Cleaning, renewal and restoration of natural linoleum. Marmoleum as a yet-unknown floor covering How to lay marmoleum natural linoleum for the kitchen

In one of the previous materials, we have already considered the features of such a finishing material as marmoleum and clarified all its advantages and disadvantages. Today we would like to acquaint the reader with the procedure for laying the presented flooring and reveal the nuances of the work.

Preparation for work

As mentioned earlier, marmoleum is identical in its visual characteristics to ordinary linoleum, but unlike it, it is produced not only in the form of rolls, but is also made in the form of tiles (like PVC) or panels with a lock joint (similar to laminate). In view of this, laying marmoleum with your own hands is somewhat different depending on the material used.

Foundation preparation process

Depends on the base material. So, if you plan to lay marmoleum on wooden surfaces, then you should first make sure that mechanical strength bases (damaged floorboards, cracks, drops are not allowed). And after that, make the final leveling of the floor by sheathing it with OSB panels or plywood sheets.

When it is planned to lay marmoleum on a concrete floor, you should make sure that there are no potholes, cracks, chips and, if necessary, level the base with a cement-sand mortar or self-leveling mixture.

In addition to the procedure for preparing the base at the initial stage, it is advisable to mark and cut the material. Why panels or tiles need to be laid out at the place of intended installation and mark control points.

When performing these operations, it is necessary to take into account certain features:

Marmoleum belongs to the group of natural finishing materials, in view of which it has the ability to change linear dimensions with temperature changes. That is, when laying it, it is necessary to provide for compensation gaps between the material and the wall (10 - 15 mm), which will subsequently be covered with a finishing plinth.

Mechanical processing of marmoleum (cutting) is associated with certain difficulties, which is why in the process of work it is desirable to minimize the number of cuts as much as possible and place them in visually hidden places.

Marmoleum laying technology

Depending on the type of material used (rolls, tiles or panels), the method of laying the material also varies.

Rolled marmoleum is laid by analogy with linoleum, however, unlike the synthetic counterpart, marmoleum is not allowed to be rolled into a roll more than 1 time, and this can only be done with the face up. This circumstance is connected with the fragility of the finish, in particular its end zones. That is, the material is simply rolled out in the room and it is trimmed around the perimeter, after which the matured marmoleum is pressed to the floor with the help of skirting boards and decorative thresholds.

Marmoleum in the form of tiles (50x50cm, 30x30cm) can be laid using two methods: with and without pattern selection. Moreover, in the first case, the installation of the finishing material should begin from the middle of the room, gradually moving to its edges. Whereas in the second variant (for premises standard form) it is best to start laying from the wall, with the smallest dimensions.

The very algorithm of the work involves the following actions:

At the place of laying the first row (near the wall), a base rail is set - a beacon (10 - 15 mm thick);
Specialized adhesive composition applied (in the form of a snake) on the wrong side of the finishing material;
The tile is matched with the beacon rail and simultaneously pressed against the base base;
All tiles of the first row are laid in the same way, after which the whole process is repeated again (until the work is completed);
After the adhesive has dried, the inter-joint voids can be filled with a special grout of the appropriate color shade.

Panel marmoleum is laid by analogy with a standard laminate. However, unlike this material, the joining of marmoleum panels is more difficult, due to its flexibility and fragility. Therefore, adjacent elements should be connected at a strictly defined angle, due to which the most high-quality engagement of the floorboards is ensured.

To achieve a given angle of inclination, it is best to use wooden patterns with an oblique cut (the angle of inclination of which will allow the marmoleum panels to be positioned at the most optimal angle during installation).

Such equipment is placed under the free edge of the trim and fixed in the groove of the previous row. Well, in order for the adjacent panel to close, the bar is simply removed and the marmoleum takes the desired position.

In order for the installation of a natural floor finish to not cause any particular difficulties, it is advisable to follow some recommendations in the process of performing work:

Tapping marmoleum (for high-quality joining) must be performed through special spacers and using rubber hammers.
For cutting marmoleum, it is best to use a hacksaw or a jigsaw with an appropriate file (fine tooth, reverse direction).
Marmoleum should be purchased only in specialized shopping malls guaranteeing the originality of the product.
In order to ensure a good adhesion of the material from the base bases, it is necessary to remove all dust and construction garbage with a vacuum cleaner.

