Increasing requirements for finishing materials often forces users to turn to new types of coatings. But not everyone is ready to give up the advantages of more familiar means of surface design. Especially when it comes to inexpensive materials, which include linoleum. It is far from always appropriate to use such flooring in standard versions - although the coating is advantageous with an affordable price tag, its strength qualities leave much to be desired. And completely different impressions are caused by industrial linoleum, which is a modified version of traditional materials of this type. These models are used in the design of public spaces, industrial and office space - in fact, for this reason, the coating is also called commercial.
General information about industrial linoleum
To reveal the features of this material, it should be noted that almost every floor covering has a gradation of wear resistance classes. The same applies to linoleum. The design of surfaces in places with high traffic or in warehouses where the use of wheeled vehicles is expected, involves the use of strong and durablematerial. Such requirements are met by industrial linoleum, which is the most wear-resistant in its family. High strength characteristics are achieved due to the introduction of special additives and protective layers into the coating structure. Of particular importance is the base substrate, which uses high-strength layers. Now it's worth taking a closer look at other advantages of such flooring.
Advantages of industrial linoleum
The main advantage of commercial linoleum models is due to the already indicated specifics of its use. This is durability under heavy use. Depending on the manufacturing technology and the raw materials used, such coatings can last about 10-15 years. For comparison, only in rare cases a similar service life is demonstrated by household counterparts at home. It is also worth noting the additional performance properties that specialized coatings receive. For example, industrial antistatic linoleum can be used in server rooms. There are also conductive, anti-slip and antibacterial versions of the coating, which are used in various fields. With the help of special processing and the inclusion of special additives, manufacturers endow the material with certain qualities, enhancing certain properties.
Varieties of linoleum
The main classification involves the division of industrial linoleums according to the structural device. Existtwo approaches to the formation of such canvases - homogeneous and heterogeneous. In the first case, the material is a homogeneous layer that can be restored to the point of complete abrasion. Therefore, from a decorative point of view, this is the best option. Usually, semi-commercial linoleum is made according to this principle, which retains decent wear resistance qualities and at the same time retains design value for a long time. Homogeneous coatings are more often used in public spaces and offices. If it is planned to design areas in production, then it is better to turn to heterogeneous linoleum. Such coatings have a special protective layer of polyvinyl chloride, which complements the already strong base. The result is mechanical resistance and durability of the deck structure.
Material sizes
Industrial coatings are available in both traditional rolls and slabs. The maximum length of rolls is usually 25 m, and then segments of the size required by the buyer are formed. As for the width, it is 1-2 m in standard formats. In slabs, the dimensional values also vary over a wide range. But since we are talking about wear-resistant coatings, it is much more important to evaluate the thickness parameters. So, semi-commercial linoleum raises the floor by an average of 2-3 mm. This value is close to household coatings, but separately it is worth adding a protective layer about 1 mm thick. Full-fledged commercial models have a structure with a height of 7 mm, which allows you to form a durable deck with optimalmechanical strength. By the way, the thickness of linoleum affects not only its resistance to abrasion and physical damage. Dense massive sheets also provide effective thermal insulation with noise reduction.
Decorative qualities
Industrial types of linoleum have few disadvantages, but they also exist. Such models lose to household counterparts in terms of decorativeness, which is explained by two factors. First of all, the meager choice of designs is due to the areas of application of such coatings. Factory and warehouse premises, corridors and offices do not involve the introduction of bright and spectacular colors, so manufacturers do not seek to fill their collections with such models. The second point is related to the fact that linoleum for industrial premises is designed to maintain its structure for a long time. At the same time, intensive operating conditions still do not leave a chance to preserve the original appearance of the surface. That is, the base remains intact, and the outer layer gradually loses its former decorative effect. This also applies to homogeneous coatings, the uneven abrasion of which distorts the texture properties.
Manufacturer Reviews
Quality flooring materials are produced by Tarkett. According to the owners of commercial models of this line, ready-made floorings cope with mechanical stress and at the same time are easy to clean. In the domestic market, industrial linoleum "Tarkett"presented in the collections "Prima", "Monolith", "Melody", etc. The products of the manufacturers "Linodur" and "Sinteros" also deserve attention. In this case, in addition to the quality of coatings, the buyer can also count on an affordable price tag. True, many users note a modest choice of textured solutions in the model lines of these companies.
How much does industrial linoleum cost?
It should be noted right away that linoleum, even in industrial versions, remains quite an attractive material in terms of cost - at least compared to laminate and parquet boards. The entry level is represented by coating models that can be purchased for an average of 300-350 rubles/m2. These are good quality solutions, but you should not expect durability from them. In this sense, industrial linoleum is preferable, the prices for which start from 500 rubles / m 2. For such money, for example, you can get a high-quality coating containing natural ingredients, which will also have additional protective properties, for example, from fire and water.
Mounting technique
Roll models are laid on the same principle as household linoleum. That is, the surface on which the adhesive is applied is initially cleaned, and then it is covered with a finishing material. The joints formed between the strips are additionally sealed with soldered cords. A different approach to installation should be used if the material was purchased in the form of tiles. This is an industrial linoleum, the laying of which provides forthe formation of a special substrate - as a rule, from cork. There are models that already have such a basis, so you can immediately proceed to the stage of connecting the panels. This is done using the Click locking mechanisms, which are located at the ends. In this case, it is not necessary to use glue, but for higher reliability, such fixation will not be superfluous.
Conclusion
Despite the improvement of linoleum production technologies, this coating still occupies its own special niche in the general group of floor materials. As before, this flooring is associated with an affordable price and average decorative qualities. But at the same time, technological progress has significantly improved the strength characteristics that industrial linoleum has in modern versions. Of course, its price has also increased compared to household coatings, but competing coatings with similar properties of wear resistance and reliability, as a rule, are more expensive. If high-quality high-strength linoleum can be purchased for 500-600 rubles/m2, then, for example, laminated panels are estimated at 1-1.5 thousand rubles/m 2. True, the decorative effect of the laminate is noticeably higher than in the case of linoleum.
