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| Linoleum and Vinyl: Deciphering the Difference |
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| Written by Mike Taylor |
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These days, one of the most important aspects for many people who are choosing materials for their new or renovated home is that of environmental friendliness. This is one area where vinyl and linoleum are extremely different. Vinyl, being a PVC product, is made from non-renewable petrochemicals, and while it does last a long time due to its inert properties, it is also not easy to get rid of for the same reasons. Vinyl is purported to be inert and as such does not take special considerations when you put it into a landfill, however, when you put an inert material into a landfill it stays there forever. Linoleum, on the other hand, is made from quickly renewable resources and does break down in a landfill. Another deciding factor for many people when choosing a flooring type is that of health concerns. You may have read recently about VOCs or volatile organic compounds; these are gasses given off by a variety of things both inside and outside your home. VOCs can be natural, for example those given off by trees, or synthetic like those given off by plastics. VOCs can make you sick or exacerbate allergies and asthma. Vinyl gives off VOCs while linoleum does not. Linoleum often smells when it is freshly installed and some people may find that the smell of freshly installed linoleum is rather disagreeable, but with some good ventilation it will subside. Otherwise, linoleum is classified as asthma and allergy friendly by the Asthma & Allergy Foundation of America. In conclusion, it is very hard to get a straight up bunch of facts about the pros and cons of vinyl and linoleum online. Any website funded by a vinyl company is blatantly pro-vinyl and likewise for the linoleum companies. However, I think that if you're looking at the issue from the angle of renewability of materials and health of the consumer, linoleum wins this battle hands down. Mike Taylor |
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