Telling The Difference Between Vinyl And Linoleum

Like linoleum vinyl is also available in sheet or tile form but is constructed very differently.

Telling the difference between vinyl and linoleum.

While linoleum is all natural vinyl is a synthetic product made with a variety of toxic chemicals primarily polyvinyl chloride pvc resin. Further the vinyl tile is easy to install and maintain while linoleum tile is a bit hard to install and maintan but is water resistant. Vinyl flooring colors tend to be brighter than linoleum colors. The strength layer or core gives the flooring its rigidity.

Linoleum is available as either sheet or tiles and commonly uses a jute or canvas backing. While vinyl costs less than linoleum it will last an average of only 10 or 15 years. It also allows more intricate patterns on vinyl. Others such as luxury vinyl and rigid core products have substantial cores that provide strength and durability.

This helps linoleum wear longer. The key difference between vinyl and linoleum is that the vinyl is a product of petroleum oil whereas the linoleum is a product of linseed oil. These manmade floors remain popular to this day. Some products are flexible such as sheet flooring.

Vinyl floor colors will appear more vibrant. Some people lean in to the history choosing retro color palettes for their linoleum floors or getting vinyl that mimics iconic movies like the shining s psychedelic geometric carpet. Linoleum is produced by mixing linseed oil cork or wood flour ground limestone tree resins and organic pigments that are pressed onto a jute support. Most vinyl patterns are topical while linoleum is the same color all the way through.

Sheet vinyl flooring also contains phthalate plasticizers for flexibility. Today vinyl is of course used in a huge variety of applications. Linoleum flooring being made of natural materials contains more natural earthy pigments. But vinyl flooring tends to maintain its glossy appearance right up until the top layers suddenly wear through exposing the core.

However it can be great for creating large patterns embedded designs or blocks of color. Linoleum and vinyl flooring made a big splash in the architectural scene when they debuted. You can also tell the difference between linoleum and vinyl by the vibrancy of the floor s color. The cost difference between vinyl and linoleum is offset to some degree by their relative life expectancies.

Linoleum generally lasts longer than vinyl some can last 30 40 years. Linoleum doesn t have the same style versatility in terms of mimicking other flooring types. The colors can even have a yellow tinge because of the linseed oil base. Vinyl will melt if a lit match or cigarette lands on it.