Has anyone used linoleum as a countertop? It’s been suggested to me as a kitchen and bathroom countertop. I’m looking for a material that’s “green,” i.e., environmentally-friendly. Linoleum (by both Forbo & Armstrong) fits the bill.
I’m concerned about what the edges would look like. I don’t want a seam. Does anyone know if linoleum can bend around the edge of a countertop?
If anyone has any photos of a linoleum countertop, I’d love to see ’em.
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Replies
Someone asked the same question at Breaktime--got a lot of answers for and against. Linoleum is soft, but like one guy said on the BT forum, "So, don't cut on it, use a cutting board." I don't think it would bend over the edge without cracking--either right away or sometime later. You could, perhaps, put a radius on the edge and a gradual bend might not crack. You could ask the Forbo people maybe. You'll probably have to have seems somewhere because linoleum only comes in like 8' widths, if I remember right.
Someone else, looks like anyway, answered you but theri answer got put in a different thread "Best Countertop Material".
Thanks Danno. I did call Forbo. They weren't particularly helpful. The customer rep I spoke to said that she thought that Marmoleum could be used on countertops, but couldn't tell me anything about it, and she didn't know of anyone using it that way. She didn't know about whether it could wrap around an edge. (Shouldn't customer service know these things?!)
That's too bad the rep couldn't tell you anything. Linoleum isn't common rnough that you can just go down to the local home center and pick up a sample to play with.... Maybe there are old books about it in your library? My neighbors have it on their countertops--was installed in the late thirties I'm guessing. It's prett sliced up now, but that fact that it's still on there and functioning says a lot. They just have steel trim at the edge--sort of a channel with very small "lips" going over the top edge and holding the linoleum down, and the other lip over the bottom edge of the wood under the linoleum. The channel is screwed or nailed to the edge of the wood that's under the linoleum.
I had linolium in my old pantry. The edge was finished with a nickle or stainless edge just like in the old dinners. I know you can still find that material (I have seen it in catalogs) but darned if I can remember where.
Outwater Plastics carries S.S. moldings for use in making this type of counter top
Use it and be my hero!
Fine HomeBuilding...Kitchens and Baths...a few years ago....kitchen remodel on the cheap...architect. Had been in three years at the time of the article. Said that he had selected it for price but when it died he would probably replace it with the same.
You'll use a wooden edge or the old metal ones that a previous poster suggested from Outwater.
I am soooo sick of granite. Please use it and advise. Have a half roll in my garage purchased from a commercial contractor. Farbo. Why are they not helpful? Have heard this b4.
Armstrong is also now producing a line. Might try them.
ShelleyinNM
The Starbucks near us has Linoleum on the countertop. It's used right at the main counter by the cashier, so it gets a lot of use. It's been there for several years and seems to be holding up well. I can't remember what they did with the edges - I think it was a metal edge, but I'll have to go back and check. I've also seen linoleum used on kitchen counters from years ago -probably from the 50's - again with a metal edge.