Laminate or linoleum - which is better, cheaper, warmer, more environmentally friendly, more practical: expert opinion. What is better to extend: laminate or linoleum in the apartment, house, kitchen, in the country, balcony? Linoleum or laminate: pros and cons, reviews

Comparative characteristics of laminate and linoleum.

People who are going to make repairs are worried about what to lay on the floor: laminate or linoleum? Of course, a definite solution is never found here, because each of these materials is distinguished by its own qualities and operational indicators.

In addition, the choice of material largely depends on the characteristics of the room - its attendance, on the internal humidity of the room, the need for cleaning, the risk of damage, and so on. There is one more point - many qualities of flooring can depend on their styling - as it was executed, the use of the substrate. About the intricacies that determine the choice of coating and talk further.

What is the difference between linoleum and laminate?

Consider each material in more detail:

• Laminate - Special material for the floor. It consists of several strong layers. At the bottom of the laminate is a paper that is not afraid of water, a hard layer of fiberboard is located above it. The next layer is a strong film, it is also not afraid of water. From above it, printing paper with an ornament is glued on top of it, which imitates the stacked parquet boards from a valuable tree. The final layer of the laminate is acrylate \\ melamine resin, which provides the product of resistance against erasure, the resistance of the shade, and susceptibility to some chemicals. The laminate is laid as follows - there is a justification of special locks.

• Linoleum is significantly different from the laminate. As a rule, polymeric ingredients are used for the manufacture of this material with the addition of special substances. Thanks to these substances, linoleum is resistant to various influences. The material consists of several layers. However, the composition of these layers and the purpose is completely different, not like a laminate. In linoleum, instead of fiberboard, PVC material is used, and the protective function is assigned to a particularly durable vinyl. Linoleum can be equipped with a fibrous base that increases the thickness of the product and hides the irregularities of the surface. Linoleum is laid as follows: the product is glued using glue or special material, which is binding.

Laminate or linoleum - which is better, cheaper, warmer, more environmentally friendly, more practical: expert opinion

Which of these materials is considered better? In this matter, it is worth considering the requirements of the selected premises. If you do not know what to choose, just compare these floor coverings according to the most important parameters.

Insulating indicators:

• Thermal insulation qualities and sound insulation qualities of these two coatings, as a rule, are determined by the properties of the substrate. What material is warm dependent on what thickness the material is made of, from which it is made.
• Remember, if linoleum lies, then for it a substrate is only an addition, the use of which is not always necessary.
• If the laminate lays down, then the substrate is an obligatory element. Among the huge assortment of linoleum, the most warm is the type that is equipped with a compacted felt or fabric base.
• Due to its own plasticity, linoleum has the ability to better absorb various extraneous sounds, especially if the material has a soft basis.
• If you take a laminate, then while walking around it will be heard from shoes and a hard sole throughout the apartment. However, a good substrate can come to the rescue here as a sound insulation.

Environmental friendliness of materials:

• Both laminate and linoleum are considered quite environmentally friendly. They are not toxic, therefore, they are safe. During a comparison of environmental friendliness, the problem often occurs when linoleum is disposed of, because when this material burns, it forms a pungent odor and distinguishes harmful substances.
• But, given the fact that the owners of houses and apartments do not often dispose of linoleum themselves, this drawback is insignificant.

Transportation:

• It is much easier to transport the laminate, since its planks are compactly packaged, and therefore, the laminate can be transported in your car, even with the help of an elevator.
• Linoleum, twisted into a roll, has large dimensions, therefore, in order to deliver it, a truck is needed, and a roll for passengers for passengers may not even enter.

Installation and repair:

• Installation of these materials is quite simple and in order to get high quality coating, you just need to follow the instructions. If you take a laminate separately, then its assembly requires a responsible approach.
• The installation of linoleum time spends much less, when compared with laying laminate, although it needs to use special glue or double -sided tape. In addition, a perfectly flat floor is needed to lay a laminate.
• Laminate is a more reproductive material. If necessary, it partially disassembled and some hopes change to others. Also, small chips or cracks on the horses can be sealed with special repair paste.
• Linoleum is not so easily repaired. It must be changed all, as it is able to scratch quickly.

