FHB Logo Facebook LinkedIn Email Pinterest Twitter X Instagram Tiktok YouTube Plus Icon Close Icon Navigation Search Icon Navigation Search Icon Arrow Down Icon Video Guide Icon Article Guide Icon Modal Close Icon Guide Search Icon Skip to content
Subscribe
Log In
  • How-To
  • Design
  • Tools & Materials
  • Restoration
  • Videos
  • Blogs
  • Forum
  • Magazine
  • Members
  • FHB House
  • Podcast
Log In

Discussion Forum

Discussion Forum

Real Linoleum Floor

Lemonbalm | Posted in Construction Techniques on July 6, 2004 12:46pm

All,

Newbie lurker from Cooks Talk here….

I need some advice about putting a real linoleum floor in my soon-to-be-renovated kitchen. If you have linoleum or have worked with it, what do you like or dislike about it? If my heart is set on it–which it nearly is–what advice would you give about choosing types, dealing with installation, etc.

What I am considering is linoleum tile. Either Linoplan (made by Armstrong) or Marmoleum (made by Forbo).

My concerns are both the cost and getting someone with the right skills to install it. I already know I will have to go outside my local area to identify an installer who is trained for the product. It’s not horribly far away but the distance will add to the cost. (This has been posted in Cooks Talk/Kitchen Equipment too)

TIA!

Reply
  • X
  • facebook
  • linkedin
  • pinterest
  • email
  • add to favorites Log in or Sign up to save your favorite articles

Replies

  1. ken1jr1 | Jul 07, 2004 05:27am | #1

    Congratulations on a excellent choice for a kitchen!

    Real linoeum flooring is making a strong come-back for a few years due to it's durability & "green" construction methods.

    Out of the 2 choices you suggested- Forbo is by far the superior floor. Forbo is an excellent company that makes an outstanding product.

    Even better is the training classes they offer hard-surface professionals. They offer a no-nonsense class of hands-on training to be certified by them for their product.

    I have not found the time to attend but it is one of the highest training classes on my list.

    Armstrong's product is OK as well but if you are serious about your kitchen (and since I am a trained chef who returned to the flooring industry, I think you enjoy your kitchen as much as I do) I would ask you to consider Forbo as your first choice. They can also help you find a Forbo trained professional in your area.

    While linoeum isn't extremely hard to work with- you have to have an understanding of what the product is and what is isn't.

    Your money will be well spent on both the product & a qualified professional.

    Good luck!

    Ken Peirson

  2. Piffin | Jul 07, 2004 05:49am | #2

    While we're taking a step back in time, let's not forget that "real linoleum" is a descendant of sailclothe tacked down to the floor and then painted with linseed oil paints, the LINseed giving it it's name.

    It's a bit softer and more comfortable, but it can take on stains from what I've heard.

     

     

    Welcome to the
    Taunton University of
    Knowledge FHB Campus at Breaktime.
     where ...
    Excellence is its own reward!

    1. User avater
      Dinosaur | Jul 07, 2004 06:24am | #4

      Grandma, rest her soul, had it in her kitchen for 50 years; last time I saw it was when we went in to clean out the house when she had to move to a 'home'....

      That linoleum floor took punishment like nothing I can think of, outside of perhaps a boiler factory.... In addition to surviving my Dad and his brother growing up, it survived me and my two siblings, dropped flat-irons, roller-skating on rainy days (METAL wheels in those days) and even a medium sized fire when Grandma was making french fries one day and got a little too enthusiastic on the gas range.

      Then she panicked and dumped the pan into the sink, still burning, and turned the water on full blast. Oh, my! Y'ever see rivers of flaming water running across a kitchen floor? My baby brother was so scared he ran butt-arse nekkid out into 201st Street hollering FIRE at the top of his 3-year-old lungs. And this was January in New York City, 1959.

      Yep, linoleum's good stuff. I can still see it in my mind's eye....Dinosaur

      'Y-a-tu de la justice dans ce maudit monde?

      1. 4Lorn1 | Jul 09, 2004 09:29am | #5

        The term 'battleship linoleum' is/was not a misnomer. In deed many ships had linoleum floors as it is easy to keep clean, requires little maintenance and stands up to heavy loads.

        A further consideration, especially for the Navy, was that linoleum has relatively favorable properties when exposed to fire. It doesn't catch very easily and adds relatively little fuel and smoke to the fire. Especially when compared to wood, vinyl and the worse offender, synthetic carpeting with a foam rubber pad.

