I thought Linoleum was long gone…

Yes, THAT generation of linoleum is long gone. It has been rediscovered to be the best flooring material for the new era, though. It is now making a come back- big time!

Linoleum as a material was always known for easy-to-clean, no fuss, warm to touch, dust repellent, durable flooring option. What you may remember from your Grandma’s place was a monolithic sheet with fabric style print on it. The market was pretty much captured by the introduction of vinyl in mid-twentieth century.

But now the experts find the fumes emitted from the vinyl can be hazardous to health. It is not advisable to have a prolonged exposure to this material prominently in residences. And that is how Linoleum is back in the picture. Since Linoleum is made out of all natural materials like linseed oil, wood flour, rosin and jute fibers it contributes to better indoor air quality.

Also, Linoleum is very resilient to heavy household traffic. As the linseed oil cures, the material will actually harden over time. I am not surprised that this flooring material is again getting popular.

Currently, Armstrong, Forbo, and Ecofloors are the major manufacturers. You can get this in sheets, tiles or panels. Depending on the manufacturer, the product varies in colors. Don’t forget to check the links at the bottom of the page if you are interested.