Linoleum vs Vinyl Flooring

Springtime renovation season is here, and next to kitchens, bathrooms and repainting, installing new flooring in homes is one of the most popular projects to tackle. Many people are ready to tear up that old carpet and replace it with something new. In rooms where there will be a lot of moisture, two popular choices for flooring are linoleum and vinyl. But which is best? Learn the difference between linoleum vs vinyl flooring, and how to determine which is best for your Pennsylvania home.

Linoleum vs Vinyl Flooring

When comparing linoleum with vinyl flooring, the first thing you want to look at are the differences in material. Your ServiceWhale Pennsylvania contractor can give you detailed information about the two of these, but the basics are as follows:

• Vinyl Flooring is a man-made product that is produced from petroleum, or standard oil. It is made through a process of combining oil with chlorine to form a chemical bond that results in the rubber-like material we know as vinyl.
• Linoleum Flooring is made mostly of linseed oil, which is naturally occurring and is extracted from flax seeds. It is then mixed with substances such as wood flour, rosin and cork dust to create a material that is of a similar texture to vinyl.

Installation Procedures

The installation procedures when it comes to vinyl and linoleum flooring in your Pennsylvania home are very similar. The materials come in tile form, and are laid adjacent to one another and glued down after being cut to match the dimensions and shape of the room; in some cases, there is a self-stick adhesive on the tiles.

The biggest difference between the two is that linoleum is much more prone to damage from moisture and has to be treated with a special sealant after installation, whereas vinyl is naturally tough and waterproof, and it does not require such treatment.

Going Green

If having a green home is important to you, linoleum will be a much more attractive prospect at the outset. Since it is constructed from natural and renewable materials, linoleum is one of the most environmentally friendly materials for flooring you can find. The energy costs to produce it are low, and it is lightweight, thus reducing transport costs.

Vinyl, on the other hand, is made from petroleum, which is a non-renewable resource and is much heavier, costing more to transport.

There are many things to consider when determining which kind of flooring to install in your Pennsylvania home. For some, the process can be very easy—if your sole concern is environmentally-friendly projects, linoleum is the way to go. However, it you have practical concerns about moisture issues, vinyl is the clear winner. In the end, many people turn to qualified service technicians for advice about which material is best for their project.

When you’re done comparing linoleum vs vinyl flooring, and you’re ready to install new floors, read over our quick and easy process for finding the perfect professional and give ServiceWhale a call for more information today!