        The only real down side to linoleum is that it is hard. Less so than ceramic tile it still takes a toll of dishes dropped and makes standing for long periods rough. Throw rugs, anti-fatigue mats and insoles for the shoes can go a long way to saving wear and tear on peoples legs and feet.

        IMO linoleum floors in bold checks looks good with many decors. I have also seen some fancy inlay work done with linoleum that was top notch. Very time consuming to get right, a specialized skill, but once completed likely to be there for decades.

        1. User avater
          CapnMac | Jul 09, 2004 08:02pm | #6

          'battleship linoleum'

          Imperial Japanese Fleet used it to cover the decks of their ships, which made them distinctive, especially the red leather color used.  That was an external application exposed to an ocean environment.

          Seems like the Soviet fleet also used linoleum deck, too.

          Tough, but resilient, stuff.  Good for a kitchen.  Patterns & like (can) become solid surface after installation.Occupational hazard of my occupation not being around (sorry Bubba)

        2. User avater
          Dinosaur | Jul 10, 2004 04:24am | #10

          I don't remember Grandma's kitchen floor as being hard at all--but, maybe that's because my knees and feet were 35-40 years younger, LOL!

          I do know she rarely had to polish it when us kids were visiting; we kept it shinier than the thighs of a cheap pair of suitpants just by sliding and 'skating' on it in our stocking feet. It slid ever so much better than that Armstrong no-wax stuff my mother had in her modern suburban kitchen....Dinosaur

          'Y-a-tu de la justice dans ce maudit monde?

  3. jimblodgett | Jul 07, 2004 06:23am | #3

    The kitchen floor in my present job is going to be Marmoleum.  The customer just called me tonight with the color selection. 

    I'm no flooring expert, but I like the looks of that stuff.  Besides being "green" as someone mentioned, they have some great looking color choices, especially in the deep tones.  Bold.  I have my eye on one of the muted red patterns for the kitchen in a house we are remodelling for ourselves, too.

    One drawback is the maintanance requirement of recoating once a year.  Another is the 2 meter width, which will make for more seams, which are always an opportunity for problems. 

    But the cost is about the same as other high quality inlaid vinal flooring.  And have you looked at samples?  Pattern goes all the way through to the hemp backing.  That floor will last well past the 10 year warranty (I'm pretty sure it's 10).

    Did I mention how much I like those deep colors?

  4. gdavis62 | Jul 09, 2004 09:35pm | #7

    Fabulous choice!  But use Forbo's Marmoleum, nothing else.

    Here is a pic from the "Home By Design" show house that was at this year's builder show in Las Vegas.  I really like the pattern work that can be done.  Forbo's site and literature shows some knockout examples, too, and I am sure you have seen them.

    View Image

    Click on the photo to blow it up.  It is Forbo's Marmoleum tile squares, and see how the "grain" is rotated 90 degrees each time a tile is laid.



    Edited 7/9/2004 2:42 pm ET by Bob Dylan

  5. kostello | Jul 09, 2004 11:22pm | #8

    or how about this:

    its in my bathroom:

    1. User avater
      shywoodlandcreature | Jul 10, 2004 12:44am | #9

      More words of praise for linoleum - it's practically indestructible (as has been noted) - there examples of linoleum floors that are 100 + years old. It also has antiseptic qualities (the linseed oil, I assume) and has self-healing characteristics as well. It's my first choice of flooring for a kitchen, and the product we'll be going with when it comes time to redo our kitchen floor. (BTW, the terra cotta-like effect in the bathroom is gorgeous! thanks for sharing it.) I'm only surprised at hearing it described as hard on the feet - surely not as hard as ceramic or granite. Wouldn't it be more like cork?  “We would like to live in the past, but history prevents us”.

      John F. Kennedy

  6. almaltd | Jul 10, 2004 04:28am | #11

    I have some commercial experience with the products you mentiuoned and the number one issue above all otheres is maintenance. These products are simply maintenance intensive. I have stopped specifying them for that reason.

    Alma

    1. gdavis62 | Jul 10, 2004 06:32am | #12

      If we all wanted maintenance-free floors, we would use the kind of hard porcelain tiles like seen on showroom floors in car dealerships.  Or maybe epoxy-coated concrete slabs, like seen in warehouses.