The content of the article:

Marmoleum is a floor covering natural origin. The technology of its production is quite old, it originates from the 17th century. But, despite its modern improvements, the material has remained one of the most environmentally friendly to this day. This flooring can have about a hundred colors and a thousand different shades, with their help it will be possible to realize many artistic solutions. About how to lay marmoleum to create a beautiful and cozy interior in your home, you will find out by reading this article.

Technical characteristics of marmoleum for the floor

This material is made from natural ingredients: vegetable resin, jute and cork. During the production process, its composition may vary slightly by adding wood flour, chalk and linseed oil. All components are mixed into a homogeneous mass, which is infused for a week, and then dyes are added to it. In the future, the mass is pressed, cut into tiles, boards, canvases, which are then dried.

Approximately 80% of products are produced in the form of sheets rolled into rolls. They have a width of 1.5 to 6 m and a thickness of 2-4 mm, which depends on the class of coverage. The weight of one roll can be up to 120 kg, so it is undesirable to work with it on your own. In addition to being heavy, the material is also fragile. Having rolled out the roll once, it is no longer possible to roll it up. And work in small apartment with long canvases is extremely inconvenient.

Marmoleum panels are made in the size of 90x30 cm, and tiles - 30x30 or 50x50 cm. At the same time, the tile design can provide for installation with or without glue, using special locking joints.

The finished material has specific gravity 2.6-3.4 kg / m 2 and is able to withstand a load of 160 kg / cm 2 in the absence of permanent deformation.

In order to make it easier for customers to choose the type of marmoleum for each individual case, the material is divided into classes:

21-23 grades. This includes inexpensive materials with a decorative layer up to 2 mm, which have a general purpose.
31-33 grades. These are industrial floor coverings. The thickness of their decorative layer is up to 2.5 mm. The material perfectly tolerates static loads, alternating - somewhat worse.
41-43 grades. These include coatings specially designed for rooms with intensive traffic of large flows of people. Usually these are large airports, railway stations, hotels and hospitals. The top layer of such a material is quite powerful, the thickness of the marmoleum here is more than 3 mm. Thanks to it, coatings of these classes can withstand up to 100,000 daily short-term foot loads for 5 years.

Considering these data, it is possible, for example, to determine that thick and expensive marmoleum is completely unsuitable for home use because the legs heavy cabinets, household equipment, various coasters and others can leave “non-healing” recesses in it. Therefore, homeowners usually purchase material of a lower class, cheap and thin.

A good option for covering for home use are panels and tiles with locking joints. Their strength and durability is ensured by a special HDF-plate, supplemented with a layer of cork from below, which helps to reduce noise in the room. The top of the slab is covered with a jute cloth with plastic marmoleum. If necessary, such flooring can be restored, sanded and top coated. protective film. In any case, his drawing will remain intact, since it occupies the entire thickness of the outer layer.

Advantages and disadvantages of marmoleum

When choosing a floor covering for marmoleum, it is useful to know that it is extremely interesting not only for its composition, but also for the possibilities that are due to a number of significant advantages of this material. These include:

Harmlessness. The material is created exclusively from natural ingredients, so it is non-toxic and even has some bactericidal effect.
Low cost. Among all the floor coverings that exist on the market of finishing materials, natural linoleum is one of the cheapest products. Its average price is almost 30% lower than the cost of the most inexpensive laminate.
Thermal insulation properties. Thanks to their presence, the floor covered with marmoleum does not need insulation.
Fortitude. The flooring is able to withstand significant loads, it does not get wet, does not warp and does not fade. Even the paint spilled on marmoleum is not absorbed into it and does not stick to the surface. The warranty period of the material is 20 years, in fact, it can be used twice as long.
fire resistance. It is almost absolute, it is possible to burn through the coating through only with the help of an autogen.
decorative. Marmoleum can be given various colors and thousands of shades, change its texture, imitating wood, stone, metal and turn even the most unusual design solutions into reality.
Ease of installation. This mainly applies to panels and tiles. To lay piece materials, it is not at all necessary to be an experienced specialist.

