Linoleum Vinyl Difference

Although these terms are often used interchangeably there is a fundamental difference between the two.

Linoleum vinyl difference.

Vinyl flooring is a 100 percent synthetic material. First patented more than 150 years ago linoleum was discovered when it was noticed that linseed based paint developed a solid tough but flexible film that floated on the top of the paint. Further the vinyl tile is easy to install and maintain while linoleum tile is a bit hard to install and maintan but is water resistant. A primary difference between vinyl and linoleum flooring is that linoleum is a natural product invented in the 1800s.

But there are some important differences between the two. Installing sheet linoleum the most robust form of linoleum is particularly difficult and involves applying a flooring adhesive below the linoleum and a finishing coat on top. Some people lean in to the history choosing retro color palettes for their linoleum floors or getting vinyl that mimics iconic movies like the shining s psychedelic geometric carpet. Vinyl and linoleum are forms of flooring material that share many similarities as well as some differences.

Vinyl is also a composite flooring material but it s made of pvc aka plastic. Linoleum and vinyl flooring made a big splash in the architectural scene when they debuted. Both floor types are indeed tough and long lasting and can be installed pretty much anywhere. Whereas vinyl is a synthetic material that didn t come on the market until the 1950s.

Linoleum was the original resilient flooring material. Today vinyl is the fastest growing sector of the flooring industry. The key difference between vinyl and linoleum is that the vinyl is a product of petroleum oil whereas the linoleum is a product of linseed oil. Linoleum flooring and vinyl flooring often get mistaken for each other by homeowners who are searching for sheet flooring that will look good for the long haul.

Vinyl flooring will involve steps including cutting laying and spreading adhesive if it s in sheet form. Linoleum and vinyl flooring are sometimes thought of as the same thing. In standard sheet vinyl and vinyl tiles the base layer is usually fiberglass which is then coated in pvc vinyl and a plasticizer. These manmade floors remain popular to this day.

Vinyl uses photo imagery to create a realistic image on top of the plank or tile or sheet similar to laminate flooring while in linoleum the color goes all the way through the tile. Both linoleum and vinyl offer realistic wood and stone looks but there are a few differences.