The modern choice

Choice of finishing construction materials are extremely broad, they are inundated with enormous Buildmarket, salons, markets, specialized firms. Diverse parquet floors, natural stones of any rocks, ceramic tile world's best manufacturers and domestic companies. But for the floors with all the richness offers the most massive and popular material remains linoleum. Of course, ideally for the living room, bedroom, bathroom might choose parquet or ceramic tile, but linoleum is good, even here, bribing foreign attractive, affordable and unpretentious. The choice of finishing and construction materials are extremely broad, they are inundated with enormous Buildmarket, salons, markets, specialized firms. Diverse parquet floors, natural stones of any rocks, ceramic tile world's best manufacturers and domestic companies. But for the floors with all the richness offers the most massive and popular material remains linoleum. Of course, ideally for the living room, bedroom, bathroom might choose parquet or ceramic tile, but linoleum is good, even here, bribing foreign attractive, affordable and unpretentious. In some cases, linoleum and did indispensable - in the kitchen, hallway, on the verandah, pantry, in a periodically heated farmhouse, where is wet, a lot of walking, stain and wash. However, the issue is not only that. Modern linoleum - material of new generation, radically different from its not too presentable, "ancestor". Linoleum has acquired an amazing diversity: German manufacturers alone produce about 250 variants of the material of about 100 colors, annually updating the collection that allows you to choose coverage under any interior, with drawings from abstract to traditional. The constant popularity of vinyl under natural parquet and boards of various breeds and types of installation, as well as a ceramic tile. There is a mosaic of color, crumb, marble, granite, malachite and other stones. Modern linoleum is no longer smells like "chemistry", on the contrary, his property - unattainable before environmental cleanliness. From flooring and carpet is a synthetic cover features a practical, high moisture resistance and durability. To improve it even more, in brand designed for the "cruel" operation, manufacturers introducing special additives that make it almost eternal. According to terms of service most of the vinyl covers designed for use in 7-10 years, and some (if properly cared for) - and 30 years. For comparison, the parquet floor is usually designed for 40 years of operation, laminate - for 5-15 years, carpet - for 5-10 years. Of course, ceramic tile and stone facing are even stronger, but the linoleum - soft and warm material that provides good sound and heat insulation. The attractiveness of linoleum increase its special variety - antistatic, acoustic, antibacterial, conductive, non-skid, designed for public and industrial premises, but applicable and at home. It is essential that in order to lay linoleum, does not require careful preparation of sex. With regard to simplicity and low cost of installation, there is vinyl still not been surpassed. In comparison with other types of coatings are simple and operation, and cleaning of linoleum - just to rub it every six months special mastic and protect from the effects of piercing and cutting items. There's also anti-bacterial treatment. Despite the metamorphosis experienced, linoleum is still the most affordable flooring. Only the most upscale of its brands at prices close to laminate and parquet. For example, a square meter of flooring typically costs P. 21-53 euros, laminate - 10-25 euros, linoleum, PVC - 2-25 euros. Production of domestic producers that manufacture high-quality linoleum on European technology, afford almost all segments of the population. As for flaws, then, like other soft plastics, linoleum not tolerate frost and direct sunlight. In former times it remains a bias against the linoleum as the "chemistry", Junk in a residential area. But now the quality of PVC linoleum is made on technology, ensuring its environmental safety. Guarantee it is the availability of relevant certificates and a European "origin" of technology. For fans of the naturalness of the first floor material, similar to linoleum, it was a so-called "oil-canvas", patented in 1627 in England. Then, the enhanced and the fabric coated with a hot mixture of linseed oil, beeswax, resin, resin and dye. It is interesting that the beginning of XX century, a major producer of linoleum became Russia. Large floor with plants located in Odessa, and Riga. Linoleum those times was an unattractive oily, smelling of fish oil a brown-color cover. But the advantage of linoleum was a very high wear resistance, so it's up to the late 50's successfully used not only in homes but also in trains, buses and subway cars. Then, in the wake of "synthetic" optimism, Nikita Khrushchev, once closed the floor with the old Soviet factories, and in our country have decided the issue of sexual transition to a PVC coating. However, and in other countries polyvinyl began his winning streak. The oil crisis of 1973, the development of the environmental movement, and improvements in technology have revived natural linoleum, but not from us. Composition natural linoleum now includes natural dyes, wood flour, conifer resin, crushed lime and linseed oil. Stirred and sustained weight pressed together on a fabric basis of jute, getting extremely dense structure. The total cycle of linoleum, together with the cycles of aging, takes almost a month. Linoleum different bright and well-developed design, the use of embossing effects, imitation leather and sand. This eco-friendly material that has natural antibacterial properties, which is easy to care (disinfection, cleaning). He practically incombustible, it does not