The recipe:
1. Mix wood flour, pine rosin, linseed oil, limestone, and pigment.
2. Heat and calendar to jute backing.
3. Allow to cool.
4. Fold in history, color, and creativity. The result? Linoleum.
Not the toxic linoleum that became synonymous with vinyl flooring in the 1960’s and 70’s; the real linoleum, that gets its name from the linseed oil it contains, also known as Marmoleum.
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A combination of multiple colors and size configurations using Marmoleum click make-up this attractive retro kitchen floor. |
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Marmoleum was invented in Scotland in the 1800s and has only undergone slight revisions in production since. Because it is made out of all natural materials it will biodegrade, is hygienic and anti-microbial, and does not introduce potentially harmful chemicals to your home. Not only that, but the rosins will cure over time, which actually creates a product that becomes more durable the longer it is installed.
Many of us may remember Marmoleum from kitchens when we were growing up. In the 1940s and ’50s it was popular for its historically proven durability, versatility, ease of maintenance, and the richness of color it provided in a home. But as synthetic vinyl flooring began to outpace natural linoleum in the market in the 1960s and ’70s, American manufacturers began to shift their focus. The last United States Marmoleum manufacturer closed its doors in 1975.
Still produced at three different factory locations in Europe, however, Marmoleum is enjoying resurgence in popularity with designers and homeowners, thanks to its outstanding reputation for durability and (perhaps?) our current state of “eco-chic.”
Suited to palettes and applications that range from mod to modern and from classic to country, Marmoleum has an almost endless array of colors and combinations to choose from. Marmoleum can also be custom cut into patterns, borders, or design details. Forbo, the European producer of Marmoleum, recently updated its already enormous palette with twelve new colors and combinations by Danish designers. And as an added bonus for those of us who do the cleaning up: synthetic flooring holds a static charge, which also holds dirt and dust to your floor. Natural flooring has a negative charge which repels dirt and dust, making it easier to keep clean!
Marmoleum is available in several applications: click together 1’ x 3’ panels, used to create a floating floor — or “floor on top of your existing floor”; click together 12” x 12” tiles; solid sheets which are glued down to a subfloor in good condition; and 12” x 12” glue-down tiles. Suitable for more than kitchens, it also works well in laundry rooms, bathrooms, high traffic hallways, public spaces, and offices. Another benefit for kitchens and laundry areas is that it handles heavy-rolling loads with ease.
A click together floor is a suitable project for a DIYer, but glue down sheet or tile application is best suited for a trained installer. Ask your local retailer to recommend one. Remember to request a low- or non-toxic adhesive when discussing install with your contractor (a good example would be Forbo Brand T-940 for tile, and L-910 for sheet glue down — both products available at ecohaus, in Portland).