With rolled marmoleum, the situation is more complicated. As already mentioned, this material is heavy and fragile. In addition, for its installation, you will need the help of professional riggers and lifting equipment.

In addition to heavy weight and fragility, the material has a couple more disadvantages that are worth mentioning:

Over time, marmoleum spreads and hardens. To some extent, this is its advantage: if the fragments of the material have small gaps between them, they do not have to be sealed, they will converge on their own. But on the other hand, there is a risk of buying defective material if its shelf life is exceeded. Therefore, this information should be clarified when buying a floor covering.
The decorative possibilities of the material are sometimes limited by the fact that it is poorly cut. The resulting cut natural marmoleum it is not smooth and as even as, for example, a laminated board or MDF. Therefore, the flooring is cut only along the walls.

Manufacturers and prices of natural linoleum

Today, only 3 companies produce natural linoleum in the world: ARMSTRONG-DLW, FORBO and TARKETT-SOMMER.

Special attention It is worth paying attention to the products of the Dutch company FORBO. Its patented brand MARMOLEUM has unique parameters that make this material a very special type of flooring. Thanks to the inclusion of wood flour in the coating, and not cork, which can reject dyes, the company has learned to give its products rich and vibrant colors.

The protective layer, which is applied to the front side of natural linoleum after it is laid, is a two-layer Topshield coating for the FORBO brand, which protects the material from wear and scratches. For ARMSTRONG-DLW products, this function is performed by Pur Eco System and LPX coatings, which were developed not so long ago.

High-quality protection of marmoleum solves a lot of problems. Thanks to it, the coating is less dirty and cleaned faster, it becomes resistant to chemical and mechanical influences. It does not need to be rubbed with mastic before use. AT living conditions the renewal of the protective layer will not be needed for many years.

The most popular natural linoleum is FORBO Click, equipped with a lock made using Aquaprotect technology. This flooring is commercially available as a panel or tile with cork as a backing and a moisture resistant NDF board covered with Topshield protection. The material is not afraid of the studs of women's shoes and the claws of pets; it is not difficult to wipe paint stains from the coating or remove chewing gum from it.

FORBO's enterprises are scattered across forty countries of the European Union, its products are revered and recognizable due to their exceptional quality, which is confirmed by certificates.

As for the cost of natural linoleum, it is located in the price range between wooden coverings parquet type and ordinary linoleum. To date, the price of rolled marmoleum is 600-2300 rubles / m 2, material in the form of tiles 300x300x9.8 mm - about 1500 rubles. for one package, in which there are 7 products, in the form of panels measuring 900x300x9.8 mm - about 4000 rubles. for a pack of seven items. That is, this material is difficult to attribute to the budget category. Therefore, in order to avoid fakes, it is better to purchase it from trusted dealers.

Marmoleum installation technology on the floor

As already noted, laying marmoleum is not particularly difficult. However, some of its technological nuances still take place. This is mainly due to the characteristics of the material. Let's consider the main methods of coating from natural linoleum.

Laying castle marmoleum

Before starting work, natural linoleum should lie down for 24 hours in the room where the floor covering is planned. At the end of this time, the packaging with the material must be opened, its contents checked for completeness, the presence or absence of defects and, if necessary, the defective material should be replaced.

There is nothing special in preparing the base for coating. In any case, it should be even, whole, clean and dry. To achieve this, there are many ways, use any of them.

Finished surface floors before laying marmoleum must be covered with a waterproofing film. It can be polyethylene or polyester material. Waterproofing is needed to protect the coating from the possible appearance of condensate when the ceiling temperature changes. The film should be laid with an overlap of 200 mm and wound onto the walls by 5 cm. The joints of the insulation must be glued with adhesive tape.