Moisture resistance:

• The main distinguishing feature of these materials is moisture resistance. The laminate is not always tolerate strong moisture, but the linoleum, when water gets on it, never loses its own properties.
• Note that today you can find a laminate that is easily considered moisture resistant.

Special performance indicators, appearance:

• Linoleum, which is produced by rolls, does not look so presentable and not always significantly imitates natural wood. Although in some cases the imitation succeeds perfectly.
• If we take the features of application, then we note that due to furniture and heels on linoleum there are traces. But the laminate is stronger in this regard.
• The laminate is washed only with a wet rag, and linoleum can be washed with any improvised tool, there are no restrictions here.

Linoleum or laminate: pros and cons of

Repair is not the most pleasant procedure. However, almost all people face her. The moment comes when it is necessary to cross the wallpaper in a particular room, repaint walls, ceilings, and, of course, change the flooring.

Currently, in stores you can find a large assortment of floor coatings. All of them will look perfect both in a private house and in a city apartment. However, the laminate with linoleum is considered to be the most popular. Before you go to the store for such materials, study in more detail their advantages and disadvantages.

Linoleum:

Linoleum is a coating in the form of rolls, for the manufacture of which polymer materials are used. This material has both positive and negative indicators.

Pros:

• Linoleum is inexpensive.
• This material has a large range of colors. This makes it possible to choose a coating on the floor of any style.
• Installation of the material is easily carried out. Every person with strong hands can cope with such work, laying the coating in a small room.
• The material has low thermal conductivity, therefore, the floor covered with linoleum is almost never cool.
• The coating does not disappear, since it does not have the component that rot. Synthetic materials are used for the manufacture of linoleum.
• The floor covered with linoleum is not noisy.
• There are such linoleums that are practically not slippery.
• Even the material that does not have anti -slip properties is not very slippery.
• The life of the material can vary from 30 years to 50. In a word, Linoleum laid it, and forgot about it for a long time. But at the same time, one point should be taken into account - over time, the appearance of the material becomes not so presentable.

Minuses:

• Linoleum is considered artificial material. In quality, in appearance and environmental friendliness, this material is inferior to a coating made of natural wood.
• Due to severe severity on linoleum, noticeable traces often remain.
• Cheap species are very sensitive to highly high and low temperatures. It is deformed from high linoleum, from the low - it is covered with cracks.
• Many linoleums look cheap. But here it is necessary to take into account the fact that modern types of famous companies often imitate: natural wood, tiles ... And most interestingly, such an imitation often looks realistic.

Laminate:

Pros:

• Some types of laminate are inexpensive, when compared with modern ceramic tiles or parquet
• Has a lot of different colors, sometimes realistically imitating a wood floor
• The laying of the laminate is simple. The material is not glued, the installation occurs by the "castle" method

Minuses:

• The life of an ordinary laminate may not exceed more than 5 years if it is laid in a room with high humidity.
• Laminate is considered artificial material, which is inferior to significantly natural.
• The upper layer of laminate is often damaged, for example, when a sharp or heavy object falls.
• With improper care or frequent washing, a laminate can lose a pleasant appearance. As a rule, because of this, indelible spots of light color occur.
• Even if the laminate is laid competently, the seams are not always airtight. Therefore, water, dust, pollution will penetrate into the joints. Because of this, the coating will begin to deteriorate over time, becomes mobile and creaky.
• If such a coating flows at least once with water, it will most likely have to change it.

What is better to extend: laminate or linoleum in the apartment, house, kitchen, in the country, balcony?

Have you decided to make repairs? Or maybe you are worried about what floor covering to lay on the balcony? Let's figure it out more in such matters.

Apartment and private house:

• Living room. This room is considered the most central in the house, apartment or in the country. Of course, a laminate looks more beautiful here, because it has a more presentable appearance. If you take linoleum, then no matter how practical and modest it is, it will not be able to fit perfectly. The living room, as a rule, is obliged to make an impression on coming people. Many guests are gathering here, holidays are arranged, therefore, with its appearance this room should demonstrate the taste and financial capabilities of the owners. Only the laminate will be able to comply with these conditions.
• Bedroom. Better lay a laminate into this room, as the bedroom does not bear great practical significance. Dirt, moisture, therefore, cleaning is not so common. The laminate will be able to emphasize the beauty of the bedroom, especially if it is light.
• Hallway. Only linoleum is suitable in the hallway, since damp and stitching from the street primarily cling to this room. The flooring can protect the material that is easy to care for.

