For me, linoleum is a bad word. It's right up there with polyester shirts, plastic leather, and fake designer handbags. It implies cheap building materials suitable only for trailer parks. It came in rolls and were used to covered floors with faux tile patterns, or cheesy rustic patterns.

But today, an architect showed me some samples that look really cool. They are available in an interesting range of colors, and when laid down, forms a seamless surface from wall to wall. In solid colors, it could be suitable as a backdrop for art objects. These aren't the same plastic rolls as used in the 70's and 80's, or are they?

I am wondering if I should use this for my house. I was envisioning something more formal for my living room. I wonder if this would cheapen it.

These are made by Armstrong. Does anyone have such linoleum floors? How do they look over time? Do you like them? Are they respectable?

Did you not tell me once - when you were in that late 80's club scene - you used to bring a square metre of lino from the spare roll in your garage so when out body popping and spinning on your head it wouldn't get hurt on the concrete club floors?

I'm sure it was you.

No siree. We used cardboards.

Linoleum can be very respectable. Some of the very tough types can be really successful and long lasting in use. And then of course there is Amtico - very expensive, very hard wearing and can look a millions dollars with the right selection of patterns/colours.

Thanks a lot for the Amtico tip. I'll look around town for a sample. These are ideal for laying on top of concrete with floor heating.

Linoleum is a natural, hard wearing floor covering, one of the biggest suppliers is Swiss based, Forbo.

The difficulty with linopleum is finding somebody who can do the joints properly when laying it. You need to cut a shallow trench on either side and use a heated tool to seal the joint. Very easy to make a mess of, very difficult to do nicely.

If you do lay it, i would suggest you ask to see samples of how the person does his joints.

If I go with linoleum, I wouldn't install it myself.

I wouldn't mind linoleumn in certain rooms of the house. I just don't know if I want it in my living room, where I would receive guests. The material makes a lot of sense, especially with floor heating, but the name strikes me as cheap. Although it looked alright in the photos, I wonder what it would look like over time.

We are planning to use these here (by Forbo) in our sleeping and children's rooms: http://www.forbo-flooring.com/Consum...rmoleum-click/

Supposedly, since they are "clipsable", they shouldn't be too hard to install. At least I hope so... I am just not sure whether I should use an additional "bubble-film" type underlayer or not(?)

Price (from the top of my head) was about 30 EUR per m2.

To be honest, I wouldn't bother with the lino. These things rarely grow on you.

You can get to dislike things around the house but if you're not sure to begin with, then find something else that at least stuns you from the start.

I can never understand why people (in Switzerland) tile their living rooms. I think it makes the room look like a doctor's waiting room.
It may be practical but your home should be more than just practical.

Did you actually look at the latest stuff they propose right now?

These are my sentiments at the moment. Linoleum is ideal for floor heating, but it feels like you're at the doctor's office or somewhere public. And they look awful with some wear and tear.

I wouldn't mind something like slate, but those have impracticalities of their own. And wood is not well suited for floor heating.



I have an appointment to see some sample installations, including Forbo. So far, I'm not impressed with one installation that had signs of warping. Also, I expected a seemless surface. But in the example isntallation I saw, the seem was obvious. It seems it requires expertise to install, and the quality hinges on the expertise of the installer.

I would stick to tiles in wet areas (kitchens and bathrooms) and wooden floors elsewhere.

Maybe the dining room in tile as well (especially with young children as it would be easier to keep clean).

Wooden floors are fine with underfloor heating.

Edit: What ever you decide, I would go with something simple (no patterns or designs) then you can change the room look feel with the decor....

No, but I'm not considering buying it, Phos is and it's him who has reservations.

Whether I like it or not is irrelevant.

We have a Forbo product installed on one level of our house. The area sales manager came to our house just prior to the installation to bring a special adhesive which apparently the flooring company who was installing it could not get delivered in time. Expert installation is critical with careful preparation of the surface where the floor is to be installed. When you purchase the flooring read carefully about the applications. We have "Surestep Pur". Below is a photo of the kind of technical specs you should be looking for. (sorry it is not so legible) and a photo of one of the rooms (with underfloor heating) where we have the flooring installed. There are seams, but to be honest I hardly notice them. The floor has no signs of wear and tear (we lifted the carpet in the photo a long time ago) and is really easy to clean.

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My point was actually that you seem to have a very clear-cut opinion about the material but which seems to be influenced by its former reputation (as does Phos and as did I).

Hence the question whether you had actually documented yourself about the new "look and feel" of the material...

@ Mrs. Doolittle: If you find the time for a proper scan of the specs, that would be highly appreciated.

So then, are you saying that the new materials overcome its previous reputation? That is exactly what I am trying to get feedback on.

It seems so, but since I am still in the planning phase I can't give "real-life" feedback...

Looks like Mrs. Doolittle would be the only person here to be able to do so. I would be especially interested to learn whether she used the clipsable tiles.

I think you misunderstood what I was trying to say.

The flooring material is irrelevant to what I was saying. Phos had reservations regarding the look of a particular flooring material in his living room.

My take on this is that unless practical reasons have to take priority over aesthetic ones, then if you aren't 100% happy with the look of something the first time you see it then trust your instincts and have a look at the alternatives. You may find then that the original material is the one you do really want.

I actually like lino floors. Would I have one in my sitting room? No. But I'd probably have a lino floor rather than a tiled floor (unless it was slate)

Sorry about the scan of the specs. I can't do any better, I took it at the suppliers showroom and it was 3 years ago. The product we have came on a roll, it is not tiles.

EDIT: Would I put this flooring in my living room? No. In our situation, we were looking for anything other than ceramic tiles, cork, wood, laminate or carpet. That doesn't leave much.

Here is a link to the Australian site in English. You can click on the specs on the right side. Should be the same as the Swiss product or at least very close.

http://www.forbo-flooring.com.au/Com...step-original/