Laminate or linoleum: which is better to choose?

The choice of flooring has always remained a significant and integral element in the design of the overall interior of the room. It often depends on a large number of reasons. The existing flooring is extremely diverse, they differ in purpose, features, properties, cost, durability, conditions of care and installation difficulties, so the buyer always has the opportunity to choose the best flooring for each room.

• Linoleum is one of the most popular coatings, as it is suitable for almost any premises. PVC linoleums are divided into several varieties: for home and office. The main advantages of linoleum are in its low price and long service life.

• Polyvinyl chloride coating It is superior in quality to linoleum, but has certain disadvantages. To glue it, you must have special skills, as the surface must be prepared in advance.
• Cork flooring They are distinguished by their environmental friendliness, as they are made from natural materials, and also have good sound insulation. Suitable for homes and apartments. Well retain heat, but can not withstand moisture.

• Laminate - This is one of the flooring that can serve as an alternative to parquet. It is made of fiberboard, resistant to any mechanical stress. Suitable for rooms with the lowest humidity.

• Ceramic tile perfect for rooms with high humidity and humidity. Distinguished by its wide choice, it is not afraid of moisture, it is easy to clean and withstand any load. Requires special skills to install.
• Carpet covering - This is the most popular flooring for bedrooms. Well withstands mechanical impact of furniture, shoes, easy to fit. Requires special care, as it is afraid of moisture. Can fade when exposed to direct sunlight. It has an affordable price and a wide selection of colors.

• Classic parquet and solid wood - This is one of the natural and environmentally friendly coatings. With appropriate care will last a long time. They will help to create an atmosphere of coziness and comfort in the house.
• Polymeric or bulk coatings usually installed in premises in industrial plants. Self-leveling floors are also very popular in bathrooms.They are made using 3D images, they are very strong and durable. The main disadvantage of these floors is their high cost.

The advantages of linoleum include a variety of factors. It is laid not only in houses and apartments, but also in office space.

This is all due to its specific features.

• First of all, linoleum is very easily transferred due to the fact that it is made of flexible material.
• It is easy to lay on the floor.
• He also washes well and has a long service life (10-15 years).
• It is famous for the diverse choice of design and color range.

Also this flooring has its drawbacks.

• When gluing its parts, visible seams may remain.
• More on it may appear over time rubbing and dents from furniture.
• Poor quality linoleum at high or low temperature of the air in the room can crack or deform. This will make it unusable and significantly reduce the service life.

It should be noted that the laminate has its own certain positive qualities, because it is one of the most durable materials, since its surface has a protective layer. Typically, such a laminate is too high and not available to all buyers.

Another type of coating is vinyl laminate. It does not belong to highly flammable materials. It has good insulation and has an attractive appearance. Such material is not afraid of moisture and is well washed.

Negative qualities of any kind of laminate include its fragility, since the material does not have good quality, because initially it served as an alternative to natural coatings.

Also during its laying on the floor, certain difficulties may arise, since the surface must be even.

Laminate does not withstand severe damage, and it may remain minor scratches from the furniture. A cheaper laminate is afraid of moisture and can swell, so it requires more careful and careful care.

When considering the basic properties of these two floor coverings, linoleum has more advantages than disadvantages. Unlike laminate, it is much more practical, because it can be used in any premises. Also, the difference in price speaks in favor of linoleum.

Laminate, however, is one of natural materials, which gives it particular advantages.Linoleum, unlike laminate. has anti-slip coating.

In order to compare the composition of these building materials, you must separately tell about each of them. For example, such a flooring as linoleum, has been produced for over a hundred years. During all this time, its composition has undergone certain changes. Currently, it is a plastic and soft coating, which is available in rolls or sections of tiles. It consists of both natural and artificial substances.

Natural linoleum is made from jute base, on the surface of which flax oil and other natural ingredients are applied. From above it is covered with a special protective substance from wax. This linoleum is also called marmoleum. It is completely safe for health and is characterized by high moisture resistance, durability and durability.

There are also coatings that will be similar to natural.

One of these coatings is polymeric linoleum, which has existed for over 50 years. Synthetic linoleum is also not inferior to the natural in quality, because it is more practical and famous for its reasonable price. With the help of modern technology, manufacturers have the ability to produce PVC coating for every taste, with any design, texture and imitation of any material.

Linoleums are available only in several varieties and classes.

They all differ in thickness, durability and composition.

• Domestic Linoleum is suitable for homes and apartments, as it is produced of medium thickness and is designed for a service life of up to 10 years.
• For industrial premises and offices with high traffic well suited commercial and semi-commercial linoleums. The service life of these coatings is designed for an average of 10-15 years.
• Special Linoleums are distinguished by their large thickness, as they are designed for sports fields and other non-standard surfaces.The price category of this universal material depends directly on the quality and on your choice of coverage.

Laminate is also not inferior to linoleum in demand.

It was developed 40 years ago as a cheaper counterpart to parquet and other natural flooring. In comparison with linoleum, the surface of the laminate is more rigid, since it contains wood dust and special oils.

