In the modern world, there are a huge number of different materials for home improvement. Linoleum is a comfortable and practical floor covering. Many have already appreciated its excellent performance. However, homogeneous linoleum is especially popular today. This floor covering is very easy to install. It is important not only to choose the right product, but also to carry out a high-quality installation. Experienced experts recommend that you familiarize yourself with all the features and nuances before buying.

Dignity

Commercial homogeneous linoleum has a number of advantages.

Here are just a few of them:

• high resistance to wear;
• elasticity;
• ease of use;
• antistatic.

Composition and characteristics

Homogeneous linoleum is produced from high quality raw materials using the latest technology. Dolomite, lime and quartz sand are used for the manufacture of this finishing material. As for the physical characteristics of homogeneous linoleum, they exceed all expectations. This material is extremely resistant to aggressive media and chemicals. The amount of permanent deformation in any situation does not exceed 0.1 mm. The service life of such a coating can reach a quarter of a century.

Main criteria

How to choose the right commercial homogeneous linoleum? The price in this business is by no means the main thing. You can check the quality of the coverage right in the store. It is enough just to bend a corner of linoleum. If it turns white at the fold, it means that it contains additional components that are used to reduce the cost of the finished product. If a crack forms during bending, then it would be better to refuse the purchase at all. Many impurities can significantly reduce the quality of homogeneous linoleum. To choose a good coating that is highly resistant to wear and tear, you need to carefully study the markings on the price tag. If necessary, you can ask the sales assistant to decipher the records you do not understand.

Wear resistance

There are several classes of resistance to wear, which can be characterized by commercial homogeneous linoleum "Tarkett".

• 33, 34 - linoleum, characterized by high wear resistance. It can be used for installation in domestic premises and offices.
• 41 - used in rooms with low traffic. Possesses poor resistance to mechanical stress.
• 42 - can be used for medium loads.
• 43 is the most durable type of coating. Designed for high permeability and is able to withstand significant physical exertion.

When studying product specifications, it is extremely important to understand the difference between abrasion resistance and wear resistance. In the first case, we are talking about permeability, and in the second, about mechanical action on the surface.

What size of coverage is needed?

If you need to cover a large room with linoleum, then most likely you will have to use two or more canvases. The main thing to consider is the presence of a drawing. If it is necessary to join the canvases, it is important to choose the right pieces of material. It may take 30 to 70 centimeters of linoleum to fit a large piece. It is important to buy material from one batch. Otherwise, the segments may have a different shade. At the same time, you can hardly find a flaw in a hardware store. But after laying on the floor, everything will immediately become clear.

Installation features

Laying homogeneous Tarkett linoleum on the floor, it is worth remembering a number of features.

1. The base for installation must be prepared in advance. To do this, level the surface with a special mixture or screed. You can also try using wood-based panels for this purpose.
2. Homogeneous linoleum should be left in the room for a while before laying on the floor. So he will be able to adapt to the indoor microclimate.
3. The allowances for cutting the material should be 2-3 cm.
4. To improve the adhesive characteristics of the adhesive, the surface is pre-treated with a primer.
5. The adhesive is evenly applied to the surface with a notched trowel. It is not necessary to immediately press the covering laid on top of the base. The glue should be cured within 20 minutes. After that, you can fix the canvas with a rubber roller. It is necessary to roll out linoleum from the center to the edge, and then across.
6. To make the connection of two sections, it is necessary to use the hot welding method. In a domestic environment, you can also use an ordinary iron. With its help, you can not only process the seams, but also repair the damaged fragment of the product. To do this, put a film greased with simple PVA glue on the joint. After laying the coating, the surface is covered with a thin cloth and then processed with a hot iron. The filler will melt and fix the cut point, and the connection will not be visible.

The final stage

Installation work is usually completed with the installation of skirting boards and sills. There should be a small gap of a couple of centimeters between the coating and the wall. This is necessary because the material naturally expands during installation. If the edge is made close to the wall, the surface of the linoleum may swell. It is impossible to restore deformation on such a coating.

