How to lay linoleum on the balcony and choose the right one?

Regardless of whether the balcony is actively used for personal needs or is intended only for storage, the room is constantly under the active influence of the environment. In particular, if there is no glazing. Choosing the installation material is an important step. The overall result of the equipment of the place depends on it.

Nowadays there are many coating options on the building materials market that have different properties. Some of them are suitable only for enclosed spaces, others can be adapted to more difficult operating conditions. The list of the latter includes linoleum.

Types of linoleum

The building materials market offers a huge number of types of linoleum, different manufacturers, colors and manufacturing methods. In order to make the right choice of flooring, you need to have a clear understanding of the advantages and disadvantages of each type of linoleum.

Classification of linoleum by method of application:

• Domestic. Used in apartments and cottages. The main objective of such a coating is to improve the floor of the apartment with minimal investment. Provides weak floor protection and exhibits low heat, vibration, and sound insulation properties. In some cases, the manufacturer can apply special films to the linoleum surface that have antibacterial, anti-slip or protective properties. The thickness of this coating is 1.2 – 5 mm, the average period for which the product retains its appearance is at least 5 years.
• Semi-commercial. In essence, this is household linoleum, reinforced with a denser structure and wear-resistant protective film. Semi-commercial linoleum is ideal for small office spaces, small retail spaces and kiosks. With proper care, the coating will last 7 years or more.
• Commercial. This linoleum is intended for installation in institutions with a high throughput of visitors, for example, large shopping malls, cinemas, common areas, etc. The thickness of the coating varies from 1 to 4 mm, and increased wear resistance guarantees a service life of at least 25 years.
• Special purpose. The name speaks for itself. Linoleum of this type is manufactured specifically for narrow industries, taking into account the specific requirements placed on it. This type of linoleum is created on the basis of heterogeneous or homogeneous technologies.

  
  The areas of application of this coating are hospitals, gyms, sea and river fleets, and aviation. A distinctive feature of special-purpose linoleum is its ability to withstand heavy loads and low temperatures without collapsing. Depending on the purpose, the thickness of such linoleum ranges from 2 to 10 mm, and its average service life is at least 20 years.

Classification of linoleum by material of manufacture:

• Marmoleum. An environmentally friendly product obtained by processing pine bark, linseed oil, wood flour, wax and coloring pigments.

  
  It does not cause allergies and does not emit harmful chemicals, so it is ideal for placing in an apartment with small children or allergy sufferers. Marmoleum linoleum is characterized by high wear resistance. In addition, at the end of its service life, the marmoleum coating can be disposed of along with other household waste without fear that it will harm the environment.

• Polyvinyl chloride. It is an analogue of natural linoleum, but at the same time it does not have all of its properties. The product is made of synthetic materials, which means it can cause allergic reactions. PVC linoleum consists of three layers. The lowest layer is called the base, made of felt or foamed polyvinyl chloride. A front layer is applied to the base, absolutely smooth and painted in the appropriate color. To protect the front layer from abrasion, mechanical damage or aggressive chemical environments, a protective film - transparency - is applied to it.

  
  The cost of flooring made from PVC is very low, which makes it in demand when finishing floors in residential and office premises. The method of making linoleum from several layers is designated by the term heterogeneous coating, and from one - homogeneous.

• Alkyd. Also known as glyphthalic linoleum, it is made on a fabric basis, using natural ingredients (vegetable oils, alkyd resins and natural dyes) treated with an antiseptic.

  
  Not suitable for installation on the balcony, as it is extremely sensitive to temperature changes and cold, thus becoming extremely fragile.

• Rubber. Or relin linoleum is made from rubber, plastic and rubber remaining during the production of other products. This coating copes well with static and dynamic loads.

• Colloxylin. It is produced on the basis of cellulose, which is why it has a second name - nitrolinoleum. Very thin material with no backing. Nitrolinoleum is very critical to temperature changes and direct sunlight, and, therefore, it cannot be used on the balcony.

Practical advice

To improve the operating conditions of film heated floors under linoleum, it is recommended to follow several rules.

