What is marmoleum and how to work with it correctly?
Marmoleum flooring is nothing more than natural linoleum. This is a fairly old production technology dating back to the seventeenth century. Of course, the manufacturing process today has undergone significant changes, improvements, but, as before, this material remains an environmentally friendly coating. A wide range of colors allows designers to implement the most daring artistic decisions, because the material has almost a hundred colors and a thousand different shades.
How is marmoleum made?
This is a floor covering made of cork, jute, vegetable resin. But the component composition may vary slightly, for example, chalk, wood flour, linseed oil are used. In the production process, all components are mixed, of course, in a certain ratio. The mass is infused for about a week, then dyes are added there. Next is the process of pressing, slicing: tiles, boards, marmoleum roll, subsequent drying.
Basically, linoleum for tiles is used to create a complex pattern, and this is an excellent decoration for the room. Panel material is a quick and easy way to install in public places. If we talk about the scope of home use, a great solution is a marmoleum for the kitchen, as well as for the dining room, rest room, hallway.
The advantages and disadvantages of marmoleum
The flooring in question is popular, and this is logical, because the marmoleum has excellent technical characteristics. This will now be discussed, for a more detailed acquaintance, it is necessary to name the advantages of the material:
- resistance to chemicals, physical pressure;
- due to its absolute naturalness, the floor covering is completely safe, not causing allergic reactions in people or pets;
- simplicity of laying, operation - marmoleum in the form of tiles, for example, is easily glued to a flat surface. The installation process does not require additional skills. It is noteworthy that linoleum marmoleum can be reused, for this you should carefully clean the surface of the material from glue;
- resin contains coniferous trees, for this reason this flooring has bactericidal properties - suitability for use at home, and in children’s and medical institutions;
- the possibility of planning a floor heating system - this process will not affect natural linoleum, because it can withstand high temperatures;
- resistance to sunlight - the material retains color for a long time;
- a find for designers - a combination of colors, shades, in order to create a unique picture.
As for the flaws, some are available. First of all, we are talking about high fragility. This means that during transportation, transfer, you need to be careful not to damage the edges of the material. Secondly, the marmoleum is very rigid, not flexible, and this creates certain inconveniences during storage and transportation.
Well, the price category is not too cheap, but it’s not a pity to give normal money for good quality.There are no other significant minuses, and this is extremely pleasing to designers who are constantly looking for the perfect materials.
An example of laying marmoleum with a locking mechanism
The popularity of this unique flooring is growing, since marmoleum reviews are in most cases positive. So, before starting the installation, it is necessary to let the marmoleum lie down in the room for a day. After that, you can open the package, check the coating for defects, if any, it is better not to be lazy and replace the defective material.
While the flooring is acclimatizing, you need to do the preparation of the base. It is important that the laying of marmoleum is possible on almost any surface, but always clean, smooth, dry. A polyester mounting film or polyethylene should be laid under the coating, this is done in order to protect the marmoleum from the appearance of condensate. Do not forget that the film must be wound on the walls (5 cm), the overlap at the joints is formed in the form of an overlap - 20 cm. Horizontal is no less important - there should be no deviations of more than two millimeters by two meters.
If the preparatory phase is over, you can proceed with the direct installation:
- first row - the first panel should be placed with a comb to the wall, with a groove to itself. From here begins the installation of the entire row - the panels are joined by the ends, towards the opposite wall. In case it becomes necessary to adjust the panel with a hammer, it is advisable to use a wooden block as a gasket, then the material will remain intact. The gap between the coating and the wall is not less than 1 cm, not more than the width of the baseboard. Wedges are used to set the gap;
- installation of the second row - the trim of the last plate is installed at the beginning of the second row. It is inserted with a spike into the groove, but the lock does not snap, but is tilted. To do this, use the bars - at first all panels are joined by the ends, and when the row is completely ready, the bars are removed, with a careful press, the whole row is latched with the first row along the longitudinal joint;
- each subsequent row fits the same as the second. After installation of 3-4 rows, it is necessary to adjust the position of the coating in order to obtain the above-mentioned size of the gaps;
- if there is no possibility of laying the last row in the usual way, for example, with regard to the presence of thresholds, the longitudinal lock should be cut and the rows glued, but only after the last plate is wound under an obstacle;
- skirting boards are attached only to the wall - this is an essential point, since the marmoleum must necessarily remain mobile. For this reason, it categorically cannot be fixed.
If you are still looking for a suitable flooring so that it is safe, looks beautiful, and fits easily, marmoleum can be called an ideal option: the photos provided in the publication are a good example that proves the practicality of the material.
Michael 
Basil
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