Natural linoleum, which has been used for flooring for more than a century, is made from renewable biodegradable resources, including linseed oil from crushed flaxseed, pine rosin, cork and jute, and abundant nonrenewable resources, including limestone and clay. It is naturally fire and moisture resistant as well as sound absorbent. Many people mistakenly use the word linoleum to refer to vinyl flooring, which is made from petroleum.
Linoleum comes in sheets and tiles. Installing it is more complex than installing vinyl flooring. Always use a manufacturer-certified installer who is trained in properly preparing the subfloor and cutting and gluing the linoleum. Linoleum must be installed on a smooth, dry surface. Do not allow contractors to use the same glues and methods for installing linoleum as they do for vinyl. Follow the manufacturer's recommendation for adhesives.
For easier do-it-yourself installations, some linoleum brands are available as floating floor products, with the linoleum laminated to a tongue-and-groove backing made from wood fiber and cork.
Waxing is not recommended as it introduces potentially harmful chemicals and requires periodic stripping and resealing. In high traffic areas, sealers can be applied to increase resilience.
The Green Product Directory features natural linoleum products that are certified to have low VOC emissions and that are intended for use in homes.