Color options

One of the disadvantages that homogeneous linoleum (2 mm thick) has is the poor choice of colors. Such material will hardly fit into rooms of non-standard design.

For the most part, this coating is available in the following versions:

• marbled;
• stone chips;
• abstract drawings.

Homogeneous linoleum is often used in office spaces. Due to its high antistatic properties, a large number of electrical devices can be installed on such a coating.

Fire qualities

Homogeneous linoleum, depending on its class, may have different technical characteristics. However, one of the important qualities of this material is the ability to self-extinguish. The flame spreads poorly over such a surface. Linoleum commercial homogeneous, the thickness of which reaches 2 mm, belongs to the class KM-2. This group of materials is characterized by low flammability, moderate flammability and the ability to generate smoke. If the coating belongs to the RP-1 category, this means that the flame does not spread over its surface.

Term of use

Long service life is another important characteristic that those who buy homogeneous linoleum rely on. The price of this coating is not too high, but at the same time the time of its use is comparable to that of tiles. It is worth noting that today in stores the cost of this material is from 400 rubles per square meter. The price depends on the color and quality. The manufacturer gives a ten-year warranty for every square meter of linoleum. Practice shows that this type of coating retains its original appearance for 15 years.

As for the dimensions, all rolls of this material are characterized by a single length - 2 meters. has a wide variety of possible options. As for the thickness, everything here is determined by the EN-428 standard. This means that the standard density of the protective coating is 2 mm. This is more than the material of the heterogeneous type.

Other characteristics

What other important qualities does homogeneous linoleum have? Thickness, fire properties, service life - we have already considered all this. The mass of a square meter of such material is on average 3 kg. Many are also interested in the noise-absorbing characteristics of the material - they range from 6 to 10 dB. With regard to electrical properties, the resistance of linoleum reaches 109 ohms, and the maximum value of the withstand voltage power is 2 kW.

Due to its excellent performance characteristics, the floor covering can be used in areas with high traffic, such as educational buildings and corridors of public premises. Very often, homogeneous linoleum is used in the repair of schools, kindergartens, catering establishments, shops, hospitals and sports facilities. During production, the coating is carefully checked for compliance with various environmental standards. It is completely harmless to the human body. During operation, this material does not emit any toxic substances, so it can even be used for installation in medical institutions. However, before purchasing this type of coverage, you need to make sure that it has all the necessary certificates. Unfortunately, counterfeit products that are manufactured in violation of environmental requirements are often found on store shelves today.

Conclusion

Can homogeneous linoleum be used to decorate private houses and apartments? Professionals answer this question positively. This material has a number of undeniable advantages. This is resistance to wear, and the absence of toxic fumes, and fire resistance. Such a floor will not be afraid of any loads and impacts. At the same time, it perfectly withstands the influence of chemicals and is undemanding to care. Of course, homogeneous linoleum has its drawbacks. Firstly, the palette of shades of this material is rather scarce. Therefore, it can usually be found in public and government institutions. Secondly, high installation requirements. To achieve the desired result, you will have to properly prepare the base for laying, which sometimes requires additional financial and labor costs.

Linoleum - the durability of this flooring has already become legendary, because not every material is able to withstand such loads that linoleum, which is used to lay the floors in many supermarkets, offices and similar premises. Unsurprisingly, his popularity hasn't diminished. Even though the flooring market is simply satiated with a variety of products.

In addition, this coating is constantly being improved, new types are being developed, and performance characteristics are being optimized.

What is homogeneous linoleum?

Homogeneous linoleum is a one-piece uniform layer with uniform color throughout the entire thickness of the coating

Material composition

The basis of homogeneous linoleum is polyvinyl chloride, which is filled with various components during the manufacturing process:

• chalk;
• dolomite;
• lime;
• plasticizers;
• pigments;
• quartz sand.

Production technology

The main difference between a homogeneous material and a heterogeneous material is that a homogeneous structure is formed during its production (regardless of thickness), while in the second version a 4-layer coating is created.