Kitchen:

• You decided to buy a floor covering in the kitchen, then first of all think about the moisture resistance of the material. In this room, as a rule, there are a lot of water steam. It occurs during cooking, washing dishes. Also very often water enters the floor due to spilling.
• Given these conditions, then select Linoleum is better for the kitchen. This material is more practical, more functional, it is not afraid of water. The laminate is not used to such influences. Due to cool water, deformation may occur on the laminate.
• Linoleum has other consumer advantages. If one of the pipes breaks through, you cannot fill in the neighbors who live under you. Linoleum simply will not let the water run anywhere. During getting wet, you will need to turn this flooring, thoroughly dry it.

Balcony:

• For a loggia or balcony, linoleum is considered an ideal coating on the floor. For example, you will forget to cover the window on the balcony, as a result of which the laminate will deteriorate, and nothing terrible will happen to Linoleum. And the floors covered with this material always seem warmer. But keep in mind that in severe frost linoleum has the ability to crack.
• If you still want to put laminate on the balcony or loggia, select the type that has class 33. Such products carry heavy loads, are practically not erased.
• If you plan to put flowers on the balcony, try to isolate the floor in those places where pots will stand. Also do with those places where linen will be dried. In such places, it is advisable not to lay the laminate.

What to opt for: experienced advice

• If we compare the external characteristics of these materials, then both laminate and linoleum have a fairly wide range of color palette. You can choose any of these two coatings with imitation of natural wood, stone and so on.
• Laminate is considered more environmental. There is practically no allergic reaction from it. As for linoleum, it is in some extent inferior to the laminate in this indicator. Although the first and second option is among the synthetic ones. Even if you do not take into account the fact that for the manufacture of laminate, lumber waste and polymer components are used.

• Many argue that the life of linoleum is much more than the life of the laminate. Inexpensive laminate, for example, 32 classes, spoils after 5 years. If we take the class higher, then it will last about 10 years, if not more.
• Laminate requires careful care. He is more picky in this regard. He does not tolerate water, a variety of pollution. Also, he does not like scratches and chemicals. Linoleum is not afraid of water, of course, if there are no joints. In those places where the joints are still present, you need to be extremely neat, especially if the edges are not welded. This material also reacts very much to heels and claws of pets.
• These two materials have excellent thermal insulation and sound insulation. It all depends on what their thickness they have.

What is best to choose for your own housing - decide for yourself. Most importantly, do not forget in this choice about the balance between price and quality. Since high -quality linoleums can even be much better than inexpensive types of laminate. But for the price they will be almost the same.

Reviews on the materials under discussion

Leonid:

“I live in an old house, therefore, during the repair I decided to pay a round amount for flooring. In my case there was a laminate. I had to align the floor, since the floor should be perfectly even for the installation of a laminate. In addition to this minus, I want to note that after 3 years, chips appeared on the floor in some places from something heavy. Perhaps during the rearrangement of furniture. Soon I want to change the laminate for linoleum. I think that he will last longer in my house. ”

Irina:

“It is important during the purchase to make the choice right. For my kitchen, I chose an expensive linoleum. Having laid it 3 years ago, I do not regret my choice. Repair in my apartment was made by a team of specialists. They were able to lay linoleum very quickly and efficiently. I believe that there is simply no better and better material today. ”

Stanislav:

“We removed the usual linoleum in the kitchen, and after that we breathed a sigh of relief. Somehow this material is a little tired. I wanted something more fashionable. It was barely barefoot to walk along it, traces, scratches, scuffs arose from regular floor washing. Laminate, even in the kitchen - a great option. Everyone liked him. For 5 years of operation, the floor has almost never changed. There are no chips, damage too. The color was just magnificent. We decided to never return to linoleum. If you also decide to make repairs, do not save. Buy a high -quality laminate and you will not regret it. ”

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