      Seriously, for use in personal residences, what kind of maintenance headaches have you experienced with linoleum floors, and what do you recommend in their place, if they are such a hassle?

      1. Lemonbalm | Aug 04, 2004 01:50pm | #14

        Thanks for the first picture. I am having a little trouble thinking about a pattern, and that's a nice one. I'm in the process of getting the bids now for marmoleum tile. And the problem is there isn't a lot of experience with this among any of the vendors, so I won't be able to visit a previous installation, at least it doesn't look that way.

        Lemonbalm

    2. Lemonbalm | Aug 04, 2004 01:53pm | #15

      I have read the Forbo pamphlet about maintenance and indeed it did give me pause. I'm used to cleaning my floors with home-made stuff or Murphy's and not anything proprietary, for one thing.

      But on the maintenance front, is there something more one should know, however, something they're not telling us...?

      Lemonbalm

  7. Floorman | Jul 10, 2004 06:40am | #13

    Many many years ago I installed linoleum for a living. About 7 years. I always had a hard time calling the new materials vinyl and there was no way I would ever call myself a vinyl installer. I was a linoleum installer. GW

Log in or create an account to post a comment.

Sign up Log in

Become a member and get full access to FineHomebuilding.com

Video Shorts

Categories

  • Business
  • Code Questions
  • Construction Techniques
  • Energy, Heating & Insulation
  • General Discussion
  • Help/Work Wanted
  • Photo Gallery
  • Reader Classified
  • Tools for Home Building

Discussion Forum

Recent Posts and Replies

  • |
  • |
  • |
  • |
  • |
  • |
View More Create Post

Up Next

Video Shorts

Featured Story

Big Doors Have Big Challenges

Engineered materials and vacuum-press laminations prevent warping and keep a tall, flush-panel door from being excessively heavy.

Featured Video

SawStop's Portable Tablesaw is Bigger and Better Than Before

The 10-in. Jobsite Saw PRO has a wider table, a new dust-control port, and a more versatile fence, along with the same reliable safety mechanism included in all SawStop tablesaws.

Related Stories

  • Affordable Scans, Accurate Plans
  • FHB Summit 2025 — Design, Build, Business
  • A Summer Retreat Preserved in the Catskill Mountains
  • Fine Homebuilding Issue #332 Online Highlights

Highlights

Fine Homebuilding All Access
Fine Homebuilding Podcast
Tool Tech
Plus, get an extra 20% off with code GIFT20

"I have learned so much thanks to the searchable articles on the FHB website. I can confidently say that I expect to be a life-long subscriber." - M.K.

Get home building tips, offers, and expert advice in your inbox

Signing you up...

This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.
See all newsletters
See all newsletters

Fine Homebuilding Magazine

  • Issue 331 - June 2025
    • A More Resilient Roof
    • Tool Test: You Need a Drywall Sander
    • Ducted vs. Ductless Heat Pumps
  • Issue 330 - April/May 2025
    • Deck Details for Durability
    • FAQs on HPWHs
    • 10 Tips for a Long-Lasting Paint Job
  • Issue 329 - Feb/Mar 2025
    • Smart Foundation for a Small Addition
    • A Kominka Comes West
    • Making Small Kitchens Work
  • Issue 328 - Dec/Jan 2024
    • How a Pro Replaces Columns
    • Passive House 3.0
    • Tool Test: Compact Line Lasers
  • Issue 327 - November 2024
    • Repairing Damaged Walls and Ceilings
    • Plumbing Protection
    • Talking Shop

Fine Home Building

Newsletter Sign-up

  • Fine Homebuilding

    Home building tips, offers, and expert advice in your inbox.

  • Green Building Advisor

    Building science and energy efficiency advice, plus special offers, in your inbox.

  • Old House Journal

    Repair, renovation, and restoration tips, plus special offers, in your inbox.

Signing you up...

This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.
See all newsletters

Follow

  • Fine Homebuilding

    Dig into cutting-edge approaches and decades of proven solutions with total access to our experts and tradespeople.

    Start Free Trial Now
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • X
    • LinkedIn
  • GBA Prime

    Get instant access to the latest developments in green building, research, and reports from the field.

    Start Free Trial Now
    • Facebook
    • YouTube
  • Old House Journal

    Learn how to restore, repair, update, and decorate your home.

