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

It is strange, but the further science advances in terms of creating cheap artificial materials, the more often people tend to use natural materials in decorating their homes. Not everyone can afford a complete decoration of an apartment or house with natural building materials, but you still want to bring at least something to your home.

One of the available natural materials is marmoleum, which is also called "natural linoleum". Its cost is about 2 to 3 times higher than the cost of a quality one, but it is quite affordable for most people.

Do not think that marmoleum is a super-modern material. Its prototype was invented in the 16th century. And now the production process is simply improved, thanks to the capabilities of modern technology.

Marmoleum - what is it

Let's start with the fact that only natural ingredients are used in the manufacture of the material:

• wood flour;
• linseed oil;
• resins of coniferous trees;
• natural coloring pigments.

Thanks to the variety of natural dyes, manufacturers have managed to create a material of such a wide range of colors that the decoration of each interior can be made exclusive.

The color pattern of marmoleum is carried out over the entire thickness of the material, therefore, even with some wear, it retains its decorative effect.

Part of the cost of the material is due to the duration of the process of its production:

• mixed out natural products linoleum mass should mature within a week at a certain temperature;
• after that, pigments are added to it and pressed on special machines;
• then the layer is cut into strips of a given width and laid on a jute base;
• the resulting dense texture matures for another two weeks in the drying chamber, where it turns into marmoleum;
• the last step is the creation of a protective surface layer of polymers that increases the wear resistance of the coating (you can purchase the material without this layer, it will be 100% natural, but it must be constantly rubbed with special mastics).

The quality of the material and its types

Like many floor coverings, marmoleum is divided into classes in terms of quality and durability:

• 22 - 23 class - the thickness of the pattern is about 2 mm, the coating is used for laying in general purposes (including residential);
• 31-32 class - the thickness of the pattern is 2.5 mm, the coating can withstand significant loads and has an industrial application;
• 41 - 43 class - the thickness of the pattern is at least 3 mm, the coating is used in rooms with high traffic (airports, hotels).

The higher the class of coverage, the higher its price. Therefore, when buying marmoleum for the home, you should not overpay for quality, the thinnest and cheapest material is quite suitable here.

Depending on the form in which it is released, marmoleum is divided into:

• roll width 200 cm;
• square tiles with dimensions of 30*30 and 50*50 cm based on HDF board;
• rectangular slabs with dimensions of 90 * 30 cm.

For home use more often buy tile material, which is less prone to damage, both during transportation and during installation.

Advantages and disadvantages of marmoleum

Disadvantages, like any, there are, but they are few:

Many advantages:

1. Environmental friendliness of the material, making it possible to use it even in medical and children's institutions;
2. , which gives it the resin of coniferous trees;
3. Hypoallergenic for both people and pets;
4. Large selection of colors and shades wide opportunities design;
5. uncomplicated and quick installation coatings;
6. Possibility reuse with careful dismantling of tiled coatings;
7. High, unlike linoleum, resistance to mechanical damage and chemicals;
8. Marmoleum tolerates high temperatures well, so it can be used as top coat for .

To begin with, it is worth noting that the material is not recommended for flooring in damp or cold rooms.

The best conditions for its operation are: humidity not more than 60% and temperature not lower than 18 degrees. Therefore, bathrooms are contraindications, where the coating can be deformed and unheated rooms ( summer houses, and loggias).

The material is good for floors in children's rooms, bedrooms, living rooms, office spaces.

Preparing for styling

First you need to carefully examine the purchased material in daylight. If you find defects after installation, you will no longer be able to claim quality.

Before starting work, the packages with the material are stored for 2-3 days in the room where it will be installed, laid on a flat surface.

The room must be dry and clean, all concrete and plastering work and installation of windows and doors.

The subfloor must be level, dry and solid. If there are irregularities, they must be eliminated using a self-leveling floor or a dry screed. The deviation of the surface from the horizontal can be no more than 2 mm in either direction per 2 m.

The moisture content of the concrete base must not exceed 2%.

Can be used as polyethylene film 0.2 mm thick. The edges of the film must be brought to the walls by 5 cm, and overlap at the seams by at least 20 cm.

For better sound insulation and clipping impact noise on top of the waterproofing, it is necessary to lay a special substrate made of foamed polyethylene with a density of at least 30 kg / cu. m and 2 mm thick.

If you chose roll material, then its installation is practically no different from . The only limitation is to avoid bending the material too much, it can crack.

For laying tiles you will need:

• roulette;
• marking pencil;
• or ;
• wedges 1 - 1.5 cm thick;
• wooden bars;
• a hammer.

Determine in advance the pattern of the floor, the direction of laying the tiles. Carefully examine the places where pipes pass, the location of thresholds, wall protrusions and decide on the most rational placement of tiles in these places.

Technology:

1. The gap between the wall and the first panel should be at least 1-1.5 cm, which will protect the floor from deformation during thermal expansion. Prepared wedges are used to set this gap. The first panel is laid with a ridge against the wall, the rest are butted up to the end of the row. It is necessary to correct the position of the panel by gently tapping with a hammer on the gasket from wooden block. This precaution will help avoid damage to the material.
2. The beginning of the second row is the cut of the last plate of the first row. It is inserted with a spike into the groove of the first row, but the lock is not latched, leaving the panel at an angle. The slope is provided by prepared bars. All panels are sequentially butted together with ends, leaving them at an angle. And only when the whole row is ready, the bars are removed and by gently pressing the second row along the longitudinal joint they snap into place with the first.
3. All subsequent rows are mounted in the same way.
4. After laying several rows, if the distance between the marmoleum and the wall is less than 1 cm, the position of the coating is corrected.
5. If the width of the last row is less than the width of the tile, then the material is cut to width with a jigsaw.
6. Minimum clearances must also be observed near the pipes. At the end of the work and close with special overlays.
7. fasten only to the wall, since the coating should not be fixed motionless. The width of the plinth should cover the installation gap between the floor and the wall.
8. If the edge of any panel crumbled a little during installation, then at the end of the work, all such defects are sealed with a compound for linoleum, it is only important to choose the right color.

