Durability & Life Expectancy
Linoleum can last more than 40 years if installed and maintained correctly. Proper maintenance includes polishing your floor. The polish helps prevent staining. If a stain does occur, stripping and reapplying polish should diminish it. A linoleum floor that isn't polished frequently enough will deteriorate much more quickly than one that is well cared for.
One of linoleum's most distinctive qualities is that the entire thickness of the wear layer (everything except the jute backing) is homogeneous. This means the color and pattern extend throughout the entire floor surface. So, if linoleum wears down with use, or is chipped or gouged, the gorgeous colors and pattern will still remain. That said, linoleum is very resistant to gouging and scratching, and stands up to heavy traffic. That's why linoleum is as popular in non-residential buildings as it is in today's home.
If minor damage does occur, such as a burn or a scratch, it can be buffed out of the floor by carefully rubbing with a soft nylon brush or a nylon cleaning pad.
Like hardwood, linoleum will suffer permanent damage if it is exposed to standing water, continuous moisture, or a moist subfloor.
Typical Warranties
Five to 25 year warranties.
Care & Maintenance
Linoleum should be swept regularly to remove dirt, and mopped as needed with a neutral pH floor cleaner recommended by the manufacturer. Some types of household cleaners will damage linoleum, so it's imperative to use a cleaner recommended specifically for linoleum flooring.
Linoleum is porous, so it must be polished from time to time. Polishing serves two purposes:
It keeps the floor looking great.
It acts as a protective layer, guarding against stains.
Apply the polish recommended by the manufacturer. You'll know it's time to polish your floor when it begins to look dull, even after mopping. Floors in high-traffic rooms might need polishing twice a year; low-traffic rooms might need polish once a year or every other year. Old polish layers need to be stripped before new polish is applied because the old polish loses its protective qualities.
Never use harsh alkalis or high pH products such as ammonia to clean linoleum.
Natural linoleum needs to be protected by polish. The polish needs to be stripped and reapplied over the lifetime of the floor.