The first cladding panel must be laid with a comb against the wall, the rest of the elements of the first row are also mounted, connecting the ends. In order not to damage the material when compacting a row of panels with a hammer, it should be used as a gasket wooden block. Between the wall and the coating, it is worth leaving a gap of at least 1 cm, but no more than the width of the plinth. The clearance is adjusted using special wedges.

After completing the laying of the first row, the cut off piece of its last slab must be laid at the beginning of the next row. It is installed in the groove with its spike, but the lock does not need to be snapped in, but left at an angle. In this case, bars should be used: first connect all the panels with the ends to the end of the row, and then you need to remove the bars and gently click the next row on the previous one along the longitudinal connection.

After laying every 3-4 rows, the position of the coating must be adjusted to maintain the size of the gaps. If the last row cannot be mounted in the usual way, for example, if there is a threshold, then the lock of the longitudinal part of the product must be cut, and when the last plate is brought under the obstacle, the rows should simply be glued together.

Marmoleum in this case is mounted according to the “floating floor” system, therefore the plinths of the coating should be fixed only to the wall so that they do not interfere with the linear movements of the coating when the humidity and temperature in the room change.

Adhesive marmoleum laying

All preparatory work in this case are similar to the previous description. Before laying, sheets or tiles of the coating must be laid out dry on the floor, taking into account the deformation gap at the junction of the marmoleum to the walls. The last row of plates must be cut to size with an electric jigsaw.

It is recommended to start the installation of marmoleum from the short wall of the room. To it, you should first attach a rail wrapped with a film to form a gap, and then apply special glue to the floor area, distributing it with a “snake”. After that, you need to attach a tile to the treated surface and move it tightly to the rail.

Then, similarly, other covering elements are installed on the right or left side. Laying is carried out in transverse rows towards the opposite wall. If necessary, you can use a clamp or hammer to press the tiles.

As for the installation of rolled marmoleum, its technology is no different from laying ordinary commercial linoleum. The flooring of such material is recommended to be carried out in large rooms, and to obtain a beautiful and durable floor, only two conditions must be met: an even, clean base and the use of special glue.

How to lay marmoleum - look at the video:

It's all. We hope that our article will help you choose this wonderful material correctly and decorate the floor of your house or apartment with it yourself. Good luck!

In order for the floor covering to be not only beautiful, but also durable, as well as durable and practical, it is necessary to choose the right material. At the same time, the surface must be resistant to moisture and detergents, and the environmental qualities of the material are also important. Especially popular is such material as marmoleum.

What is marmoleum?

Marmoleum differs from linoleum in that the first is a natural material, and the second is synthetic. Marmoleum is made from various natural mixtures, for this they use cork, jute, chalk or wood flour. All components are cut, impregnated with natural oils, and passed through a press. The material can have a different texture and color, the canvas is resistant to wear.

Unlike linoleum, marmoleum is highly resistant to various acids and solvents, so cleaning products and other household chemicals can be used for washing. The material can withstand high loads, even heavy furniture does not leave dents on it. The drawing is made on the entire thickness of the material, thanks to which the stripes remain in their original form for a long time.

Marmoleum, unlike linoleum, is produced not in the form of rolls, but in separate sheets, like a laminate. The plates are connected castle way and the floor surface must be perfectly level.

What classes is marmoleum divided into?

Marmoleum is laid in residential and public type, the material is divided into three classes.

The most stable and reliable is 41-43 marmoleum, which is laid in places with a high load and traffic, for example, at a train station. decorative layer has a thickness of 3 millimeters, this gives the material high resistance to wear.
The second class 31-33 is an industrial-type marmoleum, it is laid in offices or enterprises with a large area. The decorative layer will be less than 2.5 millimeters, but the service life of the coating is durable.
Thin and inexpensive in cost is the 21-23 class of material, it is laid in apartments or houses, marmoleum of this type has been serving for 20 years.

For an ordinary dwelling, you should not purchase the most expensive marmoleum. Notches in the material may appear over time from the exact load, that is, a cabinet or various heavy stands.

Marmoleum can be produced both in roll form and in slabs. Material roll type difficult to transport, and self-stack, as it is very fragile. After the roll has been unrolled, it is already forbidden to roll it up.

