Physical Traces - Nina Daniels

Carpet by Aisyah Ahmad Sabry

       Carpet is commonly used in houses, hotels and inside most of the buildings. It is cheaper to install the carpet yourselves. If you want to install the carpet, first you have to consider the weather on the day you want to install it. This is very important because the carpet will ruin if you leave it uncovered on a rainy or snowy day. You have to install the carpet only after painting the wall. The paint should be totally dry. This is because there's a possibility that the paint will drop on it. You have to remove the old carpet and clean the floor so that it is easier for you to install it. Then you put the carpet padding underneath it so that the carpet will be even and looks nice.

      There are a few advantages of using carpets compared to other textiles. First, it is comfortable and warm. Carpet adds insulation in the buildings. The heat from the carpet would save the energy cost. This is one of the main reasons why most people choose carpet over other textiles. Carpet installation is easier and less time consuming. It is very useful for soundproofing. It also got lots of varieties of colors and patterns that you can choose! This is very good for decorating and enhance the look with its styles and designs of carpeting.

     There's also some disadvantages of carpet. It can trap dirt, dust, bugs and bacteria. It s not suitable for people with allergy or asthma. It also difficult to remove stain or smell from the carpet.

Wooden Floor Colour Scheme

In this task I had to create colour schemes that included wooden floor boards.

Personally I find wooden floors can be very over-powering and I dislike the golden glow that shines off particular woods.

For my first colour scheme I took the golden floor boards and tried to create a design that captured your attention so that you weren't drawn to the intense glow of the wood. I used a split complementary colour scheme, the red-orange of the chair grabs your attention and the highlight of teal creates a really fresh look with the wooden floor panels.

In this scheme I have chosen a wooden floor paneling with a dark finish. This gives the room more depth and I personally think this gives the wood a richer, more natural look. 

I have added the orange couch to give the room some colour to brighten it up. For this design I have gone with a Triad colour scheme, the orange couch, purple wall paper and the tints of green in the wooden panels create an overall sophisticated and elegant aesthetic.

By Alice Perry

Yellow and Grey Colour Scheme

I took on the challenge of incorporating my two least favourite colours; yellow and grey - which is also my least favourite colour combination, into a scheme I could handle.

I used this photo for inspiration; the two-tone yellow was aesthetically pleasing, it also incorporated a neutral tone, and a piece of dark furniture, something I found pleasing. It took away the harshness of a space which could look very clinical with the white planes.  I took this as a method to tone down the vibrant yellow, as well as livening a space

 I first tried a split complementary scheme; purple complementing the blue, complementing the yellow. I also incorporated a dark grey wallpaper, which is not a solid grey to ground the vibrant colours.  This makes the yellow a feature, making the space pop.

My final scheme is a dark purple couch and wall planes, light blue chair and a light yellow rug. I found this reversed the colours of my inspirational picture, using dark colours to frame a colour. The yellow in this space enhances the space, leaving it feel less harsh and dark.

Sara Förg

Stainless Steel Bench tops

Stainless steel is a material used in many different environments, from surgical theaters to domestic and commercial kitchens. The popularity of the material is due to it's durability, sterility and aesthetics.

It is formed from the combination of steel and chromium, creating an alloy which instead of rusting, reacts with oxygen to form a transparent layer of chromium oxide, protecting the metal from chemicals and further corrosion. In this way, the material is self healing, and requires no other sealant. When the surface is scratched, the oxidizing process will naturally occur in the presence of oxygen, resealing the metal surface. A video of the production process can be viewed here.

The impenetrable nature of the metal makes it ideal in strictly hygienic environments, such as hospital, and in the preparation of food, as it has a uniform, non-porous surface which will not harbor bacteria and can be easily sterilized.

When processed as thin sheets, stainless steel is easy to cut, weld and is malleable to form curves and bends. This allows companies such as Mercer from Christchurch NZ, to create custom benches and equipment for factory, medical and domestic use. Benches especially, can be measured, cut and quickly bent relatively quickly, demonstrated well in a video from American company Tigpro.