As for the pattern on such linoleum, when it is applied, the thickness of the material is completely penetrated. This leads to the fact that as the linoleum wears out, the pattern remains almost intact. The pattern can be applied in two ways:

1. Directional - applied along;
2. Chaotic.

The practical advantage of the chaotic option is that dirt is much less visible. On the other hand, the range of colors is rather narrow. It can be either plain linoleum, or marbled, etc. materials.

Advantages and disadvantages

Homogeneous linoleum has an impressive number of advantages:

• antistatic qualities;
• wear resistance;
• elasticity;
• ease of maintenance and care;
• elasticity.

About the disadvantages:

• narrow range of colors;
• high requirements for the surface on which the laying will take place - it should be as flat as possible;
• periodic appearance of white stripes on the coating, which are difficult to eliminate.

Homogeneous linoleum: specifications

You should definitely pay attention to them, so as not to make mistakes when choosing and purchasing products.

Coating thickness:

1.5-2 mm - thin layer;

2-3 mm - thick layer.

Wear resistance:

33-34 units - for office premises with a high load level;

41 units - for commercial premises with a low load level;

42 units - for commercial premises with an average load level;

43 units - for commercial premises with a high level of traffic.

Commercial homogeneous linoleum Tarkett iQ Granit

Abrasion

For this, special tests are carried out using an abrasive wheel, after which the loss in thickness is measured. The test is necessary to determine the degree of resistance of the material to rapid wear. Categories:

F- the lowest indicator (losses no more than 0.6 mm). This linoleum will contain a large amount of impurities (about 65%);

M- characterized by low strength (losses from 0.15 to 0.3 mm). Contains from 40 to 65% of impurities;

P- average strength index (losses from 0.08 to 0.15 mm). It contains about 40% impurities;

T- high strength characteristics (losses no more than 0.08 mm). Extremely low impurity content.

Commercial homogeneous linoleum Polyflor Mistique

Based on these data, you should choose a product. In addition, you need to pay attention to whether there is a lightning bolt icon on the package. In its absence, linoleum will generate an electric current (static). Such a coating is not recommended for installation in places with a large flow of people.

It is also worth inspecting the packaging for the sun painted on it. Its absence means that this product will actively fade in the sun, so it must be laid exclusively in closed offices and other premises.

Photo: homogeneous antistatic linoleum

Laying homogeneous linoleum

The very process of laying this material involves a number of successive stages.

Calculation of the required amount

To begin with, it is recommended to measure the area of ​​the room. If it is less than 20 m², then you can keep within one sheet. Otherwise, you will have to purchase 2 or more canvases. When buying, the first attention is paid to the width - if its parameters are suitable, then the choice regarding the length begins. The main thing is to take into account the distance that the skirting boards cover, as well as the configuration of the room, with all the bends and protrusions.

In addition, the shade of the material may differ, depending on the batch of goods, so you should only purchase products from one batch.

Preparation

Before installing linoleum, a thorough adjustment of the base is carried out, on which the slightest chips, potholes, sagging and bulges are removed. As a rule, craftsmen use special self-leveling mixtures for this. You can also use the milling method. After the end of these works, it is required to clean everything from dust and prime it with high quality.

As for the wooden covering, squeaks, sagging of the boards, etc. are unacceptable defects. Rotten boards need to be replaced, and the rest must be sanded. If there is a strong slope of the coating, the angle must be leveled with plywood.

Flooring process

Homogeneous linoleum cannot be laid immediately after purchase and delivery to the address. First you need to let it rest at room temperature, which will take at least 24 hours.

After alignment, you can start by adjusting the material. It is necessary to create gaps of 3 cm near the walls, and 2 cm at the joints of homogeneous linoleum canvases. Next comes the cutting of the material, which is carried out exactly along the angle between the wall and the floor. They work in a similar way in the places where the sheets are joined.