remain outstanding traces of cigarette butts. Linoleum - anti-static coating, wear-resistant, light, do not generate static electricity that is resistant to grease and solvents applicable for underfloor heating. With proper care and maintenance of the life of linoleum 25-30 years. Over time, it almost does not lose the aesthetic properties. Linoleum is relatively expensive - 15-20 euros / sq. meter, is not easy in installation requires professional treatment and a special adhesive. Now a leader in the production of linoleum is the Austrian firm "Forbo", controls 60% of world market (the collection "Marmoleum" and "Artoleum"). Linoleum is made as companies "Sommer" and "DLW". The total volume of this market is not less than 40 million square meters a year. PVC - effectively and efficiently, however, modern linoleum are doing now mostly made of PVC. PVC - almost universal plastic, which in the presence of appropriate additives into a plastic box, cloaks, or toothbrushes. Depending on the homogeneity of the material, ie the presence or absence of the inner layers, distinguish homogeneous (groundless) or heterogeneous (layered). Homogeneous vinyl can have a picture in the form of randomly scattered spots or marble-like non-directional, which is provided by the technology of mixing different colors of plastic pellets. Due to the homogeneity of the structure at a homogeneous linoleum practically no noticeable wear, which further enhances its durability. Therefore, it is good for areas with increased load, laying in the hallways, parade, shops, etc. Under the same conditions groundless linoleum significantly cheaper and more suitable for wet and dirty rooms. Thin groundless linoleum particularly sensitive to the quality of training grounds, since it immediately stamped any irregularities. To eliminate the shift of its better to stick to the whole plane. Sometimes on the surface of the linoleum groundless cause a special protective coating to increase wear or add to the composition of the plastic mass abrasive grains and ornamental "chips." Heterogeneous - the most popular type of linoleum. It consists of the following layers: - top - transparent, wear-resistant - the decorative painted - top foam - reinforcing fiberglass, vinyl protects from shrinkage - the lower foam - seamy layer with a printed logo of the manufacturer. The cost of the heterogeneous linoleum obviously higher than that of a homogeneous, but it has better heat and sound insulating properties, does not require fixing to the floor for the entire plane, due to the elasticity is less sensitive to microroughness. As a basis for it may be used polyester, felt, jute or foamed PVC. Option with the foamed plastic more humidity resistant than non-woven material. Lifetime of heterogeneous linoleum at least 10 years. In a separate group can be identified based on the warm linoleum. They consist of a polymer layer thickness of 1.5 mm with a printed or uniform throughout the volume of the figure, pasted on the basis of natural or synthetic jute or felt. The total thickness of the finished linoleum can reach 5 mm. Similar linoleum soft, elastic, perfectly retain heat, perfect for living quarters. Their drawback - the sensitivity to moisture that can penetrate the foundation and cause decay. Therefore it is desirable to stack them in one piece and do not use in rooms with high humidity. However, this is the best option for cottage construction. Since the operation of linoleum on the basis of warm slightly enlarged, when laying the material between the wall and under the skirting leave a small gap of about 0,5 cm on the degree of resistance to any kind of stress, and especially to wear, PVC coating are divided into domestic, semi-commercial and commercial (for industrial and public buildings). Household linoleum has a thickness of 1,5-3 mm and the wear layer 0,15-0,35 mm. Roll width 1,5-4 m. Its main features are: - cost 2,5-10 euro / sq. m - weight of 1,25-2,25 kg / sq. m - residual strain is not more than 0,2 mm - Flexibility - there should be no cracks in the circumference of the rod 45 mm in diameter - the thermal conductivity of 0,018-0,035 W / m • K; - water absorption of no more than 1-1,5% - sound absorption 13-18 dB. Semi-commercial linoleum is much stronger than the household, but inferior in strength characteristics of the commercial. Available in rolls of a width of 2 to 4 pm on the linoleum of this kind is available warranty period 7-20 years depending on the manufacturer's. It is used in offices and public places with a low load and low cross. Key Features: - Cost 5,5-15 euro / sq. m - a protective layer of 0,5-0,6 mm - Weight 1,6-2 kg / sq. m - residual strain is not more than 0,10 mm - Flexibility - there should be no cracks in the circumference of the rod with a diameter of 10-40 mm - 12-16 dB sound absorption. Commercial linoleum is a coating of high durability. Unlike other species, it is stained throughout the thickness and has a thicker protective layer. Applied, usually in public buildings where a large flow of people and the floor should have high wear resistance. It can also be applied in residential buildings, but due to the high price (10-40 euros / sq. M), its use in residential buildings, where you can do less durable and inexpensive linoleum is very limited. Period of operation of this type of coatings - from 10 to 25 years. Main characteristics - cost 10-40 euros / sq. m - a protective layer of 0,7 mm - weight ~ 2.8 kg / sq. m - residual deformation no more 0,02-0,10 mm - Flexibility - there should be no cracks in the circumference of the rod with a diameter of 10-40 mm - 10.6 dB sound absorption. Species of commercial linoleum are special coatings - such as linoleum, antistatic, acoustic, anti-slip (for humid areas), etc. Source: Journal of Country Review