Linoleum Flooring for Kitchen

Made of powdered cork and linseed oil, Lino is an entirely natural product that improves with age. It is anti-static and anti-bacterial - hence it is use in hospital corridors. While colors for Lino used to be fairly limited, there is a wide choice today thanks to huge advances in its production. You can choose from hundreds of tones and finishes and ca also find patterned Lino or get a design created specially for you, though this will be expensive. Available in sheet or in tile form, Lino can be laid by an amateur but you must make sure that your sub-floor is in good condition because Lino can be damaged by damp. If you have chosen a design with complex inlaid patterns, however an expert should be called in to lay it.

Durability & Life Expectancy
Linoleum can last more than 40 years if installed and maintained correctly. Proper maintenance includes polishing your floor. Linoleum with a permanently bonded, high performance coating will resist stains, scratches and clean as easily as a vinyl sheet floor. If the linoleum does not have this manufacturer’s protection, it will need a regular maintenance program that includes polishing, stripping and reapplying of polish to protect the floor’s surface.

One of linoleum's most distinctive qualities is that the entire thickness of the wear layer (everything except the jute backing) is homogeneous. This means the color and pattern extend throughout the entire floor surface. So, if linoleum wears down with use, or is chipped or gouged, the gorgeous colors and pattern will still remain. That said, linoleum is very resistant to gouging and scratching, and stands up to heavy traffic. That's why linoleum is as popular in non-residential buildings as it is in today's home.

Keep In Mind:
* Linoleum’s natural ingredients are susceptible to damage if not protected by either a manufacturer’s bonded topcoat, or polish applied after installation.
* Like hardwood, linoleum will suffer permanent damage if it is exposed to standing water, continuous moisture, or a moist subfloor.

Care & Maintenance
Linoleum should be swept regularly to remove dirt, and mopped as needed with a neutral pH floor cleaner recommended by the manufacturer. Some types of household cleaners will damage linoleum, so it's imperative to use a cleaner recommended specifically for linoleum flooring.

Polished linoleum floors need more maintenance than floors that have a manufacturer’s bonded protective coating. Maintenance includes occasional stripping and repolishing—multiple times per year in high traffic rooms---once every other year in low traffic rooms. You’ll know when it’s time to polish your floor when it begins to look dull, even after mopping.

Apply the polish recommended by the manufacturer. You'll know it's time to polish your floor when it begins to look dull, even after mopping. Floors in high-traffic rooms might need polishing twice a year; low-traffic rooms might need polish once a year or every other year. Old polish layers need to be stripped before new polish is applied because the old polish loses its protective qualities.

Keep In Mind:
* Although a manufacturer’s bonded coating and/or your own polishing protects the floor’s surface, never use a harsh alkalis or high pH products such as ammonia to clean linoleum.
* Natural linoleum needs to be protected by polish. The polish needs to be stripped and reapplied over the lifetime of the floor.