Choosing a knife for linoleum

There is nothing difficult in cutting linoleum. The main thing is to choose the necessary tool. After all, with a regular knife or scissors it is difficult to cut through the face layer due to its density. Therefore, it is recommended to use a special tool.

If you are laying linoleum on a felt basis for the first time, then you need to choose a tool for cutting linoleum of the size you need. Although it is sold in various widths from 2.5 to 5 meters, but not all the rooms are sized, in which a piece of linoleum from the store will immediately fall. Therefore, when buying linoleum, you immediately need to buy a knife to cut it.

Cutting is performed using the following tools:

• Universal construction knife.Has a sliding design with fixing the cutter in a certain position. It looks like an ordinary stationery knife, but the blade and the body are less prone to fracture. Convenient when cutting thin linoleum, but always need to follow the progress of the knife.

• Roller knife, often called disc. It has one or a pair of blades. It is convenient to use as when cutting a straight line, and a curve.

• Universal knife. It is used when cutting linoleum, carpet, for the cord, leaving the edges even. The steel replaceable edge is kept by the screw in the handle, without allowing it to move.

• Month shaped. Ideal for trimming corners. Also has replaceable blades.

• Cutter with a disk. For linoleum cutter is selected with a cutting disc. The main advantage is the cutting speed.

There is a large number of special tools for cutting linoleum at home. They are divided into several types:

• For cutting synthetic coating;

• Universal knives, with replaceable blades;

• Special, for precise cutting at the joints and corners.

• Special knives are necessary for work with difficult contours and corners. Often used knives in the form of hook and trapezoid. These knives are called designer.

• Electronic knives will be needed for chamfering.

• A special place is occupied by the month cutter. Not only is it convenient for them to cut corners or seams, it is also very convenient for them to remove glue from the surface of linoleum. The choice of such knives depends on the person’s desire to work and on the level of skill.

Before you open the linoleum, you will need the entire cutting tool, as well as rulers, level and adhesive tape. It is also necessary to prepare the surface before laying:

• If earlier the carpet was lying on the floor, then it must be carefully removed. After that you need to clean the surface.
• If the floors are wooden, then you need to check the condition of the boards. If possible, replace the bad boards. Cracks between them can be filled. If the surface can not be repaired, then you need to lay sheets of plywood or chipboard. Carefully need to deepen the hats of hardware.
• If you already had linoleum, then with a not quite bad condition, it can be used as a base for fresh linoleum. The main thing is to thoroughly degrease the surface.
• The simplest option is to lay linoleum on concrete floors. It must be remembered that all the irregularities will be felt through the new material and will bring discomfort both physical and moral.
• Linoleum before laying and cutting it is necessary to roll out in the room - so it will become smoother and the smell will disappear.

After acclimatization, linoleum can be cut. Need to know and remember:

• Monochrome canvas is better to put in the direction of light. This creates the effect of "monolithic" finish;
• The canvas must be placed in a pattern parallel to the outer wall, with strict adherence to the pattern;
• The joint does not have to be in the center of the room. Often they make two joints, but along the edges of the rooms.This does not create a visual division of the room into two parts, and the joints in the edges of the room can often hide furniture;
• The problem can be pipes in the room. To cut the cutouts for the pipes, you need to bend the material outwards and cut the necessary slots at an angle.

Linoleum covers the entire surface of the floor. It is advisable to leave 5-10 cm on each side in reserve, then they can be cut. At cold temperatures, linoleum can shrink. Heat may cause waves due to heat. Trimming is not necessary to throw away - they can be useful for minor repairs to the canvas.

You can choose linoleum not only in the store, but also to think about it at home. There are certain criteria for choosing:

• Compliance with its purpose;
• Will the coating withstand the load by weight and patency;
• Compliance with the requirements;
• Compatible with room design.

It is also worth considering what kind of linoleum to choose. There is a huge list of materials from which it is made.For children's rooms ideal natural linoleum. It consists of resin, jute fabric and natural dyes. He has many advantages:

• Resistance to rubbing;
• Does not change color with time;
• Does not burn;
• Easy to clean.

There are also disadvantages of such a coating, such as the high cost, fragility and intolerance of high humidity. The structure of felt linoleum is peculiar. It consists of 5-7 layers. Each layer is responsible for certain parameters. The main layers are the face, the protective layer and the base. Also, the insulation improves the moisture resistance of the coating. The total thickness ranges from 2 to 4 mm.

PVC linoleum with a fabric heat insulating base has certain advantages:

• Such linoleum has a low thermal conductivity;
• It is a dielectric;
• Does not rot;
• Easy to install;
• Ecologically safe.

However, it is sensitive to high temperatures, bursting at low temperatures and unstable to chemical cleaners.

Such linoleum is divided into commercial, semi-commercial and household. Household - thin and cheap, its service life - 5 years. Commercial - the most durable and thick material. Suitable for offices. Its service life is 20 years.The middle position is occupied by semi-commercial linoleum, its service life is 7-12 years.

There is also colloxin linoleum. It is baseless, and the main material is nitrocellulose. Its advantages: elastic, shiny and does not support combustion. At the same time it reacts to any temperature drops due to the lack of a base.

There is also linoleum - relin. It should not be used in residential areas due to the release of harmful substances over time. It consists of two layers: the first is bitumen-containing, the second layer is a mixture of rubber, pigments and various fillers.

In general, we can highlight a large number of advantages in laying linoleum:

• Cheapness (the exception is natural, but the price pays off with the service life and service life);
• Service life from 7 to 30 years;
• The ease of laying linoleum, which is the power to perform one;
• Wear resistance - modern technologies allow even inexpensive materials to withstand large and long-lasting loads;
• Does not sustain combustion (if it is made according to GOST);
• Prevents feet from slipping on the floor;
• Heat and noise insulation;
• Easy to transport;
• Easy to cut and stack;
• Does not require special conditions and facilitates cleaning the room;
• Rich selection of colors and patterns.

The disadvantages include only those that appear when choosing low-quality linoleum or low-quality laying it on the floor:

• The formation of irregularities, "repeat" the relief of the floor;
• With the ingress and not the removal of air, a hump may appear;
• Weak points are seams. With improper care, their service life is reduced by one and a half to two times.
• Linoleum is subject to mechanical damage. When heavy objects are found for a long time, visible dents appear on the same place, which are difficult to straighten.
• Over time, elasticity and flexibility are lost;
• In some types of linoleum with time begins the release of harmful odors and substances, so before laying sure to learn about the material and its properties everything.

How to lay linoleum, see the next video.