Warm floor under linoleum

1. Do not heat the material above +26°C. As a result of prolonged heating to high temperatures, linoleum can delaminate, change its original color in places of greatest heating, soften and significantly reduce the factory strength characteristics. Increased heating increases the amount of chemical compounds released into the air.
2. When laying linoleum, do not use mastics to fix it. In addition to the fact that all mastics become additional sources of release of harmful compounds, during uneven heating they can form swelling on the surface. Removing such defects later is very difficult, and in many cases impossible. Linoleum is simply spread over the floor surface. If there are concerns about movement, then you can fix the covering in several places with a stapler; staples are driven in in inconspicuous places; the best option is under the floor skirting boards.
3. Do not allow thermal film to overlap each other. If the configuration of the room is very complex, then it is better to leave a small section of the floor unheated.
4. The temperature in the room when laying linoleum should be at least +18°C, otherwise difficult to remove wrinkles may form. But you cannot spread it on a hot floor; after testing, it must cool to room temperature.
5. It is not recommended to use this type of floor as the main heating system. The fact is that you can heat rooms to comfortable temperatures by heating the floor to t° ≥ +28°C, but this should not be allowed when using linoleum.

Adjust the operating modes only after carefully reading the instructions. During the first few days of using a heated floor, it is advisable to check the reliability of operation more often. To be sure, it is recommended to check the floor temperature with an accurate household thermometer. If significant differences in indicators are found, then it is necessary to make adjustments during the installation of thermal control.

Advantages and disadvantages of linoleum flooring

Before choosing any flooring, you should carefully analyze all its pros and cons.

Positive qualities of linoleum flooring:

• Large selection of different colors, shades and patterns. A large selection of linoleum flooring eliminates the need to think about the combination of colors of walls and floors on the balcony. You can cover the balcony with any material, and then easily match the linoleum to the color and pattern of the walls.
• Ease of installation. Of all the types of existing floor coverings, linoleum is perhaps the most convenient material for installation. Anyone can measure and lay it without resorting to the help of specialists.

• Heat, vibration and sound insulation. Thanks to its viscous structure, linoleum flooring perfectly absorbs sound waves coming from both the apartment and the street. Floor coverings made using a base serve as a very good heat insulator, preventing cold from entering from the outside onto the balcony. By laying linoleum, you can save yourself from the need to provide additional thermal insulation for the balcony floor.
• Ease of use. The advantage of linoleum over other types of flooring is that it is easy to clean. It is resistant to chemical cleaning agents, does not wet or absorb moisture, and does not slip underfoot.

Infrared floor or water equivalent

The difference between these types of heating systems is the coolant. For example, an infrared heated floor under linoleum or other decorative coating consists of a polymer film and plates of a special material embedded in it.

This option is a type of electrical system. The film is connected to a power source. It needs to be laid on a rough base.

Given the simple installation process, it is quite possible to do all the work yourself. Heated film is better than other options also due to its minimal thickness, as well as due to intense heating at low power.

The water floor is heated by the facility's central heating system.

Hot water acts as a coolant. This option is embedded in the thickness of the concrete screed, which complicates the possibility of repair. And, in addition, the heated floor in this design will conceal the space of the room, reducing the height of the ceilings.

Considering that the water type of system is connected to the heating of the facility, it is advisable to equip it in private housing when an individual project is being drawn up. And in an apartment it is quite possible to install a more compact, lightweight, and easy-to-install electric heated floor under linoleum, and it is better to do it yourself to reduce costs.

The water type of construction has an important advantage - high inertia (slow heating/cooling), which does not allow the linoleum to overheat.

If you choose a film material, then in this case you can also increase the inertia. For this purpose, lay a warm floor under linoleum on a wooden floor, for example, sheets of plywood. We must not forget that the electrical analogue creates, although minimal, an effective electromagnetic field.

Wear resistance class

Depending on the load that linoleum can withstand (the intensity and number of people moving on the surface of the floor covering), it is divided into wear resistance classes.

A unified classification system for floor coverings combines any materials intended for this purpose (linoleum, parquet boards, laminate). Thus, you can compare two completely different coatings and determine which of them can last longer under a given load.

The wear resistance class is marked with two numbers. The first digit indicates the specific room for which this coating is intended. The second number indicates the degree of load for which the material is designed.

Explanation of wear resistance markings by type of room (first digit):

• 2 – premises for personal use (apartments, dachas).
• 3 – offices and other commercial organizations.
• 4- industrial premises (workshops, workshops, laboratories, etc.).

Explanation of wear resistance marking (second digit):

• 1 – only very low load is allowed.
• 2 – linoleum can be exposed to medium load.
• 3 – the material is intended for use under high loads.
• 4 – the maximum possible load capacity of this coating.

