Often times when thinking about linoleum flooring, it reminds you of your grandparents house or in millennials’s case, their parent’s house.

This sticky, out of date, often times torn out flooring might be something you want to think twice about before renovating your kitchens or bathrooms.

Today I’m gonna change your view point about linoleum, and why it might just be better.

Let’s dive in 🤿

Read time: 3 minutes, 11 seconds

Cost

This is a very important metric to look at with any building material during a project. DIYers and Pro’s all have budgets. So..is linoleum worth keeping around or even installing?

It is true that linoleum costs more than vinyl, but with that being said its durability is SO much better. Vinyl’s life span is 10-20 years. When compared to linoleum’s 30-40, it’s hard beat long term.

Sheet linoleum costs about $2.50 per sqft, (square-foot) and tile linoleum around $3.50 a sqft.

Vinyl flooring (LVP) has a price point around $1-$2 with an easier, more DIY installation process.

I’ve personally installed vinyl flooring in all my professional projects and even my own home. It is a very easy install and no doubt cheaper, but you get what you pay for, long term. I’m not kidding when I say, all you have to do is look at it and it’ll scratch.

Of course I am stretching a little on the last comment, but it does scratch a lot and there’s nothing you can do to erase those mistakes. Linoleum, however, can be protected with an annual waxing, which runs you about $50-$100.

So yes, linoleum is more expensive up front, and you have to up keep it every year— not to mention the aesthetic might be an issue for some of you… well maybe?

Design

Linoleum has 5 eco-friendly ingredients:

• Solidified Linseed Oil (linoxyn)

• Pine Resin

• Ground Cork Dust

• Sawdust

• Mineral Fillers (Calcium Carbonate)

It’s renewable resources are non-toxic, biodegradable, and formaldehyde free (If you wanna know more about formaldehyde - Wikipedia) unlike vinyl, flooring which is kind of 💩 for the environment.

Now enough about sustainability, ingredients, and all the nerdy stuff. We want it to look good!

There are so many different styles of linoleum flooring. You got solid colors, marbled patterns, wood grain, tile patterns, geometric designs (my personal favorite), and even custom designs.

I just looked up, “Linoleum Gallery” on Google and I found this one by Houzz. It gives all sorts of ideas on you can do with linoleum. Yes, some if not most are terrible, but it truly is up to your imagination, style, and taste. Its not hard to find something you like, it’s being open to the idea.

Is Linoleum Better?

After breaking it down, I have to say it really all comes down to taste. If you can be open minded, maybe you can find the good in the old linoleum flooring you so desperately want to replace.

Yes, Linoleum is more expensive. The up keep is more work, more money, and if it’s not done right it tends to wear.

Vinyl is easy to install, cheaper, not a bunch of up keep, and it looks good 9 times out of ten.

The one metric thats my favorite is sustainability. In fact, it’s key in my opinion. Linoleum is durable, eco-friendly, recyclable, and doesn’t scratch and wear over time like vinyl.

Overall, I think its a good idea to think twice before you put vinyl your kitchen or bathroom. Maybe find a cool style of linoleum that fits your style!

Let me know what you think by replying to this email 👇🏻🗣️

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I’ll see you next Sunday 👋🏻 but for real this time

Elijah Stewart