Stainless steel bench tops are typically installed on either cabinetry units with a wooden frame, or welded onto it's own free standing stainless steel frame. New Zealand has many competitive companies, such as CNS which have a variety of textures, patterns as colours available. Colour can be added to stainless steel in it's molten form, therefore within the material and will not wear off or fade. The most popular finish for Kitchen benches and appliances is a brushed silver and highly reflective.

 Coloured stainless steel as a facade on the Westfield Doncaster, Melborne Australia

Though a very tough material, stainless steel should be maintain and cleaned correctly to retain its quality. The use of corrosive or scrubbing chemicals can damage the surface texture and could corrode the metal before it can reseal. The use of steel wool is particularly to be avoided, as particles can lodge in the metal and cause iron oxide(rust) staining to occur.

Other equipment used on the surface can also cause scratching. With brushed stainless steel, light scratches can be removed by sanding in the direction of the grain and there are informative tutorials available.

For the maintenance of stainless steel surfaces, CNS has these recommendations on their website:

"Dirt and grease accumulate over time from many sources. This can be easily removed by routinely cleaning with warm, soapy water, followed by rinsing with warm, clean water, and finish by wiping dry with a clean, absorbent cloth. One your stainless benches, never use abrasive cleaners, as nearly all of these will scratch the bright polished stainless steel surface.
........ For textured surfaces, a nylon bristled brush will remove any dirt and grime which may accumulate in the valleys of the textured finish. If marks such as fingerprints are a problem, a light surface coating of baby oil, clear silicone wax polish or furniture polish such as Neopol will help prevent reoccurrence of this on your stainless benches."

Though stainless steel is itself resistant to high temperatures, putting hot objects such as pots onto a stainless steel surface can ruin the integrity of the adhesive below, depending on the mounting system. Most commercial benches will be purpose built to withstand hot cooking utensils, but this should be checked with the manufacturer and the warranty. Another consideration to be aware of is the variety of different grades and alloys of stainless steel that exist, some being more durable and more suited to particular environments and uses.

On top of its long durability, one of the greatest advantages of stainless steel is that the material is 100% recyclable. Requiring no finishes or additions, the metal alloy can be melted and reused infinitely, minimizing landfill waste.

Stainless steel can be expensive, with most standard bench sizes costing $1000+ however they typically have a very long life and can be sold for reuse or recycling.

By Charlotte McKirdy

Corrugated Iron

http://cimba7200.blogspot.co.nz/

Corrugated iron is sheet iron that has been folded to created bends that increase the strength and rigidity of the metal. The sheets are put through a hydraulic press that moulds the sheets into the required shape.

Corrugated iron has been a very important material in the development of New Zealand building. It was first introduced into New Zealand over 150 years ago. Corrugated iron is usually galvanised (both sided treated with zinc) which helps to prevent it rusting, which is good for New Zealand as we are surrounded by sea. It was first used in New Zealand during the gold rush period as buildings were needed to house people but they wanted easy and cheap materials to construct the shelters. Corrugated iron was perfect for this as it is lightweight which makes easy to work with and is weatherproof. Since then Corrugated iron has often been used in rural settings as it wasn’t too heavy to carry out to the farms (they didn’t have helicopters back then) and it could easily be re-used on other buildings.

From the early 20^th century it has mainly been used as a roofing material. Though Corrugated iron is staring to interest designers as well; it not only does it come in a range of colours but is also staring to be used as an interior feature, such as sculpture or a digitally printed surface.

New Zealand Sculpture Gumboot 2000 By Jeff Thomson

http://www.art-newzealand.com/Issue100/thomson.htm

A bathroom with corrugated iron wall panels for texture and aesthetics.

http://remodelista.com/

In construction terms corrugated iron has many uses, such as roofing, wall panelling, base for laying concrete and water tanks.

It can be very noisy depending on the weather conditions, when there is heavy rain, hail or snow this can be very loud on the metal surface. Also, if it is not securely fixed to the structure it will flap in the wind as separate sheets are light weight. Domestically blanket insulation is often used under corrugated iron to help with sound control, as well as temperature and reducing condensation. When designing the building you have to take into account that metal is a very heavy material on mass and depending on the size and thickness of the corrugated iron, the buildings structure has to be strong enough to support the roof.

