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Linoleum is Back
When I say linoleum I'm talking about the original product that is made of linseed oil, pine resin, ground cork and wood flour blended to form sheets on a jute backing. One of the bonuses of linoleum is that the color goes throughout the product, not just a thin film on top of the product, so if it gets scratched there's still color under the scratch. And it's fun because of the rainbow of colors and patterns it's available in. Don't confuse linoleum with the polyvinyl sheeting that's so common today. Linoleum is made of all natural ingredients, not of petrochemicals, so there is no harmful off-gassing or dependence on oil.
I ran across a tiny mention in a magazine about a couple who had used linoleum as a counter top surface. I loved the concept! Since I was designing my new, environmentally sensitive house, I wanted to know more. Evidently lots of people are also liking it. When I contacted Forbo about using their product (Marmoleum is what they call it) on my counters, they commented that they were getting an increasing number of calls along that same line and they were in favor of using it on counters. At first you might think that linoleum isn't sturdy enough for counter top material. But if you stop to think that it's meant to be walked on, you understand it's quite durable. Armstrong, on the other hand, is a bit reluctant to have their linoleum used that way, cautioning that it must be waxed to not void their warranty. In my experience, setting plates, glasses, pots and pans on the counter is gentler on a surface than the treatment it gets from being walked on with high heels, gravel-embedded boots
A benefit I hadn't anticipated when I decided to use linoleum on my counters was it's affordability. I spent less on the purchase and installation of the linoleum than I would have on just the purchase of any other typical covering. That was a nice surprise. And it really looks great.
Some sites about linoleum are:
What is Linoleum
This Old House
Forbo
Armstrong
Advance Buildings
Store Reviewer
Consider using linoleum at your property � for the floor or counters � and benefit from cost savings. You are also moving your venue toward an environmentally healthy building. That's an ECOnomically Sound decision.
Posted by Kit Cassingham
