Homogeneous linoleum

Today, in the building materials market, one can find different types of linoleum - heterogeneous and homogeneous flooring. But unfortunately, not everyone knows what they are. In practice, they were able to prove themselves in the best way, so it is imperative to study them in detail in order to correctly determine the choice of material for arranging the floor. In this article we will tell you what heterogeneous and homogeneous linoleum is, what qualities they have, where they are used and how they fit.

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Features and benefits of a homogeneous coating

A homogeneous coating is a material with an integral structure in one layer. The present drawing on it is drawn through the entire thickness of the coating, so even with a visual inspection, you can see any abrasions on it.

This quality of linoleum determines its high popularity when choosing a material for styling:

• In rooms with high traffic.
• Under heavy furniture and massive household appliances.

A monolithic polyvinyl chloride coating is created thanks to modern equipment.

Important! During the operation and testing of homogeneous material, it has already been proven many times that it has a high level of efficiency. By and large, this is plastic, which after installation loses a little volume.

The structure of this material includes such components:

• A piece of chalk.
• Dolomite.
• Lime.
• PVC
• Quartz sand.
• Plasticizers.
• Pigment dyes.

Important! All these components fit in a 1.5-3-cm layer. After laying, the material becomes more comfortable and resilient during operation.

Pros of homogeneous linoleum

The positive characteristics of homogeneous linoleum include the following:

• High level of elasticity.
• Elastic structure.
• Excellent safety during operation.
• Does not conduct electricity.
• Easy to care.
• Resistance to chemical attack.

More often, such a coating is used for industrial purposes, due to the fact that it has a number of qualities suitable for this:

• Increased mechanical strength.
• Low cost.
• Wear resistance.
• Full compliance with sanitary and hygienic requirements.

Scope of application

It is recommended to use a homogeneous coating in such public institutions:

• Medical facilities.
• Training centers.
• Kindergartens.

Important! The material has an antistatic effect, due to which it is actively used in the premises of electrical substations, where there is a high risk of electrical effects on people.

Due to the positive qualities and low cost, laying of homogeneous linoleum also occurs:

• In office and banking institutions.
• In the hallways of state institutions.
• At other commercial sites.

This does not end the list of rooms where you can use such linoleum, because it perfectly resists the wheels of hospital wheelchairs and freight carts.

To assess the degree of its strength is quite simple. It is used in rooms with a maximum level of patency in the most extreme conditions. We are talking about such institutions as:

• Outlets.
• Departure waiting areas at airports.
• Technical rooms in hotels.

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The main characteristics of heterogeneous linoleum

Now let's take a closer look at heterogeneous linoleum - what it is, what qualities it differs from its homogeneous “fellow”. It is a layer of fiberglass on which polyvinyl chloride is applied on top.

A heterogeneous linoleum is produced in this way:

1. Fiberglass is treated with a special paste that penetrates deep into the pores of the material. It is on how well it is impregnated with this composition, the level of its strength depends.
2. Then the foamed polyvinyl chloride is applied to an already prepared surface.
3. Next, a two-layer coating is decorated with a decorative pattern. It is applied using a special sand cylinder with engraving.
4. After that, it undergoes heat treatment in the furnace, due to which its structure foams, absorbs optimal soundproofing and heat-insulating properties.
5. Processing is completed by applying a transparent working layer, which is responsible for the strength of the coating.

Important! The most important parameter, due to which it is possible to distinguish heterogeneous linoleum from homogeneous, is the limited color solutions of the multilayer material.

The main imitation structures of this material include:

• Parquet.
• The tile.
• Mosaic.
• Marble.

Important! In rooms with a high level of patency, in particular, monolithic coatings are used. If you need to create a high-quality soundproof and warm coating, it is better to take a multilayer material or a single layer, which is additionally reinforced with a foam substrate.

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Commercial grade linoleum

As we have already found out, there are two types of commercial linoleum - heterogeneous and homogeneous. First, consider what characteristics combine these two materials.

These include:

• Good sound insulation properties.
• Resistance to wear during operation.
• Fire resistance.
• The surface does not slip.
• Water resistance.

If we talk about the difference linoleum is homogeneous and heterogeneous, their differences in particular are more focused on the structure. That is, homogeneous is homogeneous, and heterogeneous is different. The second has a more complex structure, that is, it is multi-layered.

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How is the laying of such linoleum?

Since we began to consider the first homogeneous linoleum, what it is - we have already found out, it is better to consider the installation process precisely on its example.

This process looks like this:

1. First, calculations are carried out to determine the required dimensions.
2. Next, a rough floor for laying is prepared.
3. Then the material spreads.
4. At the last stage, the sheets are joined together.

Settlement

If you need to cover a room with an area of ​​up to 30 square meters with linoleum, then one whole roll will be enough. If the room is more spacious, you will have to buy several rolls.

Important! Remember that the main thing is to achieve a smooth joining of adjacent sheets, a clear match of shades on the entire coating and to process all the protrusions and areas under the baseboard with high quality.

Subfloor preparation

This is perhaps the most expensive stage in terms of complexity and time of work. Everything can be done independently, but the main thing here is to use the necessary tools, not to experiment again.

You will need to perform such work:

• The building level checks the horizontalness and evenness of the base.
• Then even small cracks and areas that exfoliate are repaired.

Important! Alignment is best done with a special compound and milling apparatus.

• As soon as the filling is completed, dust is removed, the surface is primed with a special composition.
• Then they wait until the base is completely dry.
• The base at the last stage is cycled and ground, of course, if we are talking about a wooden floor.

Installation of linoleum

Bring the purchased material to the room where you plan to mount it, so that it adapts to the humidity and temperature conditions.When preparing sheets for laying, it is necessary to make a small margin in size.

Laying a homogeneous linoleum occurs according to the following scheme:

1. First, the roll rolls to the middle of the room.
2. An adhesive mixture is applied to it with a spatula with teeth.
3. Then they wait 30 minutes to allow excess moisture to evaporate.
4. Then the canvas is rolled on and leveled.
5. Using a roller or a long wooden battens, the material is rolled to remove areas filled with air.
6. Similar actions are carried out with the loose part of the roll.

Seam Docking

Joining seams between sheets is carried out in several ways, a lot here depends on what professional skills and tools a builder owns.

Seam joining methods:

1. The first method is the use of glue mixture or cold welding for sealing joints.
2. The second method is the use of hot welding, involving the sealing of seams using a cord preheated by a hairdryer.
3. The third method - closing the gaps involves laying a plastic film under the linoleum, which is pre-coated with PVA glue.

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Stock footage

We told you in detail what properties these two types of linoleum possess, how they differ, what features they have in terms of installation and operation. And remember that only the correct conduct of each procedure can provide the most high-quality result.