Since the material is heavy and brittle, laying in small spaces inconvenient to produce. Plates with dimensions of 50 * 50 or 30 * 30 centimeters are laid according to the type ceramic tiles, that is, on glue.

The main advantages of marmoleum

Marmoleum has several advantages over other coatings.

Resins are used in the manufacture of the material coniferous tree natural ingredients, thanks to this, marmoleum is bactericidal, environmentally friendly, safe for children and people prone to allergies.
Also, the material is highly resistant to stress, one square centimeter can withstand up to 160 kilograms.
Marmoleum is resistant to fire and high temperature. The material can be laid on a warm floor, as it has a high heat resistance.
The coating is resistant to ultraviolet rays, that is, the brightness of the pattern is not lost over time.
The material is resistant to moisture, when water gets on it, there is no deformation of the canvases.
The material is economical, as it does not require additional laying of waterproofing and heat-insulating materials.
The sizes and types of marmoleum can be selected for each room separately, that is, they choose a plate that is convenient to work with. Also, the laying of new material can be carried out on the old coating.
Price square meter of such material is comparable to the price of a middle-class laminate. But in terms of quality and durability, marmoleum has a high rate compared to other materials.
The material is easy to care for, you can use it to wash various means household chemicals.

How to choose marmoleum?

Marmoleum can be laid in any room of a residential and public building. Don't buy stuff high class, since it is too heavy, it will lead to difficult work, and additional costs.

The material can be produced in the form of slabs, rolls or panels in order to obtain original cover, its shades can be combined. Marmoleum with a lock joint allows you to make the surface as smooth as possible, while the seams will be invisible.

After purchase, the material must lie in the room for a certain time to accept the temperature of the room, and then you can start laying.

When laying marmoleum, the use of a substrate is excluded, and the surface does not require additional processing. When laying, the deviation of irregularities should be no more than 2 millimeters.

Features of the material when laying

Laying marmoleum can be difficult, the material is brittle at the edges, so it must not be re-rolled, as the corners will break. The material is also not easy to cut, so the lines can be jagged.

Marmoleum can only cover the floor, in contrast to the laminate, which is used to finish vertical elements. If self-laying of marmoleum is impossible, then specialists should be involved.

Laying marmoleum on the old coating

To lay marmoleum, you must use special tools Thus, the fragile edges will remain intact; for this, a special hammer made of wood or rubber is used. And also you need a rule, the hook of which will be from 150 millimeters.

Marmoleum can be laid on the old coating using any mounting adhesive. If the old coating has cavities or other defects, then it must be removed and the material laid on concrete surface. Marmoleum has heat-insulating and sound-proofing functions, so laying additional materials not required.

Marmoleum in the form of tiles is laid end-to-end using glue. When using panels, difficulties can arise, they are not easy to fit.

How to prepare the base for laying marmoleum?

The concrete base must be properly leveled, all protrusions and depressions removed. If the protrusions have a height of more than 2 millimeters, then they must be removed with a drill or grinder with a special cupped circle. After such work, it is necessary to remove all dust with a vacuum cleaner, and then moisten the surface.

In order not to correct defects on the surface, you can use a plastic laminate substrate. To correct defects, you can use a self-leveling screed.

Before laying marmoleum, it is necessary to thoroughly clean and dry the surface. Complete dust removal can be done with a vacuum cleaner.

How to properly cut marmoleum?

First you need to measure the number of whole tiles that will fit across the width of the room, then determine the number of rows along the length. With this installation, it is necessary to take into account the gap, which will be up to 30 millimeters, subsequently it is closed with a plinth.

After that, the length of the whole plate is cut off right amount cross members with electric jigsaw or hand saw.

Laying marmoleum on a concrete base

A special rail up to 30 millimeters is tightly applied to the wall, which turns around plastic film. If random adhesive smudges suddenly appear, then the rail will not stick due to the film. The same element is laid along the long wall.

Begin work from the left remote corner. Where the tile will be located, spread glue or silicone in the form of a zigzag. Then tightly apply the tile and move it to the corner. In order to knock out or trim an element, you must use a rule or a mallet, it can be rubber or wooden.

