What is Marmoleum?

What is Marmoleum and what are main pros and cons of using this material as a floor coating in your house.

More and more homeowners tend to replace synthetic floor coverings with natural and environmentally safe options, such as Marmoleum. This material with a strange name is considered to be one of the best alternatives to vinyl, linoleum and tiles. So what is Marmoleum and what it’s popular for?

Marmoleum is an abbreviation for marbleized linoleum. In lay term, it is a modern version of linoleum – better looking, better for the environment, better for the homeowners. This material grows its popularity due to several reasons, and main of them are its sustainability, eco-friendliness and benefits for human health it offers. It is fully recyclable into new Marmoleum sheets.

Marmoleum is the floor coating made of natural ingredients (raw and recycled materials), such as wood flour, jute fiber, and linseed oil. No plasticizers, phthalates, volatile organic compounds or any toxic chemicals are added to this flooring material, only natural mineral fillers.

Forbo, its inventor, and manufacturer company, defines Marmoleum as the most healthy choice for residential houses. Taking into consideration its antibacterial and antiallergenic properties, this definition is pretty true.

Advantages and disadvantages of marmoleum flooring

As any other flooring material, Marmoleum has its pros and cons.

Pros:

• Marmoleum is the only one 97% natural and 100% biodegradable flooring material, it is really eco-friendly.
• No VOC’s, chemicals, and toxic adhesives are used during manufacturing and installation.
• Thanks to linseed oil contained in Marmoleum, it possesses antibacterial properties, i.e. bacterias do not multiply themselves and do not spread over the floor.
• This material is anti-static, so the dust and small particles of dirt do not stick to the floor.
• Marmoleum flooring is pleasant to the touch, it is warm and soft.
• It is the healthiest choice for people who suffer from asthma, allergies or respiratory tract diseases.
• Unlike other floor coatings, such as vinyl, Marmoleum flooring does not release any odors. As it does not include any foul-smelling chemical materials.
• The manufacturer takes the cut-offs left after installation and recycles it, so you won’t have to bother about proper cut-offs disposal.
• Acoustic control options are available.
• Last but not least, Marmoleum is available in all sorts of colors (over 300!), patterns, and even 12 different structures. Also, you can choose between modular format (tiles of different sizes and shapes) and sheets.

Cons:

• Marmoleum flooring has to be installed, sealed and finished by specialists, so get ready to additional expenses.
• Marmoleum requires absolutely flat and smooth subfloor.
• It is not resistant to dents, scuffs, scratches, and stains.
• This flooring material can be damaged really easy. No hard heel taps or high heels, no pet accidents, no spilled tea, coffee or warm milk, in opposite case the flooring will fall into disrepair soon. Also, you will have to put protective pads on furniture feet and avoid heavyweight furniture.
• Marmoleum requires regular and oft-repeated maintenance.
• To clean Marmoleum floor, you have to use specific solutions. Commonly used cleaners or just hot water and soap can damage Marmoleum significantly.
• This floor coating is comparatively expensive.

In general, the advantages overweigh the drawbacks and with the due care and maintenance Marmoleum floor coating can last for 50 years or more.It may well be that this material is the flooring of the future, thanks to its sustainability and environmental friendliness.