Office carpet

For installation in office premises, it is necessary to use commercial types of carpet. Such a floor covering should provide comfort during the movement of visitors, be easily cleaned from dirt, and have heat-insulating and sound-proofing qualities. The surface of the products should not bend or fade when exposed to direct sunlight.

There are other requirements for carpeting for offices:

• high frost resistance;
• maximum walking safety, including for women who walk in high-heeled shoes;
• long period of operation;
• ease of cleaning the surface from possible contamination;
• affordable price;
• attractive appearance.

Interesting article on the topic: About the advantages and disadvantages of carpet

If it is necessary to replace the flooring in office premises with carpet, it is necessary to take into account all of the above factors. When choosing the material in question in the store, they ask the seller for information about the density and type of weave, the method of dyeing the pile

Commercial type artificial carpeting is considered the most suitable for office use. They are made from polypropylene or nylon loop-weave threads with cut pile. For high traffic areas such as lobbies or corridors, it is recommended to select tufted flooring with a high thread density. The height of the pile is within 5-10 centimeters.

Frost-resistant linoleum

Ordinary linoleum is designed for use in warm rooms and at temperatures below -10C, it becomes brittle. The slightest pressure on such a coating in frost will lead to its cracking. The use of special, frost-resistant linoleum will help to avoid such a situation on the balcony.

The optimal choice would be homogeneous linoleum.

A distinctive feature of the coating made from this material is its frost resistance. At subzero temperatures, homogeneous linoleum retains its plasticity and does not crack even on an uneven floor.

Step by step instructions

Instructions on how to lay linoleum on a balcony include three main steps. The first one is the most important because it sets the stage. The need for this step is justified by the fact that an uneven floor can cause premature wear of the rolls.

Step one - preparing the base layer

Before you start renovating, clear the room of unnecessary things. Only those tools and materials that are necessary for the job should remain. If you previously installed another decorative coating, then take the following steps:

1. Dismantle the old coating - laying will be done on top of the new base.
2. Clean the resulting surface from any contaminants that may interfere with further work.
3. Correct any bulges or dents and waterproof the floor to protect the surface from the negative effects of moisture. It is advisable to use cement-sand mortar and bitumen mastic.
4. If necessary, close any gaps that appear using polyurethane foam.
5. Re-prime the entire balcony area.

The next stage of repair work can begin when the base is dry. The waiting period can last up to 12 hours depending on the composition of the coating.

Step two - leveling the base

An important aspect in deciding how to lay linoleum on a balcony is the method of raising the floor level and smoothing the surface. Read more in the article “How to raise the floor on a balcony.”

Traditionally, one of the following options is used:

• pour cement-sand screed or self-leveling mortars;
• install tongue-and-groove boards or multi-layer wood boards on the joists;
• installation of bulk floors.

Each method has its pros and cons. Focus on available financial resources for repair work.

The cladding is often laid on the balcony using wooden frames. A “skeleton” is formed using dry beams. The remaining space between the boards is additionally filled with polyurethane foam or mineral wool to ensure thermal insulation of the room. Polyurethane foam closes the gaps between the resulting frame and the wall.

Cork sheets or rolled underlays are placed on top of the lattice structure to provide additional insulation against moisture, excess noise and increase the ability to retain heat. The substrate can also play the role of a damper in case of possible deformation of the coating.

Next, they move on to creating a base on which the material will be attached. Lay plywood sheets pre-treated with primer at a distance of 5 mm from each other. In this case, a distance of 1 cm should be left from the wall.

It is recommended to go over the top with gypsum plaster to avoid possible unevenness. Otherwise, the canvas placed on top can only emphasize the presence of pits or tubercles. After drying, you can proceed to the final step - directly laying the rolls.

Step three - covering the base

Before you begin laying the coating, you need to prepare the material:

1. Unroll the rolls and leave uncovered for at least 24 hours. The linoleum must be completely straightened before you begin laying it. If necessary, you can press the parts that are not adjacent to the surface with a weight from above.
2. Adjust the sheets to the size of the balcony. The easiest way to cut off the excess is with metal scissors, leaving a gap of 5 mm between the edges and the wall. The dimensions must be strictly observed, since unevenness in the parameters will spoil the overall appearance.

Next, you can move on to the actual coating of the base.

There are three ways to lay linoleum in a loggia:

• completely glue the base;
• secure with tape over the entire area;
• fix only at the edges.

It is best to install any type of coating in warm conditions - for example, in summer. Regardless of its properties, during the cold period the material will not bend and align well enough. The result will be an uneven surface.