Then the gluing process begins - it is required to prime both the back side of the linoleum and the floor surface. After that, you need to roll up the roll by 50% and evenly apply the glue to the base, for which it is recommended to use spatulas (notched). You cannot glue it right away - you need to let the glue mature for about 15-35 minutes (at the same time, excess moisture evaporates).

Homogeneous linoleum is easy to cut in any direction

Next comes the alignment stage. After gluing the canvas, its surface is leveled by means of rollers to remove air bubbles. It is necessary to work from the center of the canvas to its edges, and then go across the strips.

Docking linoleum

It is necessary when several panels are glued at once. Several versions are used for docking:

1. Hot welding- this will require a building hair dryer with a special attachment, as well as a cord similar to the color of linoleum. You should tuck the cord into the hair dryer, and lay the linoleum so that there is a gap between the sheets exactly under the cord. Next, a hairdryer is carried out directly along the gap, filling it, after which the excess is cut off.
2. Cold welding- in this case, use liquid glue, which is poured into small gaps between the canvases. After drying, there will be no traces.
3. Iron- This is a folk method, when a polyethylene film coated with PVA glue is placed under the seam. Linoleum is applied to it, after which it is ironed with a hot iron (but not too much, so as not to melt the material).

As you can see, homogeneous linoleum fully justifies the time and money invested in it.

Manufacturers of linoleum flooring are constantly improving their products using new types of materials and manufacturing technology. This leads to the emergence of new types of linoleum, excellent in their consumer qualities, in which an unprepared buyer can easily get confused. In this article we will talk about homogeneous linoleum, find out what it is and what distinctive characteristics it has.

Features and composition of homogeneous linoleum

The main material in the production of this type of coating is high strength polyvinyl chloride, with the addition of various components. This makes it possible to use the material in rooms with high traffic, load and high hygiene requirements.

The differences between homogeneous and heterogeneous linoleum are in the number of layers. The heterogeneous coating has several layers, which include an upper protective layer, a decorative layer with a pattern and a base layer of foamed PVC. A homogeneous coating has only one layer in which the pattern is applied over the entire thickness of the coating.

If the transparent top layer wears out in a heterogeneous coating, the pattern begins to deteriorate and the coating loses its presentation. This does not happen in homogeneous linoleum. The thickness of the coating may gradually decrease due to abrasion, but this will not affect the pattern in any way, the coating will have a presentation throughout its entire service life.

The composition of a homogeneous coating contains such components as:

• Lime;
• Polymer plasticizers;
• Dolomite;
• Coloring pigments of natural or synthetic origin.

For your information. If homogeneous linoleum has an anti-slip coating, then it may contain quartz sand, which increases friction. When buying material, bend the corner in half and look at the bend. If the GOST requirements are violated, then a white line will appear at the bend site, which indicates an excess of fillers. If the coating is cracked, then this indicates an excess of chalk or lime.

Linoleum can have a thickness of 1.5 to 3 mm. Commercial homogeneous linoleum should be as thick as possible, since its durability and ability to withstand mechanical stress depend on the thickness.

Advantages and Disadvantages of Homogeneous Coating

It is better to purchase a homogeneous coating in specialized stores or outlets of the manufacturer's plant, where the seller can provide a quality certificate for the coating. Only in this case, you are guaranteed to receive a high-quality coating, which has such advantages as:

• The uniformity of the pattern, which does not require alignment and simplifies the installation process;
• High degree of wear resistance and strength to mechanical stress;
• Good elasticity;
• Antistatic indicators, allowing the use of the coating in switchboards, server rooms and other rooms where there is a high probability of a static charge;
• Hygiene. The coating is easy to care for and the components included in the composition exclude the possibility of the appearance and growth of fungal bacteria.

Despite the high technical characteristics, homogeneous or heterogeneous linoleum make high demands on the quality of the base. It should be perfectly even, since the linoleum will repeat all the surface flaws and in these places there will be increased wear of the coating. The disadvantages of a homogeneous coating include high cost compared to heterogeneous analogues. The price per m2 depends on the thickness of the coating and can vary from 10 to 17 dollars.