Maintenance is easy:

According to consumer reviews, for some time after laying the coating in the room, there may be a smell of oil, which eventually disappears. You need to be prepared for this and not be afraid - marmoleum does not emit any hazards.

It was also noted that wood saws with a pitch of 2.5 mm make it possible to cut the plate material almost perfectly - without chips and scuffs.

When laying marmoleum in the kitchen (for greater sealing of the coating), sealant can be used to process the seams, the excess of which is easily removed 10-15 minutes after application.

In one of the previous articles, we have already considered the features of such 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, which is why 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.

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. The surface must be resistant to moisture and detergents, as well as important environmental qualities of the material. 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 method 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.

1. 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.
2. 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.
3. 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.

1. 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.
2. Also, the material is highly resistant to stress, one square centimeter can withstand up to 160 kilograms.
3. Marmoleum is fire resistant, and high temperature. The material can be laid on a warm floor, as it has a high heat resistance.
4. The coating is resistant to ultraviolet rays, that is, the brightness of the pattern is not lost over time.
5. The material is resistant to moisture, when water gets on it, there is no deformation of the canvases.
6. The material is economical, as it does not require additional laying of waterproofing and heat-insulating materials.
7. 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.
8. 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.
9. 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.

1. 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.
2. 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.
3. 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.
4. 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.
5. 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 as 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 large area i.e. at airports or train stations. The coating is natural due to the components from which it is produced. And 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 required class material to make the job easier.

Appeared not too long ago new material for finishing the floor marmoleum. What is it? Essentially, this natural linoleum, only much best quality. Their main difference lies in the fact that this material consists of natural and environmentally friendly components. It is made from resin needles, jute, cork, using linseed oil and natural dyes. This is undoubtedly a huge plus of this product. But before making a decision: apply marmoleum in the process of building and repairing with your own hands or not, you need to weigh the pros and cons.

2. Benefits of marmoleum coating.

The high strength of this material. Able to withstand a load equal to 160 kg per 1m 2. This means that even very heavy furniture does not push it to the point of dents.

The solvent and various other chemical solutions do no harm to the marmoleum.

Spilled liquids of various origins leave no traces and are easily removed from the surface. marmoleum.

This material is stained to its full depth, which ensures the preservation appearance even with gradual erasure.

Coating marmoleum It has antibacterial properties due to the presence of linseed oil in its composition.

Does not cause allergies.

It does not burn and is almost impossible to burn through, except at ultra-high temperatures.

Marmoleum refers to fairly good sound insulators.

Ecological purity of marmoleum.

Consists of natural ingredients.

3. Disadvantages of marmoleum coating

One of the main disadvantages of marmoleum is its fragility, especially at the edges.

Fairly heavy material. Again, this applies more to the roll type.

By the way, if you use such a marmoleum, then you need to turn to specialists, because it will be problematic to lay it yourself. Since this requires special equipment.

When cutting, uneven and ugly edges are obtained. But if, to cut off only those places that will then be covered with skirting boards, then there is no tragedy in this.

May deform over time due to spreading. Therefore, when buying, be sure to check the integrity of the packaging and the expiration date of the product!

First time off cover marmoleum comes out bad smell. However, it disappears after a while.

Such a floor will not be a cheap pleasure.

Now let's talk about how to produce laying marmoleum with your own hands. There is nothing complicated in this process. Naturally, we only mean marmoleum tiled (there are sizes of 30 × 30 or 50 × 50 cm) or panel type (90 × 30 cm in size). By the way, the technology itself is very similar to laying a cork floor, which we talked about how to lay.

Stages marmoleum laying:

1. To begin with, as always in the process of laying flooring with your own hands, you need to prepare its base. If the old floor is even, without depressions and potholes, then natural linoleum can be installed immediately without pre-training. The main thing is that the surface is clean. If there are any irregularities and the floor is wooden, then it is usually leveled by covering it with plywood, OSB or something similar. If the floor is concrete, then you can pour a self-leveling screed. The most important thing is to ensure that the surface is even, in order to avoid damage to the material in the future.

2. Since the coating marmoleum has a tendency to deform due to temperature changes, namely, it becomes longer when it rises, and when lowered, it takes its shape again, you need to leave the so-called temperature gap around the entire perimeter of the room. As a rule, special spacers should be included in the kit for this. This gap will then be closed with a plinth.

Fig.1 Spacers when laying marmoleum

3. Marmoleum laying starts from the center if some pattern is provided. If not, we stack from any corner in order.

4. Joining plates natural linoleum takes place in a special castle. Since this is done at a certain angle, it will be convenient to use beveled bars for the stop, which are removed immediately after the plates are joined.

Fig. 2 Bar covered with marmoleum

Fig.3 Bar

5. If you need to knock on the plates marmoleum, do it through some kind of spacer, and not directly through the material. As a percussion tool, use a rubber mallet or mallet.

Fig. 4 We knock the plate through the spacer

6. Trimming marmoleum is done with an electric jigsaw or a saw with a fine tooth.

Fig. 5 We cut the plate

5. To recap

In general, as you can see, there is nothing complicated in the process marmoleum laying with your own hands. The main thing is to level the floor and work carefully with the material. If you have any questions, write in the comments. good luck to you do-it-yourself construction and repair!