Linoleum
From Swikipedia
Introduction
Linoleum, an environment friendly material is a natural floor covering, made from linseed oil, wood flour, tree resins, cork dust, ground limestone and mineral pigments pressed onto a jute backing.
It serves as a cheap and environmental solution for kitchens, entryways or playrooms. New linoleum choices include more vibrant colors and a special protective layer, allowing an easier maintenance and higher resilience to stains and to color fading. The alternative to adding a protective layer is to polish the linoleum, after installation and often every year, to prevent staining.
Brief Description
Advantages of Linoleum
Linoleum is an environmentally-friendly option, with a long lifespan (30-40 years)
It is easy to clean, resistant to scratches and stains when applied with a protective layer.
It is also inexpensive, and with vibrant colors and designs in their more recent presentations.
What makes Linoleum a ‘Green’ option?
Linoleum is made from all natural materials. As long as the sun shines and the rain falls, Linoleum can be produced. The natural raw materials used to create Linoleum are available in abundance: Linseed Oil (obtained by pressing the seeds of the flax plant); Rosin (tapped from pine trees, without affecting growth); Wood Flour (made from timber grown in controlled European forests, where every tree felled is replaced); Cork Flour (bark is peeled every seven to ten years without affecting the tree's growth); Limestone; Pigments (most beautiful colors are created by using ecologically responsible pigments that do not contain heavy metals such as lead and cadmium); and Jute.
Linoleum Floors can be easily recycled.
Linoleum floors contain virtually no trace of toxic material and are naturally beneficial to air quality.
Durable materials require less frequent replacement, generate less waste, and may also realize lower long-term costs. Linoleum floors are very durable usually lasting 25 to 40 years thus reducing cost per year and the floors impact on the environment.
Installation can be done using adhesives that are 100% solvent free and meet all low VOC adhesive requirements, optimizing the environmental performance of the entire system.
Linoleum drawbacks
Linoleum is damageable if exposed to persisting moisture or water, or to improper maintenance.
Though resistant to scratches, stains and moisture, linoleum is not as ‘solid’ and resistant as a good ceramic or stone tile.
Linoleum odor, though limited to a few months after installation, is also a drawback.
Linoleum maintenance
Linoleum flooring is easy to maintain. It should be mopped when needed with a neutral pH and requires periodic polishing. It is better to follow the manufacturer’s instructions rather than using household cleaners.
References:
http://www.house-energy.com/Floors/Linoleum.htm
