The terms vinyl roll and linoleum floor are often used interchangeably, but they are not the same thing. Both floor types are extremely durable, long-lasting and suitable for application in almost any room in the home. However, there are some key differences between its construction, application and maintenance and the various designs and colors available in each product.
Vinyl roll is made in layers and consists mostly of PVC, while linoleum is made from a single layer of natural material, mainly linseed. One of the layers of vinyl is the ‘design layer’ on which decorative designs are printed and embossed. This design layer offers almost unlimited design and color options. Some vinyl floors have a texture that matches the image, making the vinyl floor look and feel like material it’s imitating, such as real hardwood and natural stone. With linoleum, the design is placed all over the materials rather than being printed on a separate layer, limiting the design scope and color possibilities.
Application and maintenance is another key difference, vinyl flooring is much easier to apply and easy to maintain than linoleum flooring. Most linoleum is in roll form, which requires a full spread adhesive. And because linoleum is so tough, it usually requires a professional applicator. Vinyl roll flooring is much easier to work with. Vinyl can also be applied in a variety of ways, depending on the product you choose.
Related Post: We recommend that you also read the raised floor systems materials article on the subject.
Linoleum is also slightly more demanding in maintenance, as it is not as resistant to moisture and does not wear as well as vinyl. Linoleum is made from natural materials and is therefore much more susceptible to damage from water and cleaning products. As a result, you must seal the joints immediately after application and use certain cleaning products recommended by the manufacturer. Also, we do not recommend linoleum in the bathroom and laundry room, due to its possible vulnerability to moisture and humidity. On the other hand, most vinyl floors can be applied to any room of the house and cleaned with regular household cleaning products.
Flooring Systems 