Lay the rows across until the entire surface is filled, and then wait for the glue to harden. If the laying is done in the form of a comb, then the rows must be alternated, that is, whole and trimmed elements.

When tightening the tiles, the edges of the material may crumble, this must be corrected with a joint compound. Such material is purchased at the end of the work, only then it will be clear how much is needed to seal the seams. Cutting seams, when laying marmoleum, can be done in decorative form, for this, one toothpick is laid on both sides of the tile.

When working with the material, it is forbidden to throw it and rewind it, as the plate may crack.

Marmoleum self-laying technology

The technology of laying marmoleum is almost similar to materials such as laminate or parquet, there are many common actions in the works, but there are also differences. Laying the material must be done in the correct sequence.

As with any coating, first prepare the surface. If the floor in the room wooden look, then it is sheathed with plywood, and on a concrete base, all depressions and bulges are eliminated. The cavities must be filled with a solution to a flat surface, and the bulges are removed with a grinder. The surface will be perfectly flat when using a self-leveling type of screed. If such work is not done, then the fragile material under the weight may crack at the site of the depressions.
Just like other materials, marmoleum is able to deform due to temperature changes. When it rises, it lengthens, and when it decreases, it takes on its original form. To compensate for such discrepancies, a gap is made around the entire perimeter of the walls, for this it is necessary to install special elements in the form of rails. After laying the material, they are removed, and the gap is closed with a plinth, its upper part is screwed to the wall. Marmoleum cannot be rigidly glued to the floor base, so the adhesive composition is applied in the form of a zigzag.
Marmoleum is laid in two ways, with the first drawing it is not necessary to select, it is folded like a laminate, each row starts from the edge of the previous element, that is, in a checkerboard pattern. In the second case, tiles of different shades are used, a certain pattern is made from it. Such work is not easy, but the surface is original.
It is also not easy to connect material plates, it must be done observing a certain angle, this helps to freely join the elements. To make this work easier, special oblique bars are used. These elements are placed under the free edge of the plate, and driven into the groove of the previous row with a mallet. Then the bar is removed, and the marmoleum strip occupies the required position on the floor surface.
Marmoleum cutting is carried out using a hacksaw or an electric jigsaw.

With a prepared base, laying the material is not difficult. The main thing is to take into account the basic qualities of the material, for example, its fragility, and treat it with care. It is also necessary to carefully consider the preparation of the base, when laying the material on the cavities, it will subsequently crack from the load.

Marmoleum is environmentally safe material, since it is made from natural materials. Thanks to the natural oils that make up the material, it has bactericidal qualities, is non-toxic, and does not adversely affect health. Marmoleum is also resistant to moisture and household chemicals. Such material has soundproofing and heat-insulating qualities, therefore, it does not require the use of additional materials. This coating is characterized by high strength, wear resistance and durability.

The use of marmoleum

There are also limitations in the use of marmoleum:

the material is not laid on a warm floor, as it impairs heat transfer;
it is also not recommended to lay the coating in the kitchen and in the bathroom.

Thanks to all the advantages of marmoleum, it can be laid in offices, restaurants, kindergartens, apartments and private houses, as well as on a large area, that is, at airports or train stations. The coating is natural due to the components from which it is produced. BUT linseed oil, which is part of the material, prevents allergic reactions, and prevents harmful microorganisms from multiplying. Marmoleum is easy to care for, washes well, and when rearranging furniture does not leave visible mechanical damage i.e. scratches and holes.

Laying marmoleum is not difficult, it is very important to follow all the rules of work, and take into account the characteristics of the material. It is also important to choose the right class of material to facilitate the work.

Thanks to easy installation and a wide range of color and texture diversity, roll materials have been popular in interior decoration for more than a dozen years. Deciding on the color of the coating is not difficult, but choosing the right type of coating is not easy. The most common types roll materials consider linoleum and laminate. The first is very easy to care for, and the second has an aesthetic appearance. But which material of the two is the most practical? Today, there is no need to suffer from the choice of one or another coating, because there is their symbiosis - marmoleum.

