Which is better – linoleum or laminate in an apartment??

Selecting the ideal flooring for your apartment is an important choice that can affect the look and feel of your living area. In this discussion, laminate and linoleum are two common choices that are frequently brought up. It’s not always easy to choose between materials because each one has pros and cons of its own.

Linoleum is renowned for being long-lasting and environmentally beneficial. Constructed from organic components such as wood flour, cork dust, and linseed oil, it’s a long-lasting choice that requires little upkeep. Because of its durability, it’s a great option for high-traffic areas, and it comes in a range of colors and patterns to fit a variety of preferences.

Conversely, laminate provides a distinct set of advantages. It imitates the appearance of hardwood and is usually less expensive than linoleum, giving your apartment a cozy and refined atmosphere. For individuals seeking a do-it-yourself alternative, laminate’s ease of installation and upkeep can be a big plus. It is also fading and scratch resistant, which makes it a sensible option for homes with kids or pets.

Budget, lifestyle, and personal preferences are important considerations when choosing between laminate and linoleum. The longevity and organic makeup of linoleum may be the decisive factors for some. For others, laminate might be a better option due to its cost-effectiveness and aesthetic versatility. By analyzing the benefits and drawbacks of each material, you can choose the one that best meets your requirements and improves your living space.

Advantages and weaknesses of laminate

Many positive attributes are attributed to laminate by manufacturers, sellers, and authors of online resources about this type of building material. It’s true that some of them appear off; you can debate these:

• High strength. This indicator can only be determined for companies from Belgium and Germany. Moreover, in the same class of laminate, the range of strength is so large that for the best examples of class 31 it can be higher than that of a laminate of class 33. Manufacturers from Russia and China indicate only the class. Therefore, it is impossible to say unequivocally that the material being purchased is durable – you can buy lamellas with very low strength characteristics;
• Long service life. This indicator depends on wear resistance, and, firstly, it can be different, and, secondly, with the same indicator value it provides in one case a maximum of 7 years of operation, in the second – more than 20 years. This is explained by the measurement technique;

In conclusion, only premium laminate brands possess intrinsic high strength and resistance to wear. In the middle price range, there is total uncertainty—you can purchase both.

• Wide choice of texture, color and size, allowing you to satisfy the most sophisticated tastes. At the same time, laminate can visually change the size of the room: lengthen or expand, highlight separate zones in the room;
• Easy and understandable installation technology;
• High resistance to fading – a special film is applied that does not transmit UV rays;
• Laminate flooring does not require special care: no need to sand, varnish or wax. You can clean the dirt with a damp cloth or paper napkin;
• Laminate boards are well resistant to sharp heels, heavy furniture, falling objects, and cigarette ash;
• Ease of transportation;
• Excellent withstands abrasive loads;
• Affordable price for a wide range of buyers.

In addition, a number of the following claims are wholly false:

• It has good noise absorption – the opposite is true: it resonates and amplifies sounds;
• Retains heat – cannot be used as insulation due to high thermal conductivity.

It is disliked by producers and retailers to discuss the drawbacks of laminate. Additionally, they are noteworthy:

• The presence of up to 80% natural wood in a laminate does not guarantee its safety for health. The remaining 20% ​​are phenol-formaldehyde resins, which release harmful formaldehyde into the air (chemical formula HCHO). This process occurs especially actively when installing a “warm floor” system;
• One of the main disadvantages is low moisture resistance. It swells when exposed to water, especially when it floods from above or breaks pipes in the apartment. This is a complete replacement of the floor and significant financial costs. The same result can be obtained in an apartment on the ground floor, if there is a damp basement below, and the waterproofing technology was violated;
• Another significant drawback is that an almost ideal floor screed is required: smooth, strong, dry and clean, with a height difference of no more than 3 mm per 1 m2 . It is expensive, time consuming and difficult;
• The ability of laminate to resonate does not bring pleasure to either the neighbors below or the apartment owners. Correctly carried out soundproofing work partially solves the problem, but not completely. Judging by the reviews on the forums, many are trying to get rid of noise using a thicker backing. But this is a version of the “Trishka caftan”, when, solving one problem, they create several new ones – on a thick substrate, the lamella locks are very quickly destroyed;
• The protective film of the laminate accumulates static voltage from a running personal computer. These are unpleasant sensations when walking and accumulating dust;
• Grease, ink and oil paint spilled on the floor are difficult to remove, which is why experienced professionals do not recommend installing it in the kitchen and children"s room;
• Laminate floors are very slippery after wet cleaning, which is almost never mentioned, but traumatologists are well aware of the problem;
• The floor surface feels cold, which is especially unpleasant in the autumn-winter period;
• The slightest failure to comply with the installation technology can lead to deformation of the laid floor due to sudden temperature fluctuations;
• Special care is required when installing furniture. Getting two legs on one panel will inevitably lead to the destruction of the lock.