For your information. The disadvantages include a small assortment of design designs, since a printed or embossed pattern is not applied to homogeneous linoleum.

Homogeneous linoleum Tarkett

The most famous and widely represented in the domestic market is homogeneous linoleum from the Tarkett company. The coating is of high quality and, subject to the laying technology, the linoleum service life is on average 25 years.

Tarkett homogeneous linoleum is laid only on a dry and perfectly flat surface. The type of surface does not matter, it can be a self-leveling floor, wood chipboard flooring or ceramic tiles. In small rooms, up to 25 square meters, a homogeneous coating is laid on double-sided tape, after straightening the material and allowing it to lie down. Adhesive for homogeneous linoleum is used only when the coating consists of several sections or the area of ​​the room exceeds 25 square meters.

Three main collections of homogeneous coatings from the Tarkett company are widely represented on the domestic market, one of the ready-made ones is the Primo plus collection. This collection is widely used in sports facilities, as well as in rooms with a large amount of electrical equipment. The structured design has 18 color shades, there is an antistatic coating, high fire-technical performance and this Tarkett linoleum belongs to the commercial type 34-43 wear resistance class.

The next most popular is Tarkett Iq Monolit, which also belongs to the 34-43 class of wear resistance. This coating is an earlier version of the Primo collection and the weight of one square meter of material is 300 grams more. The collection also has a larger pattern.

Another popular collection is the Tarkett Sinteros Horizon. The design of the collection imitates natural stone and marble and is made in cold colors. The collection differs from the previous ones in the absence of some components that give the material antistatic characteristics, therefore, the cost of the coating is slightly lower.

Many people ask the question of how to care for homogeneous linoleum. Here, the rules of care are the same as for heterogeneous coating. Do not use detergents with abrasive components, it is not advisable to wash with hot water and use acid-based chemicals.

Important. Homogeneous linoleum needs periodic maintenance and renewal of the protective layer. For this, there are specialized companies that clean the surface of the coating and cover it with a protective mastic using special polishing machines.

The high performance characteristics of homogeneous linoleum are legendary. They say he can withstand an elephant. Indeed, this flooring is very durable, because it is not for nothing that it is used in many large shopping centers, shops, train stations. Only ceramic floor tiles can withstand the daily "trampling" of thousands of pairs of shoes and shoes, but homogeneous linoleum may well compete with it. What is commercial (homogeneous) linoleum, its advantages and installation features will be discussed in this article.

Only tiles and homogeneous linoleum can withstand the physical impact of thousands of feet, hundreds of counters and carts.

The composition of homogeneous linoleum, its advantages and disadvantages

The composition of homogeneous linoleum includes:

• polyvinyl chloride
• plasticizers
• dolomite
• lime
• quartz sand
• coloring pigments

To give additional strength to the rolled layer of fresh linoleum, a layer of polyacrylic and polyurethane is applied, which also protects the coating from physical influences. True, this layer is quite thin and wears out quickly, but it can always be restored with the help of special compounds.

Homogeneous linoleum has the same pattern throughout its entire thickness

In its pure form, polyvinyl chloride is an expensive pleasure, so some manufacturers who are not entirely clean on their hands are trying in every possible way to save on it, in particular, they add various fillers in the form of lime and kaolin to the mixture in proportions that do not meet the standards. A large number of additives is reflected not only in the cost of the product (of course, it becomes much cheaper), but also in its quality: as the top layer is erased, whitish spots begin to appear, which give the linoleum an untidy look.

Important: in order not to buy low-quality homogeneous linoleum by mistake, do a small test right in the store. Fold the linoleum and look at the fold. If you see a white stripe, then fillers are abundant in the coating composition. And if the linoleum at the fold is completely torn, then there is much more lime in it than is required by GOST.

The thickness of homogeneous linoleum usually ranges from 1.5 to 3 mm. The thicker the coating, the more loads it will be able to "endure". In addition, there are two types of such a coating: without a base and based on foamed PVC, reinforced with fiberglass. The latter is somewhat softer than the first, but no less durable.