Its top layer is an invisible polymer film that protects the laminate from scratches, water and abrasion. Below these layers is another layer, which is paper. As a rule, it depicts a drawing imitating some kind of natural solid wood or having another interesting design.

Usually, a special fastening is made on a slab with a thickness of 7-10 millimeters, by means of which the slabs are joined without special fastening devices and without glue. Some manufacturers produce laminate that can withstand moisture and does not swell.

Also a prerequisite is the correct installation of the laminate. This will allow him to serve for a long time and not be deformed.

The "warmth" of the coating depends on the thickness of the linoleum or laminate, as well as on the composition of the material. Linoleum with a thickness of at least 6 mm with all coatings and layers will benefit against the background of the laminate. Also the laminate requires additional support. If we compare expensive laminate and expensive linoleum, then the laminate will have a low thermal conductivity.

If you try to compare the laminate and linoleum, then you can make sure that they are not particularly different soundproof properties, so when installing these materials should choose a special insulating substrate or insulation, which will serve as sound insulation.

Noise isolation is especially important in those apartment buildings where there are small children. They can run around the apartment, stomp their feet, thereby creating a noise that reaches their neighbors. Floor covering should, if possible, completely eliminate this drawback.

Modern industry offers a choice of a large number of different building materials. As a rule, first of all, the buyer has a question about which floor is less toxic and harmful. In order to dispel doubts, you need to know what is included in these materials, whether they are subject to mandatory certification.

Laminate is made from natural materials, but often it turns out not to be the case. The composition includes waste wood industry: shavings, sawdust. In it, undoubtedly, there are also harmful impurities.

One of these harmful substances is formaldehyde, which evaporates when the laminate is heated or the temperature in the room is high, because special phenolic and acrylic resins that have a harmful effect on human health can be used in the processing and manufacture of this coating.

Unlike laminate, linoleum is the most affordable option for flooring. Linoleum is made from PVC material, however, it does not differ in its environmental properties. When this flooring is heated, toxic substances are released, which can adversely affect human health.

Synthetic building materials, in particular, and floor coverings, are an integral part of our existence, so it is extremely important to be aware of the rules for the acquisition and operation of such materials so that the negative impact of synthetic floor coverings is minimized. Then linoleum and laminate can become an ornament of interior design, and not harm the health of the residents of the house.

In order for the appearance of your floors to always be in order, you need to take good care of them.

Features of care for laminate and linoleum are as follows.

• Linoleum is one of these materials that does not require special care, and it is easier to clean and wash it, since moisture does not harm it.
• Laminate must not be washed with water, as a last resort, you can use a well-wrung damp cloth for washing.

It often happens that there are scratches or scuffs on furniture and heels on the floor. To do this, there are special tools that can disguise unwanted traces.

Long operation of linoleum and laminate depends on two main factors. When buying, pay attention to the coating class, as its quality and durability depends on it. Linoleum is not the most durable coating, as it may leave marks and dents from furniture and footwear. Wear resistance also depends on the conditions in which the coating will be located and operated.

The appearance of coatings such as linoleum and laminate, has an attractive appearance. From a wide range of products, you can choose a coating for every taste.

• Linoleum has a beautiful design due to the fact that it can imitate any coating. The texture of the surface can be smooth, or with embossing, as well as made patterns for wood or tile. The color palette is rich and offers the buyer a wide selection.
• Laminate - this is one of the natural flooring, and traditionally it can imitate the look of wooden floors or parquet. Colors range from the darkest shades of a tree to the lightest.

When choosing a flooring in the first place the buyer pays attention to the cost and quality of the flooring.

In order to properly distribute your funds and it is more profitable to buy a coating of good quality, you need to consider several key factors. Low quality linoleum costs less than the most inexpensive laminate, and the highest quality laminate is more expensive than high-class linoleum.

When comparing the methods of laying such flooring as linoleum and laminate, you can identify significant differences. By this criterion, it is rather difficult to compare them. To do this, it is necessary to consider the specific nature of the preparation of the surface on which the coating will be applied.

Before installing linoleum, make sure that the floor does not have pronounced irregularities and bumps, as this may damage your flooring over time and reduce the life of the material. Laminate flooring also requires a completely flat surface, but it is completely capable of hiding some unevenness on the floor.

Among the large variety of building materials for the floors is always difficult to make the right choice. In order to determine which coverage is better, first of all you need to decide for which room you will be buying it. Also select the appropriate cover design that fits perfectly with your interior.

The most popular flooring in the apartment and a private house will always remain linoleum and laminate. They vary in price, quality and operating conditions.

For such premises as the kitchen, toilet and bathroom only linoleum will be suitable, because it will not deteriorate from moisture. This covering can be put both in a hall, and in a bedroom. Laminate is the most environmentally friendly, but less durable and durable, so you can choose it in the nursery or bedroom. For the balcony and the cottage is perfect light, thin and inexpensive linoleum.

What is better to lay, linoleum or laminate, you will learn from the following video.