Substrate for linoleum

There are three substrate options:

1. The base is missing. Floor coverings made using this technology require careful leveling of the floor underneath. It is not effective at absorbing noise, vibration or retaining heat in a room. The positive qualities of such a material include the fact that even with severe abrasion, the color of the front layer does not change.

2. Foam base. Foam-based linoleum is not so critical to minor unevenness in the base. It dampens sounds and vibration well and is resistant to wet environments. Area of ​​application: residential premises.

3. Fabric base. Provides excellent thermal insulation, however, this coating is expensive and does not tolerate moisture well.

Preparing the concrete base

For any class of linoleum, you first need to prepare a concrete base. Its quality is directly related to the service life of the coating. If there are protrusions or depressions on the concrete, even small ones, the linoleum will quickly press through in these places. Therefore, the base for installation must be made level, cleaned of debris, dust, and old glue residues. It is best to make heat and sound insulation.

When the difference in height at the base does not exceed 2 mm per 1 m2, then you should simply check the surface for depressions that need to be puttied and protrusions that need to be knocked down with a chisel or scraped off with a spatula.

If the difference is more than 2 mm per 1 m2, then it is necessary to make a screed for leveling. As a material for it, you can take ordinary concrete mortar or bulk mixture. After pouring the screed, you should wait for it to dry completely and only then begin laying the linoleum.

Choosing linoleum for the balcony

Choosing the right linoleum is not as simple as it seems at first glance. A few simple tips will help you avoid being disappointed in your decision to lay flooring on your balcony.

Choosing linoleum by type of room:

• Open, unheated balcony. Linoleum located on the open balcony is actually located on the street. It is affected by: cold, precipitation and sunlight. The right choice for such conditions would be PVC linoleum on a foam base, covered with a protective transparency. In terms of load capacity, semi-commercial linoleum with index 32 is optimal.

• Glazed balcony, artificially heated. This type of balcony differs from the living room only in its colder floor. For the floor covering of a warm balcony, you can use Relin or PVC linoleum (homogeneous or heterogeneous). Since the balcony is protected from precipitation and direct sunlight, the presence of transparency is not necessary. As in the case of a cold balcony, we take the load index equal to 32.

• Heated loggia. For the flooring of a warm loggia, any type of linoleum is suitable, with the exception of alkyd and colloxylin - they will not last long. The strength of the coating is determined solely by your preferences; if you are often on the loggia, a coating with an index of 32 is suitable, and for rare visits, it is possible to lay household linoleum with a load capacity of 21, 22.

Necessary tool for work

When wondering how to glue linoleum to a concrete floor, you first need to stock up on the necessary tools. To ensure quality installation, you need:

• ruler;
• notched glue spatula;
• construction knife;
• roller (to press the canvas to the base);
• if there is a need to weld seams, then you need a construction hair dryer;
• adhesive composition;
• scotch;
• support board;
• machine for rolling fabric.

From this entire list, no special equipment is required for household linoleum. However, if a commercial type of linoleum is chosen as the floor covering, then the presence of a construction hair dryer, a rolling roller, a strip cutter, rollers and rustication for seams is required. In this case, it is necessary to choose a mixture with which to glue the linoleum to the concrete.

Method of laying linoleum

For high-quality installation of linoleum, you should adhere to a certain sequence of operations. It should be remembered that at sub-zero temperatures it is impossible to lay linoleum. In case of urgent need for construction work in winter, the glazed balcony and its floor are pre-heated with a heat gun to a temperature of +15 C.

Preparatory work:

1. The baseboards and the old (if any) floor covering are removed.
2. The floor is cleared of debris.
3. If there are irregularities in the screed, they should be eliminated by filling the sink with cement, and knocking down the protrusions with a hammer drill.

Floor preparation

To lay linoleum, you can use several base options:

• Cement-sand screed.
• Plywood sheet laid on joists.
• Penoplex insulation, leveled with cement screed.
• Tongue and groove boards on joists.
• Bulk floor.

The choice of floor preparation method depends on the owner’s skills in handling tools, his financial capabilities and availability of free time.

Let's consider the most popular method - laying linoleum on a cement-sand screed:

To avoid the accumulation of moisture under the linoleum, the floor on the balcony should be waterproofed. All presented types of waterproofing materials successfully cope with their task - containing moisture, however, we will consider only bitumen mastic, as the most commonly used.