The advantages of homogeneous linoleum:

• uniformity of the pattern over the entire thickness of the coating
• high strength characteristics
• wear resistance
• elasticity
• elasticity
• flexibility
• antistatic
• low abrasion
• ease of care

Disadvantages:

• quite high price
• strict requirements for the base of the floor (it must be perfectly flat)
• a small assortment of designs (manufacturers managed with a small speck, marble, abstraction and monochromatic options)

The choice of homogeneous linoleum is small, but such a coating is ten times stronger and more reliable than ordinary household linoleum

If we are already talking about the shortcomings, one more point can be noted: after abrasion of the protective polyurethane layer, the surface of the linoleum becomes porous. Water and dirt easily penetrate into these micropores, which in turn spoils the appearance of the coating: dark spots and stripes appear on it. It is difficult to get rid of such a defect, but mastics can work wonders, including removing dirty stains and stains.

Cold welding of linoleum allows you to completely hide the seam

• Hot welding. To connect two panels of linoleum by hot welding, a special welding cord and a construction hair dryer are used. Having connected the two canvases, cut a straight line between them for the cord. Next, tuck the cord into the nozzle and run it along the line - the cord will remain there. Dry the area with a hairdryer and that's it! Ready. If the color of the cord is chosen correctly, then you will not notice the seam.

During hot welding, the welding cord remains visible, but it does not spoil the picture at all

Do not think that homogeneous linoleum can only be used in rooms with high traffic - in an ordinary city apartment, its use is also quite justified. In terms of its thermal insulation characteristics, such a coating can be equated with ceramic tiles, parquet and laminate, which means that it will “feel” great on the floor of the living room, kitchen, corridor. And if you also consider that the load in an apartment is hundreds, or even thousands of times less than in the same office or shopping center, then it will serve faithfully for more than a dozen years. Isn't it a benefit?

The desire to keep up with the times and the constantly increasing competition in the building materials market forces manufacturers to expand their product line and improve those already launched into production. When a consumer comes to a store, he may be confused by the variety of types and names of floor materials. For example, homogeneous linoleum. Many people do not know anything about this coverage.

Distinctive characteristics

This linoleum differs from its "brothers" in a single-layer structure, where the pattern is applied across its entire thickness. This makes it unpretentious in terms of uneven wear, since loss of color or pattern is impossible.

Thanks to this quality, the coating has found application in rooms with high traffic and the possible placement of large pieces of furniture on it.

From the technical characteristics, the following can be distinguished.

• The average service life declared by the manufacturer is 25 years.
• Environmentally friendly PVC (polyvinyl chloride) is used as a base.
• Does not support combustion and does not emit toxic substances.

Monolithic structure - the result of modern technology

To visualize homogeneous linoleum, you can take a regular pencil eraser as an example. Remember, after use, it only shrinks slightly, remaining the same in color. So in the case of a homogeneous coating, a similar effect occurs. The manufacturers have achieved this thanks to the use of modern technologies in working with PVC material. The effectiveness of this technology has been proven by practical application and laboratory research.

Traditional coating thickness is 1.5 - 3 mm... The composition may contain the following components:

• Lime.
• Dolomite.
• Plasticizers.
• Polyvinyl chloride.
• Quartz sand.
• Coloring pigments.

After laying linoleum, its surface remains elastic, which causes pleasant sensations when walking. These are the qualities that are good for home and childcare.

Application

Homogeneous linoleums are traditionally durable coatings and are used in a variety of environments. This is facilitated by such quality as durability, as well as a low price.

The antistatic appearance of a homogeneous coating is relevant for the arrangement of substations and premises where a large number of electrical equipment is located. He removes statistical charges, as if taking them into himself. The advantages of the thermal insulation properties of this coating are also obvious. This ensures its demand for the decoration of various boarding houses and holiday homes.

The increased resistance to high temperatures allows the use of this material with any underfloor heating systems.

