Linoleum

Linoleum has been a popular flooring for over a century. It is manufactured from renewable resources: linseed oil, rosin, wood floor, cork powder and pigments. Due to its appeal as a "natural" product, linoleum is again being specified for flooring, stair treads, and risers. Linoleum is available in a wide range of colors and patterns.

Linoleum's durability (up to 40 years as flooring) makes it very suitable for high traffic areas. Linoleum does not show scuffs or scratches, and is resilient and flexible. Linoleum is naturally biodegradable, and so it does not add to waste problems, as does vinyl flooring. Linoleum has other advantages: it does not burn easily, it is waterproof, and it does not generate static electricity. Part of linoleum's popularity is due to concerns over indoor air quality. Because linoleum is naturally anti-bacterial, there are no chemical anti-bacterial agents needed in its manufacture or maintenance. When used with a low-VOC adhesive, linoleum emits far lower levels of contaminants than does vinyl flooring.