- Flexible, won't crack
- Soft underfoot: has some spring and give
- Easy to clean
Cons:
- Still has a bad reputation as drab
- Conjures up unnatural feeling of vinyl
- Porous: often requires sealing
Above: Marmoleum floors installed in an San Francisco kitchen remodel offer the look of dark stone at a fraction of the cost. Photograph via the kitchn.
Considering flooring? See the following Remodeling 101 Posts:
- Remodeling 101: Polished Concrete Floors
- Remodeling 101: The Mystery of Bamboo Floors Revealed
- Remodeling 101: Easy Whitewashed Scandi Floors
- Remodeling 101: Wood Flooring Patterns
And Christine explores warmth underfoot in Remodeling 101: Five Things to Know About Radiant Floor Heating.
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