Pros and cons of linoleum

The numerous benefits of linoleum account for its large following:

• Having an affordable price (cheap), it is available to almost every family – the most expensive type can be afforded by a family with below average income;
• Long service life – in the “one-room apartments” of Khrushchev’s buildings it could last 20-30 years;
• Easy to install – the simplest installation technology among all types of flooring, so any “nerd” can lay it;
• Easy care – just a mop and a rag; in case of heavy contamination, detergents will help;
• Can be laid on a “warm floor”;
• Absolute resistance to moisture; if immersed in water for several days, the material will retain all its consumer properties;
• High level of grip – it is difficult to slide on it, so it is laid in gyms and public places;
• It is a good insulator – the bottom layer of felt or foamed PVC has a low thermal conductivity;
• Does not conduct noise – the quietest floor covering;
• Large selection of designs and colors – any design idea can be put into practice.

It is hard to find a perfect building material. Additionally, linoleum has drawbacks:

• Performance characteristics change with temperature fluctuations: it becomes slippery and moves like a wave at sub-zero temperatures, begins to emit substances harmful to health (no longer environmentally friendly) and shrinks at high temperatures (more than 27 degrees Celsius). Low-grade material becomes brittle and prone to deformation in the cold at the dacha;

As a point of reference, because linoleum is a chemical substance, it reacts to temperature in an unusual way, expanding where other materials contract and contracting where they expand.

• Constant specific smell when it’s hot outside;
• Inconvenient for transportation – you need freight transport and manual carrying, since the rolls do not fit in the elevator;
• Melts on contact with hot objects, including cigarette ash;
• Damaged (marks remain that cannot be removed) when moving furniture;

Important: Lard skins were used in Soviet times to get around the final disadvantage, which was to move them under the legs. Moving objects became much simpler with this method, which also left no trace.

• A visible seam under which dirt constantly accumulates – attempts to glue the joint with tape or special materials do not give a long-term effect: they begin to peel off;
• Sensitive to chemical reagents;
• Requires a level floor screed;
• Traces from black soles are difficult to remove;
• Material of any class will certainly shrink, as a result of which the connecting seam will separate after 3-4 years and begin to hurt the eyes. Therefore, the joints need to be hidden near the walls or use material 5 m wide.

As you can see, it is impossible to decide clearly in favor of one type of flooring when deciding between laminate and linoleum due to the various pros and cons. As a result, we will directly compare the materials based on all technological, economic, and technical parameters.

For your apartment, deciding between laminate and linoleum can be difficult because each has specific benefits of its own. Natural materials make linoleum eco-friendly, long-lasting, and low-maintenance, which makes it an excellent option for high-traffic areas. However, laminate offers a greater range of styles and a more contemporary appearance, frequently simulating the look of real stone or wood at a much lower cost. The ideal option ultimately comes down to your financial situation, way of life, and personal taste in design.

Comparative analysis of linoleum and laminate boards

In order to determine which type of flooring is preferable in an apartment—linoleum or laminate—let’scomparethe two and make deductions based on the following features:

• price of 1 m 2 of material;
• cost of laying 1 m2;
• complexity of the installation process;
• requirements for the floor screed surface;
• possibility of disassembly (dismantling);
• life time;
• fire safety;
• wear resistance;
• resistance to UV rays (fading);
• resistance against static loads;
• resistance to dynamic loads;
• resistance to mechanical damage;
• waterproof;
• thermal conductivity;
• soundproofing properties;
• environmental friendliness;
• ease of care;
• which gets polluted faster;
• use under a “warm floor” system;
• design.

Which is cheaper?

The cost of a floor is one of the primary factors to consider. Thus, you must first determine which type of flooring in the apartment is less expensive: laminate or linoleum. When it comes to low-cost building supplies, laminate costs about twice as much as linoleum, which starts at 120 rubles per square meter, while laminate boards start at 260 rubles per square meter.

The price difference is even more pronounced in the premium class, at 2.3 times: laminate costs 840-1400 rubles/m2, while linoleum costs 360-600 rubles/m2. In summary, there is no denying that linoleum has the upper hand in this comparison.

Which is cheaper to install?

The cost of laying the floor affects the owner’s finances significantly in addition to the cost of the material. To directly install laminate, you can hire a construction team for 250–400 rubles per square meter, plus an additional 150 rubles per square meter for underlayment and waterproofing. The price of linoleum starts at 90 rubles per square meter.

In conclusion, there is a benefit to linoleum because installing laminate flooring is more costly. But if you do the work yourself, the materials are almost equal; you’ll need to either buy or rent a tool in order to lay the lamellas.

What is more difficult to lay?