A kit home designed by a small company, Ral Homes.

http://leftclickblog.blogspot.co.nz/2010/05/housing-with-corrugated-iron-build-it.html

Corrugated iron is usually galvanised, which means it is treated with zinc to stop the metal from rusting, it is an anti-corrosion seal. It is the best kind of roofing to use in places with extreme weather conditions; it holds up against intense sun, heavy rain and even hail storms. It is often used in hurricane prone areas as it isn’t damaged by the strong winds. It is one of the most fire resistant of all roofing materials on the market.

Corrugated iron has a life expectancy of 50 years, as long as it is treated correctly and properly installed. It should be cleaned regularly, depending on the environmental factors the amount of cleaning may need to be increased. If you live by the sea corrosion will be an influential factor, make sure you have galvanised iron, therefore the zinc will be corroded and not the iron. To decrease the rate of corrosion there are sealants that you can apply to the roof to increase its durability.

An old water tank from rural New Zealand

http://www.devan.co.nz/Articles/Tanks/

It is attached using screws and when being laid out on the roof the valley of the corrugations should always be vertical, therefore the rain will be able to run down into the gutters. When over lapping the sheets, the standard over lapping is 1.5 corrugations, that way it will stop water from entering and create a weatherproof seal. You must also be careful not to stretch or damage the material as this will influence the weather resistant properties. You can find more installation tips at- http://stratco.com.au/products/roofing_walling/types/corrugated/cgi.asp

At a building site corrugated iron is should stay dry and be kept off the ground. If it does get wet, dry if off and leave it out in the open to air, make sure it is dry when being used.

Corrugated iron is sold per lineal metre and the prices change depending on the width of each corrugation, and the lengths that you want it in. Depending on the amount you require, corrugated iron can be delivered in sheets or in rolls of up to 10metres.

I got a quote from www.roof.co.nz and for their 0.40 Corrugated iron Galvanised 762 it was $14.85 per lineal metre + GST.

Some Suppliers in New Zealand are:

http://www.nzsteel.co.nz/products/galvsteel-

http://www.aspectroofing.co.nz/

http://www.dimond.co.nz/

By Alice Perry

Corrugated Cardboard

Corrugated cardboard is a cellulosic fibre made from recycled materials. Other materials that are often put into the mix are sawdust and bark pulp. Cardboard is a cheap and easily sourced product, it is traditionally used for packaging but now is being sourced for construction purposes.

Other uses are also in furniture manufacture, there are particular lacquers that you can apply to the card to prevent scratches or marks.

Frank O. Gehry’s corrugated cardboard, Wiggle Side Chair.

http://www.archithings.com/

It is often used to construct temporary structures as it is quick and easy to use and can be used as a form of insulation as it is good for retaining heat. In Christchurch the Anglican Church is looking at building a $4.1 million building from cardboard as temporary structure while they are design the plan for their new church.

http://www.inquisitr.com/220810/4-1-million-cardboard-cathedral-being-constructed-in-new-zealand/

One of the limitations of using card, if it gets wet it will get lose all rigidity and become soggy. Cardboard is a very absorbent material and can soak up moisture or toxins in the atmosphere. Another restriction is if it gets too hot it can potentially burst into flames, it is flammable and will spread extremely fast. There are ways to treat the cardboard to make it weatherproof and fire-resistant, including SafeCoat® Latex which is a sustainable coating so that when the cardboard is finished being used it can still be recycled. http://www.materialproject.org/

Corrugated cardboard is a great absorber of sounds and has high acoustic values. It has been used here as a sculptural sound box, a space to listen to music. The properties of the card make it an excellent atmosphere to enjoy the music.

When choosing the right kind of card for construction you need to take into consideration that there are many different thicknesses and sizes of corrugated cardboard. Cardboard comes in many different forms, it can be flat packed or in rolls. To keep cardboard protected on a building site it needs to be wrapped in plastic to keep it from absorbing moisture and off the ground to keep clean.

