Linoleum Flooring Guide

Linoleum Flooring Basics

Though it's sometimes mistaken for your grandma's vinyl flooring, "true linoleum" is a flooring material that's been around for more than 100 years, though it's style has been updated for the 21st century. The rolls of sheeted flooring can be designed to match any decor, and are as durable and green as any flooring material out there.

Pros of linoleum flooring

Despite the stigma that goes with the "linoleum" name, it can be a hip, ultra-modern flooring option. Available in a rainbow of colors and either sheets or tiles, it's quite versatile and durable; it actually hardens over time. It doesn't require VOC-laden adhesives or solvents, so it doesn't off-gas during installation or over it's functional life. Linoleum is also antibacterial, and very easy to clean, making it a good option for folks sensitive to allergens.

Cons of linoleum flooring

If you go with a sheet (rather than tiles) and a small portion gets damaged, the whole thing might need to be replaced, since it's all the same piece. Because it's a thin sheet or tile, linoleum can be more susceptible to heat or fire—let's say from a pot dropped from the stove, or an ember that pops from a fireplace. And, after long periods of time in high-traffic areas, or after repeated soakings in standing water, for example, linoleum can stain.

How Green is Linoleum?

Based on a composite of green materials, marmoleum is one of the greener flooring options out there. Its name is derived from the main ingredient, linseed oil, which is what you get when you press flax seeds. Natural rosins, like pine rosin, wood flour (a fine sawdust), and jute are the other common materials, making it almost completely naturally-derived.

If you can find a manufacturer willing to back up claims of sustainability—for the rosins, and origins of the wood flour, for example—with something more substantial than a smile and a handshake, then that particular marmoleum is pretty darn green.

Where do I get it?

Many home flooring stores carry linoleum, including: The Marmoleum Store
ecohaus

Where do I use it?

Marmoleum is a terribly versatile flooring option. It's a good option for high-traffic areas like the kitchen, rooms that can get wet, like the bathroom and laundry room, and, with an increase in stylish designs, it's making inroads in living rooms, too.

What does it cost?

Marmoleum sheeting costs about the same as vinyl flooring—about $3 per square foot—and click planks and tiles are a bit more—usually $4 per square foot.

Installation details for linoleum

DIY-inclined homeowners can install marmoleum flooring—both sheets and tiles—themselves. Remember to leave your new flooring in your home for a good 48 hours or so prior to installation, to insure proper acclimitization in your home, and keep in mind that sheeting will expand slightly in width and shrink slightly in length when placed into the adhesive. Green Building Supply has a solid list of instructions to help you install your own.

More about linoleum:
Armstrong Brings Back Linoleum, Renewing a 140 Year old Tradition
Marmoleum Flooring
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