    Subscribe Now
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • X
  • Fine Homebuilding

    Dig into cutting-edge approaches and decades of proven solutions with total access to our experts and tradespeople.

    Start Free Trial Now
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • X
    • LinkedIn
  • GBA Prime

    Get instant access to the latest developments in green building, research, and reports from the field.

    Start Free Trial Now
    • Facebook
    • YouTube
  • Old House Journal

    Learn how to restore, repair, update, and decorate your home.

    Subscribe Now
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • X

Membership & Magazine

  • Online Archive
  • Start Free Trial
  • Magazine Subscription
  • Magazine Renewal
  • Gift a Subscription
  • Customer Support
  • Privacy Preferences
  • About
  • Contact
  • Advertise
  • Careers
  • Terms of Use
  • Site Map
  • Do not sell or share my information
  • Privacy Policy
  • Accessibility
  • California Privacy Rights

© 2025 Active Interest Media. All rights reserved.

Fine Homebuilding receives a commission for items purchased through links on this site, including Amazon Associates and other affiliate advertising programs.

  • Home Group
  • Antique Trader
  • Arts & Crafts Homes
  • Bank Note Reporter
  • Cabin Life
  • Cuisine at Home
  • Fine Gardening
  • Fine Woodworking
  • Green Building Advisor
  • Garden Gate
  • Horticulture
  • Keep Craft Alive
  • Log Home Living
  • Military Trader/Vehicles
  • Numismatic News
  • Numismaster
  • Old Cars Weekly
  • Old House Journal
  • Period Homes
  • Popular Woodworking
  • Script
  • ShopNotes
  • Sports Collectors Digest
  • Threads
  • Timber Home Living
  • Traditional Building
  • Woodsmith
  • World Coin News
  • Writer's Digest
Active Interest Media logo
X
X
This is a dialog window which overlays the main content of the page. The modal window is a 'site map' of the most critical areas of the site. Pressing the Escape (ESC) button will close the modal and bring you back to where you were on the page.

Main Menu

  • How-To
  • Design
  • Tools & Materials
  • Video
  • Blogs
  • Forum
  • Project Guides
  • Reader Projects
  • Magazine
  • Members
  • FHB House

Podcasts

  • FHB Podcast
  • ProTalk

Webinars

  • Upcoming and On-Demand

Podcasts

  • FHB Podcast
  • ProTalk

Webinars

  • Upcoming and On-Demand

Popular Topics

  • Kitchens
  • Business
  • Bedrooms
  • Roofs
  • Architecture and Design
  • Green Building
  • Decks
  • Framing
  • Safety
  • Remodeling
  • Bathrooms
  • Windows
  • Tilework
  • Ceilings
  • HVAC

Magazine

  • Current Issue
  • Past Issues
  • Magazine Index
  • Subscribe
  • Online Archive
  • Author Guidelines

All Access

  • Member Home
  • Start Free Trial
  • Gift Membership

Online Learning

  • Courses
  • Project Guides
  • Reader Projects
  • Podcast

More

  • FHB Ambassadors
  • FHB House
  • Customer Support

Account

  • Log In
  • Join

Newsletter

Get home building tips, offers, and expert advice in your inbox

Signing you up...

This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.
See all newsletters
See all newsletters

Follow

  • X
  • YouTube
  • instagram
  • facebook
  • pinterest
  • Tiktok

Join All Access

Become a member and get instant access to thousands of videos, how-tos, tool reviews, and design features.

Start Your Free Trial

Subscribe

FHB Magazine

Start your subscription today and save up to 70%

Subscribe

Enjoy unlimited access to Fine Homebuilding. Join Now

Already a member? Log in

We hope you’ve enjoyed your free articles. To keep reading, become a member today.

Get complete site access to expert advice, how-to videos, Code Check, and more, plus the print magazine.

Start your FREE trial

Already a member? Log in

Privacy Policy Update

We use cookies, pixels, script and other tracking technologies to analyze and improve our service, to improve and personalize content, and for advertising to you. We also share information about your use of our site with third-party social media, advertising and analytics partners. You can view our Privacy Policy here and our Terms of Use here.

Cookies

Analytics

These cookies help us track site metrics to improve our sites and provide a better user experience.

Advertising/Social Media

These cookies are used to serve advertisements aligned with your interests.

Essential

These cookies are required to provide basic functions like page navigation and access to secure areas of the website.

Delete My Data

Delete all cookies and associated data