Glue for linoleum

The advantage of modern repair technologies is that almost any work on the repair and decoration of premises can be performed by a person without special skills, and with minimal cash costs. Today we will talk about how to choose the right adhesive for linoleum, how to make sure the joints do not diverge. To successfully cope with the task, the simplest tools are enough.

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What is it?

To successfully work with the material, it is necessary to know its types and operational characteristics. Linoleum is a material in rolls, which is used as a decorative and protective flooring. Consider the most popular varieties.

Natural

This is the most popular type of linoleum. For its manufacture, only natural components are used: wood flour, beeswax, resin, linseed oil. The term linoleum comes from the merger of 2 words: flax + oleum (oil). All components are mixed using a special mixer, and the resulting mass is rolled out on the basis of a natural fabric: lean, flax or jute. It turns out an environmentally friendly and very expensive floor material called marmoleum.

PVC linoleum

This coating is made of thermoplastic mass. The basis of such a product is synthetic felt (polyester) or foamed polyvinyl chloride. The material is resistant to moisture, does not decompose, strong, elastic and durable.

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Classification by field of use

Depending on the application, these types of materials are distinguished.

Household material

It is used in premises. The basis is combined or made of foamed PVC. The thickness of such a coating is up to 0.5 cm. Sometimes, between the base layers there is a layer of fiberglass. The protective coating can be “mono” or with additives (bactericidal, antistatic, etc.). The average working resource is 10 years.

Semi-commercial

These products are similar to household ones, but have a higher density and a stronger protective coating. Suitable for offices or rooms with significant traffic (corridor, kitchen, etc.).

Commercial

Coating with good resistance to stress. It is used in shopping centers and industrial enterprises. Laying it is not easy, but the working resource is quite large - 25 years.

Highly specialized

This material is used for particularly difficult operating conditions. It is resistant to deformation, has a current-scattering and anti-slip effect. The thickness of the material reaches 1 cm. Such linoleum serves up to 50 years. It is used in sports and dance halls, train stations, hospitals, etc.

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Other classification principles

Depending on the structure, there are coatings:

• Homogeneous. These are homogeneous materials with a full thickness pattern. This category includes specialized and commercial coatings.
• Heterogeneous. This is a multilayer material consisting of a base, a base-decorative layer and a protective coating.

When choosing, be sure to pay attention to the product class. This or that class is assigned depending on the material's resistance to wear:

• 21-23 - household.
• 31-34 - semi-commercial and individual varieties of commercial.
• 41-43 - commercial linoleum and specialized varieties.

Important! By the number of decor options, linoleum coating is out of competition.They produce a smooth and structured material that simulates parquet or plank floorboards. On sale you can find a realistic imitation of granite, textiles, ornamental stone and even reproductions of paintings by famous painters.

In accordance with the recommendation of manufacturers, the installation of linoleum should be carried out on a solid, smooth base with a polymer composition. If 2 pieces or more are stacked, the question arises with fixing the seams.

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Glue for joints of linoleum

Sometimes, so that the seam does not diverge, linoleum is fixed using a threshold made of plastic or aluminum. But this can not always be done. Therefore, chemical methods are much more popular - cold and hot welding.

Cold welding

This is an adhesive polymer composition containing, in essence, the same components as PVC linoleum. In contact with the flooring, the glue reacts with it and partially extends the edge. It results in an almost imperceptible seam, durable and waterproof.

Important! If you are thinking about how to glue linoleum at home, this is exactly your option. It can be used for synthetic and PVC materials of various types - from household to commercial.

The type of adhesive used depends on the structure of the material:

• A is a transparent adhesive for a homogeneous or heterogeneous foam-based material. The joints should be tightly cut. Apply glue for linoleum using a special needle mounted in the lid of the tube.
• T - paste-like composition for bonding coatings on a combined or polyester basis. To apply glue, a special nozzle is used, equipped with a T-shaped nozzle.
• C - a thick repair mixture. With its help, you can not just connect linoleum to each other at home, but also fill the space with a waterproof composition. Universal glue. It is great for repairing dermantine upholstery, wallpapering, and hardening carpeting loops.

Important! The range of working temperatures for cold welding is -40 - +60 degrees. Materials are slightly toxic, combustible, they must be kept away from fire. Apply glue with gloves, goggles and a respirator.

Hot welding

The essence of the method is as follows: the welding cord is melted in the nozzle of a building hair dryer and applied to the joint area, the excess is cut off, and the seam is strong, resistant to stress and reliable.

Given the extensive color gamut of the material, accessories for gluing about 100 shades are produced. Since the method requires the use of special equipment, hot welding is used by professionals for large rooms.

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Cold Welding Algorithm

The first thing you need to start with is choosing the right adhesive composition. For felt-based coatings, category T products are suitable; for coatings of a homogeneous or heterogeneous type (natural or PVC), class A compounds are used.

To glue linoleum together, in addition to glue, you will need:

• Roller cutter or construction knife.
• Guide or ruler made of metal.
• Double-sided tape.
• Construction hair dryer.
• Soft textile to remove dust.
• Cork block or rubber roller for sealing joints.

Rules for working with glue for linoleum:

• The surface should be clean, completely free of debris and dust. Wipe the coating so that there are no traces of grease and dust.
• First, the linoleum sheet itself is mounted. You can start processing joints in a day.
• First of all, you need to take care of getting a tightly cut seam - even and perfectly fitted.
• The edges of the material are overlapped. The size of the overlap varies between 30 and 50 mm.
• The strips are pressed using a steel ruler or strap. A knife or carver cuts both blades simultaneously. If necessary, then one of the pieces of linoleum is attached to the base with tape.
• In order not to accidentally damage the protective layer, a paper tape is glued to both sheets before trimming the edges.
• After the formation of the edge is completed, it is removed along with the trimmings.
• So that the glue does not get on the coating canvas, tape is glued to the edges.
• Before bonding, the material is slightly heated with a hairdryer. Put the needle on the tube, insert it into the incision and, advancing along the seam, carefully squeeze the composition.
• After about half an hour (you need to focus on the real time specified in the instructions), you can remove the tape.

Important! When applying cold welding, the weld area is cleaned of debris and dust. The adhesive is applied using a nozzle with a flattened nozzle. If the gap is 4 mm or more, using adhesive alone is undesirable. It is better to use an insert carved from linoleum.

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Stock footage

The examples in this article are the best options for connecting the linoleum strips into a single whole. Follow the instructions given by the manufacturers to the glue you have chosen, then the result of the work done will be of high quality.