Linoleum is a floor covering made from solidified linseed oil (linoxyn) in combination with wood flour or cork dust applied over a burlap or canvas backing. Pigments may be added to the materials used. The finest linoleum floors, which are known as "inlaid" floors, are extremely durable; they are made by joining and inlaying solid pieces of linoleum. Cheaper patterned linoleums come in different grades or gauges, and are printed with thinner layers, which are more prone to wear and tear. Good quality linoleum is sufficiently flexible to be used in buildings in which more rigid material (such as ceramic tile) would crack.
A linoleum kitchen floor
History
Linoleum was invented by the Englishman Frederick Walton, who patented his formula in 1860. In 1864, he formed the Linoleum Manufacturing Company, and by 1869 the factory, in Staines, England, was exporting to Europe and the United States. In 1877, the Scottish town of Kirkcaldy, in Fife, became the largest producer of linoleum in the world, with no fewer than six floorcloth manufacturers in the town, most notably Michael Nairn & Company. Linoleum was first manufactured in the US by the Joseph Wild Company (later the American Linoleum Company) in 1874, in a town christened "Linoleumville," on the western shore of Staten Island. In 1887, Sir Michael Nairn from Scotland established the American Nairn Linoleum Company (later the Congoleum Nairn Company and today the Congoleum Corporation of America) in Kearny, New Jersey.
Between the time of its invention in 1860 and its being superseded by other hard floor coverings in the 1950s, linoleum was considered to be an excellent, inexpensive material for high-use areas. In the late 19th and early 20th centuries, it was favored in hallways and passages, and as a surround for carpet squares. However, most people associate linoleum with its common 20th century use on kitchen floors. Its water resistance enabled easy maintenance of sanitary conditions and its resilience made standing easier and reduced breakage of dropped china.
The best grades of linoleum were called "battleship linoleum," since they were commonly used in warships. Actual battle experience, however, showed that linoleum was was an inappropriate material for use on battleships due to its flammability.
Unlike most vinyl flooring, the color goes all the way through the linoleum.
Linoleum as a floor covering has been largely replaced with polyvinyl chloride (PVC) (yet still colloquially known as "linoleum"), which has similar properties of flexibility and durability, but which has greater brightness and translucency and is relatively less flammable. The fire-retardant properties of PVC are due to chlorine-containing combustion products, some of which are highly toxic. Dioxins are released by burning PVC, and these are toxic even in very small quantities. While the polymer itself is generally considered safe, additives such as plasticizers and unintentional impurities such as free monomers are considered a hazard by some.
Because it is made of organic materials and is purportedly nonallergenic in nature, high-quality linoleum is still in use in many places (especially in nonallergenic homes, hospitals, and healthcare facilities). The practice of designing and inlaying various colors to form patterns reflecting the shape and use of a room is a highly respected craft.
Marmoleum
Marmoleum is natural flooring made from linseed oil, wood flour, rosin, limestone, and jute. It is hypoallergenic and has been awarded the British Allergy Foundation's Seal of Approval.
External Links
This article is licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License. It uses material from the Wikipedia article "Linoleum."