The product organically combines the qualities of laminate and linoleum. It consists of environmentally friendly raw materials, which allows you to lay it in any room. In addition, laying marmoleum is very simple, a non-professional can handle it.

Coating composition and production

The production technology of Forbo marmoleum is almost indistinguishable from the production of linoleum. The main difference in the two production chains is the equipment and composition. For the production of marmoleum, environmentally friendly, natural ingredients and latest machines, while linoleum is made from synthetic materials.

There are no artificial substances in the composition of the Forbo coating, which led to such widespread material. The basis for it is flour from cork wood and other species, linseed oil, natural coniferous resins and chalk. For coloring, safe and persistent pigments are used that retain their intensity for many years.

Material Advantages

In addition to the natural composition, marmoleum has a number of significant advantages, such as:

affordable price - the material is almost a third cheaper than laminate;
high noise and heat insulation allow you to save on soundproofing the room;
resistance to moisture and ultraviolet;
simple cleaning and care;
fire safety and lack of property of accumulation of toxins;
huge variety of colors and textures.

All of the above characteristics make Forbo marmoleum one of the best roll coatings. High resistance to moisture, aggressive environments and sunlight makes the material best solution for finishing kitchens, workshops and offices.

Material disadvantages

Despite the mass of advantages, the material is not without disadvantages. The disadvantages of marmoleum include:

It is possible to reduce the above-described shortcomings to zero by observing the laying technology. It is important not to save on the purchase of material. Cheap analogues have a very fragile structure, which will become unusable even at the laying stage.

Release form of marmoleum

The most common marmoleum is in the form of a roll, but in recent times You can find the following types of material:

tiles "Forbo" - square-shaped coverings from 30 to 50 cm in length;
typical panels - rectangular tiles standard size 30 by 90 cm.

The above materials may have a "lock" type fastening. It is additionally coated with glue for better adhesion.

Marmoleum flooring is considered a type of linoleum. For softness, cork chips are added to the material. Due to it, the tiles become pliable, which greatly facilitates installation. In addition, soft inclusions make the use of the coating pleasant. Cork crumb provides marmoleum with the following indicators:

Note! Many consider the coating to be very fragile. However, this figure can be reduced by avoiding kinks and observing the laying technology.

Coating mounting technology

Foundation preparation

For marmoleum, you do not need to prepare a complex pillow or make a new screed. The only mandatory indicator is a relatively flat surface. If the floor has linoleum or other smooth, unworn coating, marmoleum is laid directly on the old finish.

Important! If the old floor material is worn out, it is completely dismantled. In this case, marmoleum is laid on concrete. The material in the form of tiles must be laid directly on the concrete screed.

If the screed has serious irregularities and differences level it. Sharp protrusions are grinded with a grinder or drill using special nozzles. After leveling, the floor is thoroughly cleaned and moistened.

slicing

Before cutting the material, the number of solid panels that will cover the perimeter of the room is calculated. After that, the area that is not covered with solid tiles is measured and one or more strips of coating are cut along it.

Important! When marking the material, it is necessary to take into account a gap of 1-3 cm, which fits under the plinth. A roll not fixed by the plinth can peel off and crawl out from under the plinth during operation.

Laying tiles

Marmoleum in the form of plates has a key fastener. Most often, the material is laid on plastic base overlap. Reception avoids the formation of moisture under the tiles. When laying the first tiles from the wall, an indent of 5-10 mm is made. In this case, the groove of the lock is directed to the opposite wall, and the comb to the wall against which the tile is leaning. Each new tile is inserted with a comb into the groove at a slight angle.

The second row should also have a slope and expansion seam. For a seam, a small lining of 1-2 cm is placed under the tile. After laying all the tiles, it is removed, and the ridges insert the locks. When the coating is laid, check the parallelism of the rows. The distance between the wall and the coating is closed with a plinth.

Installation of roll material

Finishing with a similar coating is performed in large rooms. Laying technology does not differ from linoleum finishing. However, the flooring of the rolled marmoleum has a couple of features:

the base is cleaned of paint and other types of finishes and debris;
for fastening use a special glue.

