Linoleum and laminate are very popular floor materials. Many prefer laminate due to its spectacular appearance and similar cost with linoleum, but there are indefinite moments for its service life. Linoleum is somewhat underestimated, although it has a lot of positive characteristics. Therefore, in order to compare and choose that it is better to lay on the floor, laminate or linoleum, it is necessary to consider that they represent and what are the advantages and disadvantages.

Linoleum can be called only natural flooring for the floor, which includes flaxseed oil, resins, wood flour, limestone and jute fabric. An artificial linoleum is more familiar, which is rather referred to as PVC coating. But thanks to its price availability, a variety of assortment and simplicity of PVC installation, the coating received deserved recognition and became known as Linoleum.

Varieties of coverage for operational qualities:

  1. . It is the most dense and durable, as it is used in rooms with high patency. Suitable for sex in schools, shops, hospitals, offices, warehouses and other public places. It is considered the safest, because it has additional gliding protection;
  2. Domestic. Less durable, used only in residential premises. It has a huge variety of colors and imitation for stone, parquet, crumb and tile;
  3. Semi-commercial. His strength is higher than the household, but below commercial. It is used both in apartments and public premises. You can choose from a wide color palette.

Linoleum by type of materials is divided into two types:

  • Artificial (PVC).

Natural material is very rarely used due to its high price. It is an artificial linoleum that is objective to compare with a laminate, which, in turn, is also an artificial material.

Classification for wear resistance

Artificial linoleum is divided into two types:

  1. Homogeneous. It consists of one layer of polyvinyl chloride with a plasticizer. A drawing is applied to the material, which deeply penetrates the material, and does not remain only on the surface, which is very important to extend the life. Its service life is almost unlimited even with a high degree of passability. That is, if the coating is strongly erased, the drawing will remain the same as when buying. But this process of drawing a picture is very complex, therefore the price of such a linoleum is higher than on other species;
  2. . Consists of several layers of various materials (wool foamed polyvinyl chloride, woven or nonwoven base, felt, etc.).

Different combinations of composite materials when creating heterogeneous linoleum improve its thermal insulation and sound insulation.

It combines that they are flooring involves the use of the substrate. And sometimes the substrate is already attached to the linoleum itself.

Advantages and disadvantages of linoleum

Linoleum, like any other floor finishing material, has pros and cons.

His advantages:

  • acceptable price. If we consider cheap laminate and linoleum and they will have similar characteristics, prices differ in favor of linoleum;
  • wide range of colors and patterns;
  • easy flooring. This coating is possible with their own hands without resorting to the help of a specialist;
  • well maintains heat, although he is inferior in this laminate;
  • thanks to artificial components, it is not subject to rotting;
  • does not create noise when walking;
  • some species have a non-slip surface;
  • high service life, reaches 50 years;
  • not afraid of water. If the linoleum wet, it is easy to dry. Well holding down moisture, it will help not flood your neighbors.

Quality linoleum is sometimes difficult to distinguish from prestigious natural coatings.

Disadvantages:

  • it is impossible to attribute to the environmental product;
  • jobs from the severity of furniture. Traces from the legs of chairs and tables remain;
  • simple variants of linoleum is low tolerability of temperature drops. Deformation and crackling are possible;
  • loses in appearance. It is believed that other flooring covers look more prestigious, more beautiful and advantageous. But now the variety of linoleum is very large, there is imitation to a tree and stone. Therefore, the assessment of this criterion is very subjective.

Laminate and its quality

Laminate is an artificial material that consists of several layers. It consists of a substrate, paper, chipboard or MDF. Additional layers are possible to improve quality. By and large, the coating is a compressed wood dust, the bonding composition of which is polymer resin. From the outer side, the laminate is covered with a protective decorative layer, the maximum thickness of which can be 1 mm.

