Linoleum flooring: what it is, its advantages and where it makes sense

What linoleum is and what it's made of

Linoleum has existed since the 19th century and its basic recipe hasn't changed: oxidized linseed oil acting as a binder, mixed with wood flour, ground limestone, resins and pigments, pressed onto a jute mesh. The color runs through the full thickness of the wear layer, so wear doesn't reveal a different color underneath.

The group's flooring line includes Gerflor's DLW Linoleum. According to the manufacturer, it's made of 98% organic and mineral raw materials (linseed oil, wood, limestone, jute and resin); 76% of its materials are rapidly renewable, 40% of its content is recycled and the product is 100% recyclable.

Linoleum isn't vinyl: the difference that matters

People call almost any roll flooring «linoleum», but it's not the same. Vinyl is PVC, a synthetic plastic; linoleum is a naturally sourced material. In practice, the difference is in how they behave:

• Water: vinyl handles moisture and frequent mopping better; linoleum needs dry areas and little water when cleaning.
• Cleaning: linoleum doesn't tolerate strong alkaline cleaners; use pH-neutral products.
• Environment: linoleum is the choice when the project prioritizes renewable materials.
• Color: both offer many designs; in linoleum the color is solid through the wear layer.

Where linoleum makes sense

Linoleum performs in dry interiors with constant foot traffic, where you want a continuous floor that's warm underfoot with low environmental impact. Typical uses:

• Schools and universities: classrooms, corridors and libraries.
• Offices and administrative areas.
• Doctor's offices and dry areas of clinics.
• Retail and cultural spaces with medium to high traffic.
• Projects seeking green-building credits for renewable or recycled materials (confirm with your consultant).

Where it doesn't fit and what to use instead

Linoleum's weak point is water. In bathrooms, showers, kitchens that get hosed down, outdoors or over a subfloor with rising damp, it warps, lifts or stains. Vinyl is the better fit there.

If the area has very heavy traffic or needs static control—equipment rooms, labs or hospital areas that require it—there's Gerflor's Mipolam Robust EL7, a compact homogeneous electrostatic-dissipative vinyl, with European use class 34-43, controlled electrical resistance of 10⁶ to 10⁸ ohm, Bfl-s1 fire rating and TVOC emissions under 10 µg/m³. For healthcare with heavy traffic, Mipolam Affinity needs no wax for life and, according to Gerflor, has antibacterial activity above 99%.

If you want a wood or stone look, LVT is the answer: Creation 55 has a 0.55 mm wear layer with a matte PUR+ finish, use class 33-42 and R10 slip resistance; Creation 30 has a 0.30 mm wear layer and class 23-31, for lighter use.

What the use class means

Resilient floors are rated with a two-digit number under the European standard EN ISO 10874. The first digit gives the type of use: 2 is domestic, 3 is commercial and 4 is light industrial. The second gives intensity, from moderate to very heavy. A 34-43 floor handles very heavy commercial and light industrial use; a 23-31 floor, heavy domestic and moderate commercial use.

Choose the class for the most demanding area of the project, not the average: an entrance corridor wears much faster than a private office.

Installation: the subfloor decides

Linoleum is glued to the subfloor and, in commercial use, roll seams are welded with a cord so the floor is continuous. Most problems don't come from the material but from the base: moisture, unevenness or dust. That's why installation belongs to a professional installer, who measures concrete moisture before starting and applies leveling compound if needed. Let the material acclimatize on site and respect the adhesive's curing time before allowing traffic or furniture.

It's normal for newly installed linoleum to show a yellowish cast: it forms as the linseed oil cures and fades with exposure to light.

Cleaning and maintenance

The rule is little water and neutral pH. Sweep or vacuum daily to remove grit, which is what scratches; mop with a damp, not soaked, mop and a neutral cleaner. Avoid strong alkaline cleaners, solvents and excess water on the seams. Put mats at entrances and felt pads on furniture legs. Follow the maintenance plan the manufacturer specifies for your model.

Where to get a quote for linoleum and resilient floors

DLW Linoleum, Mipolam vinyls and Gerflor's Creation LVT are part of the architectural flooring line the group offers in El Salvador, Guatemala, Nicaragua and Panama, within the Hunter Douglas catalog, of which it is an authorized distributor. To get a quote, send the area in square meters, the use of each space and the condition of the subfloor; an architecture advisor will contact you during business hours.

• El Salvador: Zaragoza, Antiguo Cuscatlán and San Miguel.
• Guatemala (CMARKET): Mixco, Río Hondo and Xela.
• Nicaragua: Managua. Panama: Panama City.