Kitchen in a cafe

Homogeneous linoleum is characterized by high wear resistance, designed for intensive use. On average, the service life reaches 25 years. The time-tested material has found its application in the following premises:

• Schools, kindergartens and hospitals. In such institutions, as a rule, there are increased requirements in terms of the hygiene of the material and its fire safety. This coverage has all this.
• Banks, offices, commercial institutions. Here, the use of this type of linoleum is justified by its decorative characteristics, which make it possible to carry out the improvement of large rooms.
• Sales rooms, chain stores, airport waiting areas. In these areas, a durable coating is required. Carts, gurneys and just heavy things - all this will have mechanical effects on the linoleum, and the homogeneous material is able to withstand them.

Heterogeneous coverage

This is a "brother" of homogeneous material ... The difference is in the layering of the structure and in the thickness, making up a total of 6 mm. Linoleum of this type has a kind of "skeleton" of fiberglass, which plays the role of a reinforcing cage. The front side of PVC material is rolled over it. The image is protected by an additional film. A variety of designs and patterns is achieved by including metal dust or stone chips in the decorative layer.

Heterogeneous linoleum

Positive qualities of homogeneous coatings:

• Durability.
• High strength.
• Huge selection of drawings.
• Unpretentious care.
• High degree of heat retention in the room due to the large thickness.

Manufacturing technology

Homogeneous linoleum is produced from PVC material and additives. The final mixture is obtained by multi-stage mixing of the components in special mixers. After that, processing takes place in calenders (a machine that passes the mass through a certain gap between the rolls), where the width and thickness of the future coating is formed. The material is then cooled and cut to size.

Homogeneous coating

Depending on the production technology, the drawing can be of two types:

• Chaotic.
• Directed.

Both options have color restrictions. Basically, the surface gets abstract images. It can be added that in the first version, with a chaotic pattern, dirt will be less noticeable on the surface. To protect against scratches during production, a polyurethane layer is applied to the surface, making the material smooth and easier to maintain.

Plasticizers

To give elasticity, special plasticizers are added to the material. They reduce the ability of molecules to attract, giving the coating the flexibility it needs. These are harmless formulations that provide additional characteristics to the coating:

• Chemical stability.
• Low volatility.
• Low hygroscopicity.
• High melting point.
• UV resistant.
• Lack of odors.

Choice problems

The only thing that can cause inconvenience when buying a homogeneous material is an excess of lime in its composition. If there is too much of it, then over time, under the influence of mechanical stress, white spots or stripes will appear on the surface. This material has one negative property - it absorbs dirt, and therefore you will have to clean this surface more often. And if you run it with cleaning, you will need to purchase special formulations. And sometimes you even have to remove the top layer with a grinder. As additional protection against dirt and mechanical stress, special mastics are used, but the procedure for applying them must be repeated every six months or a quarter.

In order not to purchase low-quality material, you can check it yourself in the store. Bend the corner of linoleum, the appearance of a white stripe will indicate an excess of lime, and a visible breakdown will indicate its high concentration in the composition of the material.

Poor-quality coatings, as a rule, cost less, and are produced by firms that do not have recognition in the market. Verified manufacturers do not allow this, therefore, when choosing a material, pay special attention to the choice of a flooring manufacturer.

In turn, the heterogeneous material is less demanding in maintenance. It does not need to be rubbed with special compounds for additional surface protection. It is enough to periodically wipe it with a damp cloth. But it is more expensive than a homogeneous one, and if it is necessary to choose a material to cover a large area of ​​premises such as a school, a hospital, this significantly affects the cost.

Choosing heterogeneous linoleum for laying, you can win in design, thanks to the variety of shades and textures of this material. For this, designers love him, he allows you to show maximum imagination and simulate almost any interiors.

Conclusion

Office space

In general, homogeneous linoleum and its "fellow" in the shop - heterogeneous, have a lot of positive qualities. This allows them to be really serious competition for other, no less practical, floor coverings. If you put such material in a living space, you can forget about repairing the floor for a long time and enjoy its aesthetic qualities.

Related publications