It depends on the thickness of this layer. The higher the class, the longer the service life of the coating. On the inside of the laminate is protected by a waterproofing layer. Planks are attached using special locks. This method is currently the most common, but happens to laminate and without locks, and in this case glue is used.

Types of wear resistance laminate:

  • 21-23 classes - for residential premises;
  • 31-34 Classes - for public premises.

Wear-resistant laminate is used to finish the floor in offices, kindergartens, sports halls, cafes, etc. Optimal is the laying of such a laminate in the hallways and corridors of residential premises. And for the kitchen exists, its joints are impregnated with a protective solution.


Table classifying wear-resistant coating

The surface of the laminate can be three types:

  1. Glossy;
  2. Matte;
  3. Structured. Such a laminate imitates a stone, wood, metal, sand, etc.

Positive laminate characteristics:

  • good thermal insulation. Even with the presence of the finest and cheap substrate, the laminate will be warmer very thick linoleum;
  • moderate cost. The price level roughly coincides with the prices of linoleum, and below the parquet and tiles;
  • a huge variety of color palette, a wide selection of imitation of textures;
  • ease of installation. Do not need glue and special tools, thanks to the locks between the planks;
  • convenient in transportation. It is much easier to move the floor covering, packaged according to individual boxes than a huge roll.

Stop covering easily and quite forces to any home master

Laminate flaws:

  • the life of a simple, non-fatty laminate in such premises, like a kitchen, rather short, not more than five years. Even the most high-quality laminate is not recommended to be used in the kitchen in the working area, and it is better to put a tile there;
  • no matter how many advantages in laminate, it will always give up with natural materials;
  • the top layer is very easy and quickly spoils, especially if you have a sharp item;
  • peer in care. It can not be washed, especially with plenty of water. It is also possible to manifest light spots;
  • almost does not absorb sounds, it is especially noticeable in the absence of a substrate;
  • the presence of non-grinding seams, even if the laying is flawless, and the class is the highest. Over time, moisture and dust accumulate there, which means that the joints will be visible. The more often contact with water, the faster the appearance of the floor deteriorates. The planks will start moving a little, which will lead to the fact that the flooring will creak;
  • if the laminate starts directly to interact with water (if it is completely pouring it out), it will have to be replaced.

Having considered the peculiarities of laminate and linoleum, their types, composition, pros and cons, it can be said that these popular finishing materials for sex differ from each other, but there are general moments:

  1. Fire harassment, especially linoleum;
  2. Not prestigious. Although very in demand;
  3. Quite stable;
  4. Do not burn out;
  5. Categories inexpensive flooring.

Use of laminate and linoleum

For residential premises it is better to consider the combined use of both types of coating. If we are talking about a private house (living room, bedroom or corridor), it is preferable. It is considered more fashionable, modern, safe for health and pleasant to walk barefoot. The kitchen is still better to lay linoleum if there is no desire to constantly change the floor covering. Although this question is very individual, since the burden on the kitchen floor is different.

For office premises, it is also better to choose a linoleum. It is safer, since because of the rapid loss of the appearance and the violep, the prestige of the organization is lost. As mentioned earlier, the laminate creates additional noise, especially when it comes to shoes on heels, and this, in turn, distracts and annoying employees of this organization. Such premises are more suitable, but due to problems with caring for this material, it is best to use linoleum.

Warming balcony, it is worth paying attention to laminate or linoleum. The latter will move the open window in the winter season, however, the laminate for severe frosts does not crack, which is typically for linoleum. On the other hand, there are often cases when Linoleum has been operated for several years on a balcony with strong frosts and looked like a new one. Therefore, it is very important before buying a laminate or linoleum, take into account all the nuances and features of the room, their wishes and make the right choice. What to choose: laminate or linoleum? The main council remains that it is not necessary to save, since the floor in the house is very difficult to repair, and any error when choosing a material will lead to correction or complete dismantling.

Dear reader, leave your opinion on the article in the comments and share your secrets in choosing between these two flooring.