In both situations, laying flooring is fairly easy; even a novice can do it. The labor intensity and complexity of the task still matter, though; installing laminate will take a lot more time overall, good technological knowledge, attention to detail, and tool handling skills. In conclusion, there is a slight advantage to linoleum according to the indicator.

Which material has simpler requirements for floor screed?

A base surface that is equally flat is necessary for the installation of laminate and linoleum. Any irregularity affects the material’s surface; in these areas, laminate locks break and linoleum is wiped off.

Using a backing for laminate, felt, or PVC film for linoleum (glued to the bottom of the material) eliminates the impact of bumps up to 3 mm in height on the floor covering. If there are significant variations in height, more screed leveling is required. In summary, all the materials are identical.

What is easier to dismantle

It only takes a few minutes to remove linoleum. You’ll need to fiddle with the laminate because locks are frequently tightly glued together while in use and are challenging to remove. In conclusion, removing linoleum from the floor is simpler and easier.

What is more durable

The manufacturers have stated that the service life of both materials is roughly the same, ranging from 10 to 15 years. However, during use, linoleum is more susceptible to damage from moving furniture, melted spots from an iron or cigarette ash, scratches from sharp objects, and black rubber soles.

If pressed too hard, linoleum can break and leave long-lasting impact marks. Its service life is drastically shortened by the stated causes. Because laminate is difficult to scratch, it is not as afraid of sharp objects as it is of dynamic and static loads. In summary, laminate offers a minor benefit for the first time: it is more practical.

Which material burns worse?

Chemicals are used to make linoleum. Its capacity to burn is therefore substantially greater. This is also brought to our attention by the markings on the packaging, which designate the flammability class with numbers ranging from 1 to 4 and the letter "G" for flammability. Another issue is that burning linoleum releases harmful compounds, as the classifiers T1–T4 (increasingly) remind us.

Laminate smolders rather than holding an open flame. It also releases toxic substances, but only in trace amounts. All of this provided as justification for laminate producers to omit flammability and toxicity classifications from their goods. In conclusion, laminate is without a doubt the industry leader in fire safety.

Which material has higher wear resistance?

The materials are roughly equal in terms of this indicator because they cannot be wiped while walking in residential areas. They also quickly become useless when exposed to abrasive materials; irreversible traces remain. In conclusion, there is no advantage to any of the materials, so the indicator can be disregarded.

Which burns out less?

There isn’t a rigid association with any one kind of content. Everything depends on whether a special film that shields the decorative layer from UV light is present or absent (the price is unaffected by the film’s presence on the material’s surface). It is challenging to ascertain whether a protective film is present on your own. Ask consultants or hall managers instead. In summary, all the materials are identical.

Which is stronger

Here, we compare the materials simultaneously based on three indicators: mechanical damage, resistance to static and dynamic loads, and both. Without a doubt, laminate leads in all three categories. Avoid placing two or more legs on a single laminate board when installing furniture as this will damage the locks.

Although heavy furniture can be placed on linoleum, traces of it will always be there until the material eventually wears out. Scratches from sharp objects are permanent. Leg-heavy office chairs cause abrasions on the linoleum when used for extended periods of time. In summary, laminate is unquestionably stronger.

Which material has higher moisture resistance?

We don’t need to go into specifics because linoleum is resistant to both actual flooding and unintentional water spills. Because laminate is hygroscopic, just a little amount of moisture can render it useless. In conclusion, only linoleum is required in this situation if the room is subject to frequent flooding or high humidity.

Which is warmer

Here, linoleum is leading, in contrast to what is commonly believed. Heat is not as well conducted by thin chemical materials as it is by thicker wood fiber laminates. The laminate floor’s thermal insulation balances the situation out. In conclusion, linoleum is a better heat-retaining material, but as people have observed in the forums, it feels colder to the touch.

Which is quieter?

A laminate makes an excellent resonator. The neighbors below can hear almost all that occurs in the apartment. The residents themselves are also bothered by such a floor because noises are dispersed widely throughout the rooms. Ninety percent of the issue is resolved when soundproofing is done expertly. For instance, no matter how hard you try, you can never drown out the clicking of thin heels.

Not only does linoleum effectively absorb all kinds of background noise, but it also stops apartment sounds from bouncing off the walls and ceilings. He has the quietest floor. In summary, linoleum is without a doubt the best material for absorbing noise.

Which is more harmful?

When it comes to the health risks associated with the materials under analysis, things are a little unclear. Both laminate and linoleum are environmentally benign when used properly; in fact, a small child can safely play on either surface without experiencing any negative health effects. Both materials start to release toxic substances into the air when the temperature deviates from the ideal range, such as upward. However, we want to be clear that there are force majeure circumstances here.

In conclusion, both materials are safe for human health even with their chemical components present.

Which is easier to wash?