Cardboard is really only a temporary option unless it is treated to be weatherproof and fire resistant. It can be easily cut or marked and if bent wrong, it can lose its strength. It cannot be cleaned with liquid products, the only way would be to brush any dirt marks off. The most effective method would be to replace the damaged or dirty area.

Cardboard can be installed in many different ways, you can use the traditional construction methods, such as nails or screws, though less conventionally cardboard can also be joint using adhesives like glue or sticking tape.

A shop interior in Athens

http://giuliacoletto.wordpress.com/

By Alice Perry

Concrete flooring - Nina Daniels

Concrete is an affordable, hardwearing and easy to clean flooring option. Made from natural materials, it has a unique characteristic, producing variable results. In an interior, concrete flooring is most effective when it is positioned in a north facing location with double glazed windows. This is due to its high thermal mass, soaking in the heat during the day and releasing it in the evening, contributing to an energy efficient home. Concrete can assist to improved allergy management, as it does not harbour live organisms, such as dust mites. It also provides a high fire resistance compared with other building materials.
 
Concrete is ideal for flooring in living spaces and kitchens. It can create a seamless indoor, outdoor flow and cater for areas where non-slip is required. The acoustic performance of concrete is dictated by its mass and damping qualities.

Concrete can be an adaptable architectural material, as it can be coloured or stained, can be cut into patterns (e.g. to look like tiles), different colour and sized aggregate can be added and glass or crushed shells can be added to create a unique finish.

 
Peter Fell (www.peterfell.co.nz) are specialists in coloured concrete and offer a variety of options when it comes to colouring and applying textures to interior concrete flooring. With a selection of 80 colours, they offer a cost effective flooring finish (approximately $50 per square metre). The colour pigment is mixed through the concrete before being laid. This prevents a chipped or worn appearance.

(http://www.peterfell.co.nz/inspiration/details/floors.html)

Concrete is porous so can easily be stained. During construction, concrete must be protected from staining and marks with a polythene cover. After the concrete is cured (at least 28 days) sealing can be applied. Sealers protect the concrete from staining, reduces the risk of organic matter growing, reduces the transfer of moisture and stops concrete dust occurring. It also adds a shine to the concrete, giving it a vibrant look and preserves the colour. Due to iron oxides, the colour will not fade. Sealing lasts around 3-5 years, depending on the area’s traffic and exposure to sun. It requires little maintenance.

 
Allied Concrete (www.alliedconcrete.co.nz) have a variety of high quality New Zealand river pebbles for use as exposed aggregate. They have developed a range of colours to suit any home. Exposed aggregates have become a popular choice for patios and paths. It is a durable and easy to maintain option. Aggregates are natural products, so some colour variation will occur depending on placement, weather and site conditions.

Allied Concrete also offers coloured concrete options and READY Glow. READY Glow is a non-toxic, photo luminescent aggregate. It is a unique flooring option, which uses powerful glow stones to produce a long, bring glow. It is a self-powering, renewable light source. Fifteen minutes of exposure to natural light will produce over 12 hours of glow time. Stones are 19-25mm in size and come in Sky Blue and Yellow Green colours. READY Glow can be applied to both indoor and outdoor areas, such as flooring, stairs, walls, patios and more. READY Glow stones are sold per 100g.

(http://www.alliedconcrete.co.nz/solutions/decorative/readyglow)

 
Concrete has endless possibilities, from decorative to structural. Because most foundations are made from concrete there is no extra flooring cost other than its finishing.

Leather - Kath Becker

For the most part leather furniture would not be considered practical for households with children. However now there are many degrees of treatment that the textile can undergo to make it fit any purpose.

Bycast leather has an artificial finish

Full grain leather has not been corrected by any means of sanding or buffing. Retaining the grain gives the hide strength and durability. Without any finishes smothering the fibres, the leather has breathability. Over time the surface with develop a patina, which is a natural sheen that comes with use.

Bycast leather is where the hide is split in thickness and a coat of polyurethane applied to the surface. An immitation grain is embossed in the polyurethane. The result is alot stronger than untreated hide, the texture is more consistent and it is easier to maintain. Such properties mean it is often considered an alternative furniture covering to cloth fabrics if small children are present.