Types of waterproofing:

• Roll waterproofing. It is a panel made of bitumen-impregnated cardboard or fiberglass.
• Bitumen mastic. Bitumen mastic, with an admixture of rubber or polymers.
• Dry mixture. A special composition resembling plaster. Before use, the mixture must be diluted in water.
• Penetrating mastic. A substance that can penetrate into the structure of concrete and crystallize in it.

Floor screed

1. Bitumen mastic is applied using a roller or brush to the floor surface. Bituminous mastic has excellent adhesion, so there is no need for preliminary priming.

2. The floor is being screeded.

3. After the concrete has dried, it is necessary to apply a primer. Most often, water-based soil is used. It is low cost and easy to apply with a regular brush or roller. Dipping the brush into a container of primer, generously coat the entire screed. The chemical completely dries within 24 hours after application.

4. Linoleum is spread on a prepared, cleaned and primed screed. To make installation easier and to avoid the appearance of bubbles, you need to let it sit for 24 hours. To make the linoleum fit more tightly to the floor, you can press it down with some kind of weight that is not too heavy.
5. After a day, when the material has completely smoothed out, you should cut off the excess along the edges. A piece of linoleum should not reach the walls by 5 mm.

Laying the covering

Cover sizing:

• Using mastic. A special mastic is applied to the back side of the linoleum. The covering is laid on the floor and carefully smoothed with a roller, or simply with your hands, through a clean rag.
• Double-sided tape. Pieces of linoleum are carefully covered with double-sided tape around the perimeter and then glued to the floor.
• Glue. A piece of covering is laid on the floor, and then one edge is lifted and glue is applied to half the piece. Then the opposite edge of the linoleum is raised and the operation is repeated.
• Skirting boards are being installed.

Warm floor on the balcony with linoleum

1. To make a heated floor on a balcony, it is necessary to lay a shielding base on the floor that reflects the heat of the heating elements and directs it into the room. The underfloor heating substrate is foamed polyethylene covered with a metallized lavsan film that reflects heat.

2. Place a film heater on the base.

   
   Infrared film heated floor installed

3. Apply mastic on top or glue pieces of linoleum with double-sided tape.
4. Lay linoleum.

Video instruction:

You should not choose a floor covering that is too thick, otherwise heating will be ineffective. The best choice would be single-layer polyvinyl chloride linoleum.

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If the floor is wet: consequences and solution

Excess moisture can negatively affect the structure and condition of the material. If the canvas gets wet, it is recommended to temporarily remove it from the floor and lay it out in another room so that the front side faces down. Rolls can only be reused when completely dry.

It is unlikely that it will be possible to “resurrect” soft-based cladding in the cheap price segment. The felt that is included in the composition will not allow the material to dry completely without additional damage, in particular, in the form of a musty smell and mold.

When you remove the canvas, check the condition of the substrate:

• whether the base is deformed - the floor may become wavy;
• whether the basic requirements for the canvas have been preserved - dryness, evenness, strength.

Checking the base for moisture is quite simple. You will need solid dense polyethylene (there should be no damage in the form of holes) measuring one meter by meter and wide tape. Glue the polymer over the entire area of ​​the room to the floor and leave it overnight.

A check is carried out in the morning: if there is an accumulation of liquid on the inner surface, the base must be left to dry. You cannot immediately put the rolls back.

When the surface gets wet, it is important to protect it from the possible appearance of mold in the future. Treat with antifungal drugs.

Design ideas

The color of linoleum should be in harmony with the interior of the balcony. A coating that imitates parquet boards, tiles or marble looks attractive. The most realistic versions are those with relief embossing. This coating has an anti-slip effect.

Linoleum is one of the simplest and most versatile options for a balcony.

Linoleum on the balcony is laid upon completion of all cladding work.

Linoleum is one of the most common and inexpensive floor coverings.

Creating comfort

The color and stylistic variety of flooring will allow you to adapt it to any room. Or vice versa - transform the room beyond recognition.

In private houses and apartments, it is becoming increasingly popular to transform a loggia into a room for personal use - an office, a small room, a greenhouse or just a place to spend free time in the evening in a pleasant atmosphere. Read more about “Balcony Design”.

Such a restructuring requires more attention to repair work compared to what is traditionally undertaken in relation to balconies.

The advantages of linoleum are the ability to choose textures. The room can be decorated in a classic style by laying rolls with a simple pattern. It's easy to create the coziness of a "hut" if you choose imitation stone slabs or wood.

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