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November 27, 2007
What is linoleum, anyway?
You think you know: it’s that plastic stuff on the laundry room, kitchen or bathroom floor. Nope. That’s vinyl. Vinyl is one material greenies agree should be removed from the built environment supply stream. Every step of its life, from manufacture to the end, is toxic. The more flexible (soft) it is, the more VOCs it contains. It never stops outgassing, either. YIKES!
So here’s one alternative: real linoleum. It’s been around for a very long time, and it’s a 40 year floor, with gorgeous color that goes all the way through. It’s made from linseed oil, wood flour, and cork, and it usually has a jute backing, so it’s biodegradable, naturally anti-microbial, and resilient. Because it looks great in the same rooms where vinyl is commonly used, it's the perfect floor for a green kitchen or green bathroom. The baby and animals can crawl around on linoleum without you worrying about what they are breathing in, too. And, at around $3.50 per square foot, we can afford it!
Drawbacks? The tiles and floating floor options are do-able for DIYers, but the sheet goods (69 inches wide) are more cantankerous, so better installed by someone who really knows what he or she is doing. The material grows slightly in one direction and shrinks in another. Currently, it’s all made in Europe, so there is embodied energy in the freight involved to get it to the U.S. Some folks are sensitive to the natural oils and odor in it, so it’s best for these people to experience limited exposure to a sample before installation, and perhaps wait a few days before occupying the space.
There are two suppliers: Armstrong and Forbo. You are probably already familiar with Armstrong. Forbo has coined a new word by calling its natural linoleum Marmoleum, similar to the way we’ve come to call facial tissue Kleenex: that’s successful branding!
Lydia Corser
Columnist, Going Green Blog
Posted by lcorser at November 27, 2007 5:32 AM
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Comments
I've always wondered why people stopped using linoleum in the first place.
Posted by: Jennifer at November 28, 2007 11:06 AM
Hi Lydia-
YES!! I used Marmoleum on my bathroom and laundry room floors about a year ago and love it! It hasn't shown ANY wear, looks great, and cleans up with warm water. Plus an advantage in the bathroom is that it's not cold on your feet like tile is (plus it's a lot cheaper). I laid it out on 45 degrees with a checkerboard pattern so its even a good period detail for my San Francisco Edwardian. I have to admit though that I had someone else do the work. Layout and cutting is tricky with this stuff and a bad job looks really bad, but for a skilled DIY'er this is the green stuff for sure!!
Peter Kellner
Columnist, Going Green Blog
Posted by: Peter Kellner at December 3, 2007 3:34 PM
And to add to the uses for linoleum, I've had desktops made out of the sheet version of it. It's a great writing surface.
For DIY flooring, I understand that the "Click" version of Marmoleum is much easier to install. From their website: "The flooring slots together with a simple 'In & Out' system that allows you to simply 'click' the panels into place. Marmoleum Click panels are nice and wide, so a good smooth floor is quickly finished. And no glue is required, so the floor can be walked on immediately after installation."
David Bergman
Columnist, Going Green Blog
Posted by: David Bergman at December 4, 2007 6:29 PM
Willem Maas is the founder of 
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Peter Kellner is a senior project manager for 
Lydia Corser is an interior designer and lifetime environmentalist who has specialized in green design for over ten years. Her projects have been profiled in Kitchens and Baths magazine, and the books Good Green Kitchens and Sustainable Residential Interiors.