Material care

It is not recommended to use equipment for cleaning the coating, including washing vacuum cleaners. At hand washing hard brushes and sponges are contraindicated. The best way cleaning marmoleum is considered dry cleaning. If severe contamination has formed on the coating, use wet cleaning neutral cleaners.

You can easily find it in hardware stores special remedy for cleaning extra-class coatings. One of them is the maintainer. The product does not contain aggressive substances, but at the same time it effectively fights even the most difficult contaminants.

Marmoleum is an innovation in the construction industry, and more specifically in the field of flooring. It is rapidly replacing the usual linoleum and laminate, because it has a number of advantages:

Thanks to the cheap materials used to produce marmoleum, its cost is low.
The coating is absolutely environmentally friendly, non-toxic and safe for human health, therefore it is suitable for laying in a residential area.

The material has good thermal insulation performance, is resistant to heavy loads and does not lend itself to deformation.
A variety of colors and textures to choose from best option just for you, and the service life reaches 20 years.
Ease of installation.

All materials have not only pluses, but also minuses. Marmoleum is no exception:

Marmoleum, produced in rolls, cannot be twisted more than once, while always with the base to the top, and care must be taken during the installation process, since the material has fragile edges.
After a certain time, the material hardens a little and blurs, in addition, after long-term storage in improper conditions, or inaccurate transportation, marmoleum deteriorates its quality indicators.
Since marmoleum is a rather elastic and heavy material, it cannot be used for wall and ceiling decoration.
When cutting, an uneven cut is formed on it, which can ruin the whole look. Therefore, the material should be cut only in those places that will later be hidden by furniture or baseboards.

Release form

Marmoleum is produced in several variations:

In the form of a roll with a width of 200 cm. It is quite difficult to lay it in an apartment, since it can only be rolled up once, so you will need the help of several professionals and special tools.
In the form of square tiles with dimensions of 50*50 and 30*30 cm, special glue is used for their installation.
In the form of rectangular plates 90 * 30 cm, the installation process is similar to the previous version.

Technological process of installation

If you have chosen this material as a floor covering, you need to figure out how to lay marmoleum in order to avoid mistakes. When choosing tools for work that are used when installing a laminate, you should be careful, because marmoleum is more fragile. Also keep in mind that the process of cutting the material is quite complicated, and after it there are ugly edges, for which you will need a rubber mallet and a hook clamp to align.

Thanks to the characteristics of the material, it can be laid directly on the old floor. However, this is allowed only if there are no defects on the old coating, otherwise it must be deformed and work should be carried out on concrete base. Marmoleum does not require any kind of substrate, as it does the job itself.

For home use, it is worth giving preference to square tiles planted on glue, as there may be problems with docking with panels.

Base

When preparing the base, try to level it, or rather, get rid of strong surface drops, with further puttying of deep potholes. After all work, dust the floor with a vacuum cleaner.

Material fitting

Lay the material on the floor of the room in such a way that there is a distance of 1.5 cm between the wall and the marmoleum along the entire perimeter. This must be done so that in the future the floor covering does not deform under the influence of temperature changes and moisture. These gaps will hide under the skirting boards. If required, adjust the edge row of plates to fit the right dimensions with the help of a jigsaw.

Installation on a concrete base

If you are working in rectangular room, work should start from a wall with a shorter length. Before the process, place a bar (1.5 cm) against the wall, which must be wrapped with a film to prevent sticking. Next, take the glue and apply it in a zigzag pattern directly under the tile, and then lay the coating and press it firmly against the plank. For fixing, silicone or special glue is used.

After that put next element from the side and thus move to the opposite wall, laying transverse rows. Use a hammer and clamp if necessary.

After completing the work, it is necessary to leave the flooring alone until the glue has completely dried (this time is indicated in the instructions).

Seam processing

You can add originality to your flooring by inserting matches between the tiles during the installation process. After the end of the match, pull it out, and process the seams with grout.

Remember that before starting installation, the material should be treated with extreme care, otherwise cracks and defects will appear on its surface.