Telling The Difference Between Vinyl And Linoleum

However it can be great for creating large patterns embedded designs or blocks of color.

Telling the difference between vinyl and linoleum.

The strength layer or core gives the flooring its rigidity. But vinyl flooring tends to maintain its glossy appearance right up until the top layers suddenly wear through exposing the core. While linoleum is all natural vinyl is a synthetic product made with a variety of toxic chemicals primarily polyvinyl chloride pvc resin. Linoleum generally lasts longer than vinyl some can last 30 40 years.

Some people lean in to the history choosing retro color palettes for their linoleum floors or getting vinyl that mimics iconic movies like the shining s psychedelic geometric carpet. Linoleum is available as either sheet or tiles and commonly uses a jute or canvas backing. Vinyl flooring colors tend to be brighter than linoleum colors. Sheet vinyl flooring also contains phthalate plasticizers for flexibility.

Today vinyl is of course used in a huge variety of applications. This helps linoleum wear longer. Vinyl floor colors will appear more vibrant. The cost difference between vinyl and linoleum is offset to some degree by their relative life expectancies.

Linoleum is produced by mixing linseed oil cork or wood flour ground limestone tree resins and organic pigments that are pressed onto a jute support. The colors can even have a yellow tinge because of the linseed oil base. Like linoleum vinyl is also available in sheet or tile form but is constructed very differently. The key difference between vinyl and linoleum is that the vinyl is a product of petroleum oil whereas the linoleum is a product of linseed oil.

On the other hand vinyl is made from petrochemicals. Most vinyl patterns are topical while linoleum is the same color all the way through. Further the vinyl tile is easy to install and maintain while linoleum tile is a bit hard to install and maintan but is water resistant. Linoleum doesn t have the same style versatility in terms of mimicking other flooring types.

Some products are flexible such as sheet flooring. Others such as luxury vinyl and rigid core products have substantial cores that provide strength and durability. While vinyl costs less than linoleum it will last an average of only 10 or 15 years. Linoleum flooring being made of natural materials contains more natural earthy pigments.

Vinyl will melt if a lit match or cigarette lands on it. It also allows more intricate patterns on vinyl. These manmade floors remain popular to this day. Linoleum and vinyl flooring made a big splash in the architectural scene when they debuted.