Chair made with full grain leather

Top grain leather means the rawhide has been removed, leaving a thin layer of leather that receives a sand and a polish. This is the most common variety of treated leather for fine furniture.

Corrected grain leather are produced when the appearance of the leather does not meet the requirements. The imperfections are sanded off and an artificial grain is pressed into the hide.

Coloured leathers are increasingly sought after, and the range of colours is burgeoning. The structure of the grain means that the dying process is quite simple. An untreated hide will absorb the pigment easily and with the right finish, will retain the colour for a long time. Exposure to sunlight will fade the colour, but regular teatments will reduce the effect.

Depending of the process undergone by the hide, the cost of leather varies. Fullgrain leather requires the best quality hide because of how little it is treated. Whereas the bycast leather can be sourced from hide with imperfections and not affect the aesthetic. A sq.m of full grain cowhide will cost anywhere between $50 and $100. Low quality leather can cost between $10 and $50 per sq.m.

Bluestone Tiles - Nina Daniels

Bluestone is a natural stone which is blue/grey in colour. It is a hard stone, making it very durable and long lasting.

 Locally, Timaru Bluestone (http://www.timarubluestone.co.nz) offers a large variety of products and finishes. Using the raw natural stone they manufacture Bluestone into paving, house veneers, pool edging, tiles, architectural panels and much more. The unique stone is unaffected by the weather and low maintenance is required. It is ideal for high volume traffic areas due to its robust wear and tear qualities.

 
There are seven types of standard finishes available:
 

Brushed Polished – commonly used for tiles, vanities and architectural panels. This finish should not be used when slip-resistance is required.
 


Brush Honed – Generally used for internal applications such as tiles, stair treads and vanities. This finish has an acceptable slip-resistance (Co efficient of friction wet (AS/NZS 3661.1 1993) - 0.65).
 

First Brushed – This finish has a remarkable slip-resistance. (Co efficient of friction wet (AS/NZS 3661.1 1993) - 0.75). A light patina is created by one set of brushes. Generally used for tiles, stair treads, thresholds and vanities)
 


Diamond Rubbed – By calibrating the stone slab a non-slip surface is created. This finish is best suited for paving but is also used for house veneers and large architectural panels.
 


Birds Pecked – This machine finished texture is generally used for kerb and channel, house veneers and large architectural panels.
 



Tumbled – The stone is tumbled to roughen the surface and round the edges. This creates an aged appearance. Used for vehicular paving, pedestrian paving and cobbles.
 


Pitched / Split Face – This finish exposes the natural stone texture. It is commonly used for kerb and channel, house veneers, vehicular paving, walls and fences.
 

Bluestone tiles:

Timaru Bluestone produces tiles for both domestic and commercial use. Generally, they make their tiles 15mm thick for internal application. This allows the tiles to be laid alongside other flooring surfaces without a significant change in height. Standard tile sizes are 400x400mm or 400mm x 350-750mm. They cater for custom sizes on request.

 
For indoor use, tiles are predominantly Brush Honed or Brush Polished. Non-slip resistance is created through the micro texture of the stone permitting no wear of resistance over time. The low maintenance stone has a design life of 50+ years.
 
Bluestone tiles have an availability of 4-8 weeks.
For installation, Timaru Bluestone recommends the pavers be laid in a sand-cement mix on a 75mm 20MPA concrete bed or equivalent. An acrylic bonding agent should be added to the mortar. When grouting is required a 6mm joint should be considered, care must be taken to avoid staining of the stone. If cleaning is necessary from mortar, Timaru Bluestone recommends “Spirits of Salts”.
 
Bluestone’s neutral colour will allow it to be easily incorporated with other design elements. Its appearance will be enhanced by the forming of natural patina.
Examples of Timaru Bluestone projects are the Otago University and the Christchurch Airport. 

Otago University

(http://www.timarubluestone.co.nz/index.php/otago-university)

Christchurch Airport

(http://www.timarubluestone.co.nz/index.php/chch-airport)

Granite - Samantha Jackett

Granite rock, contains the materials of quartz, mica and fledspar. Granite can be pink to grey in colour depending on the chemistry and mineralogy.  Granite is used for flooring tiles, monuments and bench tops.  Granite is very durable and resists heat. Although Granite can be useful it requires regular maintenance. Besides cleaning you need to make sure the granite is sealed regularly. Stains can be hard to remove, but not impossible. benchtops may also be susceptible to cracking.