Both varieties of material require very little maintenance. You can use detergents if needed. The sole restriction is that a wrung-out cloth must be used to wash laminate flooring. Indeed, a cotton swab dipped in acetone will easily remove black shoe marks from linoleum. In summary, everything is equal in this situation.

Which gets dirty faster?

Static electricity buildup causes the laminate to get dirty more quickly. Strangely enough, though, there is one benefit to this drawback: there is less dust on the walls, bookshelves, lamps, and other decorative pieces, which is much easier to remove from the floor than it is from the things mentioned above. Conclusion: Despite laminate’s tendency to get dirty more quickly, experts seem to favor it in this regard.

What type of material can be laid on a “warm floor”

Recently, "warm floors" have gained popularity and can be used with both laminate and linoleum. It is explicitly stated by the manufacturers that they can be installed on "warm floor" systems. In conclusion, this indicator has no benefits for any kind of sex.

What"s more beautiful

Because laminate and linoleum come in so many different designs, it can be challenging to tell what kind of flooring you have at first glance. When designing the interior of a room or apartment as a whole, you can use a variety of colors, textures, and patterns to implement the most unexpected flooring solutions. In conclusion, the designer has no issues with either material.

Here is an expert’s take on the debate between laminate and linoleum: linoleum is better suited for kitchens, even though it can be installed in any room of the apartment. However, because of a faint smell, it is not as popular in bedrooms or children’s rooms. It is also perfect for balconies and loggias. Laminate was designed and manufactured with residential spaces in mind because of its more polished appearance. It is inappropriate in the restroom and unwanted in the kitchen.

Which is better and in which room?

Let’s look at two specific issues before we start thinking about what is better and in which room.

1. In new buildings, linoleum should always be laid on the ground floor. While the house is not in use, it is difficult to predict what the basement will be like: wet or dry. Only when replacing the floor can you lay laminate flooring. If dampness comes from the basement, you will have to do double waterproofing: under the screed and along its top.
2. A similar situation in a private house. Until there is clarity on the humidity under each room, linoleum should be on the floor.

Note: When pouring the foundation, there are often instances of water exchange disruption at the construction site, which causes an abrupt increase in humidity in a dry area beneath the building.

Going back to the original question, we observe that laminate is better in living rooms. The status of the premises—the focal point of the apartment or house where guests congregate for celebrations and holidays—explains this. This is your chance to show off the owners’ degree of wealth and style, which you can do with a well-presented laminate.

Laminated panels are also a better option for bedrooms. They look lovely, have no smell, don’t gather dirt, and produce no static electricity. Linoleum is preferable in hallways and corridors because it is easier to clean up dirt from the street. Nonetheless, laminate flooring works well in these spaces because there are rugs on either side of the door.

In the restroom and kitchen High humidity and standing water on the floor are not conducive to laminate flooring, as linoleum appears more functional. There is no substitute for linoleum on a balcony; laminate cannot be installed there due to frequent rainfall, but any of the materials mentioned above can be used in the loggia.

Criteria	Linoleum	Laminate
Durability	Linoleum is durable and can last many years with proper care. It is also resistant to scratches and stains.	Laminate is durable but can be prone to scratches and water damage. High-quality laminate lasts longer and resists wear better.
Maintenance	Linoleum is easy to clean and maintain. It only needs regular sweeping and occasional mopping.	Laminate is also easy to maintain, requiring regular sweeping and damp mopping, but it should not be overly wet.
Comfort	Linoleum is softer and warmer underfoot, making it more comfortable to walk on.	Laminate is harder and can be colder underfoot compared to linoleum.
Cost	Linoleum is generally more affordable and offers good value for money.	Laminate can vary in price but is often more expensive than linoleum, especially high-quality options.
Installation	Linoleum installation can be more challenging and may require professional help.	Laminate is relatively easy to install, often using a click-lock system that is DIY-friendly.
Environmental Impact	Linoleum is made from natural materials and is biodegradable, making it an eco-friendly choice.	Laminate is made from synthetic materials and is less environmentally friendly, though some brands offer greener options.

For your apartment, the decision between laminate and linoleum primarily comes down to your personal tastes and needs. The benefits of linoleum include its eco-friendliness, durability, and ease of maintenance. Being more stain- and spill-resistant than many other flooring types, it’s an excellent choice for high-traffic areas and homes with kids and pets.

Conversely, laminate flooring has a more sophisticated appearance and frequently resembles stone or hardwood. It can give your living spaces a contemporary, fashionable touch and is typically easier to install than linoleum. Although laminate is also very durable, in very moist areas such as bathrooms or kitchens, it might not last as long as linoleum.

The optimal decision ultimately depends on your priorities. For those who prioritize sustainability and low maintenance, linoleum may be a more suitable choice. Laminate might be the best option if appearance and convenience of installation are more important factors. When choosing, take into account your lifestyle, your spending limit, and the particular requirements of your apartment.

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