What You Need to Know About Linoleum Before Starting Renovation: Tips from a Contractor

Tip: Domestic manufacturers are offering increasingly competitive solutions by actively adopting modern technologies and materials. In Russia, for example, the JUTEKS factory has been in operation for 18 years, producing roll-form vinyl coatings that meet high standards.

Under four brands — JUTEKS, IDEAL, TEXTURA, and PROFI — flooring solutions are produced for various applications: apartments, offices, and commercial spaces. Many collections, especially those of high quality, realistically mimic natural materials such as wood, stone, or tile. Often, it’s difficult to tell at first glance that it’s linoleum. You can choose linoleum suitable for a specific room and usage level rather than randomly. These flooring materials are resistant to moisture and easy to clean, and their designs with realistic textures fit perfectly into any interior.

The first digit indicates the type of space: 2 for residential, 3 for public, 4 for industrial. The second digit indicates the load intensity: 1 for low, 2 for medium, 3 for high, 4 for very high.

What this means in practice:

21 — bedrooms, closets, wardrobes (low load);

22 — living rooms, dining rooms, offices (medium load);

23 — kitchens, entryways, corridors (high load);

31–33 — public areas: offices, shops, classrooms, hospital corridors;

34 — areas with very high traffic;

41–43 — manufacturing workshops, warehouses, facilities with heavy machinery traffic.

Flooring designed for a higher class can be used in areas with lower traffic. For example, class 32 linoleum is excellent for homes, especially if there are children or large pets in the household.

How to choose a floor covering for your home? Don’t focus on the class, but rather on the thickness of the protective layer (transparency) — it is what determines durability. Based on this criterion, linoleum is classified into:

residential (transparency up to 0.4 mm);
semi-commercial (from 0.4 to 0.6 mm);
commercial (0.7 mm and above).

For apartments, household or semi-commercial linoleum is usually sufficient. For kitchens and entryways, it is best to choose a flooring with a protective layer of 0.3–0.5 mm and PU lacquer — it will last long and retain its appearance.

Even the highest quality linoleum can be damaged by improper transportation or storage. To keep your new floor covering in perfect condition until installation, follow these simple rules.

Transportation and storage in a roll:remember that linoleum is transported and stored rolled up. The surface side of the flooring should face inward toward the center of the roll.
Avoid sharp bends:any severe bending or twisting can cause irreversible cracks on the linoleum surface.
Temperature conditions:if transportation must occur during cold weather, try to minimize prolonged exposure of the material to low temperatures.

When transporting by personal car, place the linoleum roll in a way that it does not bend or experience excessive stress. If possible, it is best to transport the roll in a vertical position. This minimizes the risk of damage.