11/9/2023 0 Comments Linoleum squaresWhile not ideal for food-prep areas, where it could accidentally be cut by a knife, its antibacterial properties make it a natural for the kitchen-a nice retro touch for a breakfast bar or other dining area.ĭesks and Tables: Although not advertised to the residential market, linoleum-topped desks, tables, and even bulletin boards have long been a staple in offices, hotels, and other commercial institutions. Made from sheeting, it’s often given a metal or wood-strip banded edge. No wonder it still holds appeal as wainscot, a full wallcovering, and for decorative friezes.Ĭountertops: Linoleum makes a smooth, comfortable counter surface you may have seen it at the checkout of your local Whole Foods. But don’t let the intricately embossed designs fool you: This stuff is hard-wearing yet easy to clean, and you can paint it. Walls: Rigid Lincrusta sheets, another Frederick Walton invention in the 19th century, adorned the walls of many a Victorian home. Think outside the box-and off the floor-with this versatile product. A custom-made rug starts at about $35 per square foot. A foam rug pad goes underneath for a cushiony feel. Stearns hand-cuts pieces of linoleum, then glues them to the reverse (paper) side of sheet vinyl and binds them with a black-rubber “reducer,” as shown. While genuine vintage specimens are scarce, a new generation of artists, including Christopher Stearns, of Westling Design, in Seattle, are creating modern versions. They became all the rage, taking linoleum beyond the kitchen and bath to the dining room and living room with ornate Orientals, colorful florals, and jazzy geometrics. Produced in standard rug sizes, typically with a border around the main motif, these floor coverings were marketed as a low-cost, easy-care alternative to wool carpets. In the 1890s, Frederick Walton began to broaden the appeal of his wonder flooring by incorporating patterns created with a stencil or block-printed with wood. DIY Installation TipsĪt one time, linoleum manufacturers dedicated catalogs to these low-maintenance coverings. Shown: Install click-together tiles at a 15- to 20- degree angle and they’ll snap right in. Because linoleum responds to changes in temperature and humidity, let it acclimate in your space for at least two days before installation, at a minimum room temperature of 68 degrees F. If installing linoleum over new concrete or on a below- or on-grade slab, take a moisture reading with a relative humidity probe (available at home centers) you may need to install a vapor barrier. Sweep clean or vacuum with a beater brush. Using a trowel, fill holes, seams, and other imperfections with a portland-cement-based compound, then sand smooth. “But a homeowner can help by prepping the subfloor before installation,” says Lane Brettschneider, of Lane’s Floor Coverings & Interiors, in New York City. That’s why an experienced pro (or a “master mechanic,” as they’re known) should do the job. Because they’re glued down and rolled flat, sheet and tile linoleum must go on over a perfectly flat surface-otherwise you’ll end up with trapped air blisters or popping seams. Proper installation is key to linoleum’s durability. Photo by Kristian Septimius Krogh/istockphoto Forbo Click in Van Gogh, Sky Blue, and Silver Shadow, starting at about $7 per square foot Recipe for a “GREEN” Floor Shown: A third color adds a twist to the classic two-tone checkerboard pattern in this kitchen. Here’s the lowdown on lino and how to put this hardworking surface to use in your home’s most demanding rooms. All that in an easy-to-clean, budget-friendly package that’s priced comparably with higher-end vinyl but has green cred that newer material can’t match. Linoleum’s smooth, water-resistant surface is comfortable underfoot, and its natural ingredients shrug off dirt and bacteria, making it the floor of choice for hospitals, schools, and libraries. Pigments have improved too, allowing for a broader palette of some 170 stay-true tints. “The material itself hasn’t really changed, but it now comes with a durable factory finish, so there’s a lot less maintenance,” says Joel Hirshberg, president of Green Building Supply, in Fairfield, Iowa. Patented by Frederick Walton in 1863, linoleum remains one of the longest-wearing and most versatile flooring materials a homeowner can choose. When the RMS Titanic set sail in 1912, many of its public spaces featured linoleum flooring, and nearly 100 years later, an expedition to the famed wreck discovered those tiles-still intact.
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