Difference Between Linoleum and Marmoleum

The key difference between linoleum and marmoleum is that linoleum requires solvent-free adhesives for the installation whereas marmoleum installation does not require any adhesive.

Linoleum is a flooring material that is available as sheets (or tiles). This material contains components from natural sources. Marmoleum is also a form of linoleum that differs only from the way of installation.

CONTENTS

1. Overview and Key Difference
2. What is Linoleum
3. What is Marmoleum
4. Similarities Between Linoleum and Marmoleum
5. Side by Side Comparison – Linoleum vs Marmoleum in Tabular Form
6. Summary

What is Linoleum?

The linoleum sheets are being in use as a flooring material since early times. Industrial manufacturers produce linoleum from linseed oil. It can also be produced by mixing the linseed oil with some renewable materials such as cork dust, wood flour, rosin, etc. The linseed oil comes from flax seed.

Figure 01: Linoleum Floor

The installation of these sheets is a bit difficult and requires solvent-free adhesives. Further, the maintenance is also hard. However, there are do-it-yourself type tiles that are easy to install.

Linoleum tiles are highly impermeable to fluids such as water. Therefore, these tiles are resistant to fluids. But, they require periodical sealing because the corners of the sheets may curl in the presence of excessive humidity. Furthermore, due to the presence of linseed oil in the material, it has antibacterial properties. That is, the oxidation of linseed oil can prevent the growth of microorganisms.

What is Marmoleum?

Marmoleum is a type of flooring material used in residences and commercial properties. It is an improved form of linoleum. Further, it has a natural origin and is available in a wide range of colors.  Industrial manufacturers use linseed oil (same as in linoleum) as the source of production. Moreover, it contains natural pigments, byproducts of sustainably harvested wood, etc. Because of this, it is being considered as a sustainable and safer product. In addition, these sheets have natural bactericidal properties (because of the linseed oil present in the marmoleum).

Figure 02: Marmoleum Floor

Unlike in other forms of flooring materials, the marmoleum has no unfavorable odors. Further, the material is highly durable and cleaning the surface also is easy. Moreover, installation of the flooring is much easier and do not require adhesives. Unlike the hard-tiled floors, a floor covered with marmoleum sheets is warm and comfortable (when walking on a hard-tiled floor, you will feel cold and uncomfortable).

What are the Similarities Between Linoleum and Marmoleum?

• Both material are produced from linseed oil along with some other components
• Linoleum and Marmoleum have antibacterial properties
• Both are available in a wide range of colors and patterns

What is the Difference Between Linoleum and Marmoleum?

Summary – Linoleum vs Marmoleum

Linoleum and marmoleum are forms of flooring material. Marmoleum is a type of linoleum, and it differs from the other in the method of installation. To sum up, the difference between linoleum and marmoleum is that the linoleum requires solvent-free adhesives for the installation whereas marmoleum does not require any adhesive.

Reference:

1. “What Is Marmoleum – and How Does It Differ From Linoleum.” GreenBuildingSupply.com. Available here
2. Pennypacker, Theodora. “Homesteady | What Is the Difference Between Linoleum & Marmoleum Flooring?” HomeSteady | The Ultimate Guide for All Your Household Needs., 26 Sept. 2017. Available here 

Image Courtesy:

1.’Linoleum 003’By Concord – Own work, (CC BY-SA 3.0) via Commons Wikimedia 
2.’7003453247′ by Sean Gillies (CC BY-SA 2.0) via Flickr

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