Basic Cleaning
To keep granite benchtops clean, use a microfiber cloth to dust off the surface. Wipe down the bench daily and as needed using water. Once a week wipe down with a damp cloth and a stone cleaner formulated with a neutral pH. Never use harsh chemicals or abrasive cleaners. They can scratch, pit, and etch the surface of the stone. For oily stains, try a poultice made of a cup of flour or baking soda and 5 tablespoons of dish soap. Add water to make it the consistency of sour cream or yogurt. Place the solution directly on the stain and cover with plastic wrap overnight, before washing away the poultice.

It is recommended that for Seasonal cleaning  to follow the steps below
Sealing is a regular task for granite. Re-seal the countertop when water splashed on the surface no longer beads up. It's important to examine your granite at least once a year. Inspect areas to make sure there is no cracking or shifting at the seams. Inspect for stains and scratches as well. If there are stains or damage, contact a stone-care professional for repair.

For installation go to this website :
http://www.wikihow.com/Install-Granite-Countertops

Here you can see how much goes on underneath a granite bench top.

Colour Scheme by Samantha Jackett

My colour challenge was the colour orange as i just hate it! I had to incorporate something orange into a room, it could be a lamp, pillow, or small wall.

These were some of my colour schemes. 

Here i found an orange vase in a kitchen setting as the kitchen itself is quite bland and only uses the grey tones, I thought the orange vase was great as it added a pop of colour but it wasn't enough to be distracting or too bright. It is something that i would have added into a modern kitchen. 

I wanted to show an orange pillow on a chair or couch so I added some orange into an image to show what it would be like. As the tones of the chair are quite creamy white the orange adds in colour and makes the chair and would make the room more colourful and interesting. 

This is an image of a kitchen where they have painted one wall orange. The one wall being orange makes the space more appealing, colourful and interesting. I think they have used the colour well in this space as it is not a full wall of orange as this could be too over powering and bright, but by adding it on a small wall it dosent overpower the space and adds in that bit of colour. 

Laminate

Laminate flooring has become highly popular. This could be because it is easier to install and maintain compared to more traditional surfaces such as hardwood flooring.

Laminate flooring is a multi-layer synthetic flooring product fused together with a lamination process. Laminate flooring simulates wood (or sometimes stone) with a photographic layer under a clear protective layer. The inner core layer is usually composed of melamine resin and fiber board materials. Laminate flooring works well in high-traffic areas and homes with pets. It is scratch-resistant, durable and easy to clean.



Laminate flooring layers diagram



Laminate floors are reasonably easy for a homeowner to install. Laminate flooring is packaged as a number of planks that can be clicked to one another by tounges and grooves. Sometimes a glue backing is provided to make the installation process easier. Installed laminate floors normally "float" over the sub-floor on top of an underlayment, which provides moisture and sound-reducing properties. Laminate flooring does not absorb sound well and can have a hollow sound when it is being walked on, mainly in high heels. Using an acoustic underlay will help reduce the noise. Installation techniques can also effect acoustics. The most common is the floating install. This is where the floor snaps together with a specially designed edge joint and is laid over the existing floor. This method is the loudest, causing echoes and movement noise from the floor itself. Laminate flooring can be placed on top of almost any existing floor except carpet. The interlocking planks make it an easy installation and it can be uninstalled without damaging the laminate or the original flooring underneath.

It is important to keep laminate clean, as dust, dirt and sand particles may scratch the surface over time. Manufacturer’s warn that it is also important to keep laminate relatively dry, since moisture/ water that sits on the surface can cause the planks to swell, warp, etc., although some brands are equipped with water-resistant coatings. Water spills aren't a problem if they're wiped up quickly. Hardwood floors may be able to be sanded and refinished but laminate floors would have to be replaced. Laminate flooring is easy to clean and will prove to be an extremely durable floor if it is cleaned and maintained the right way. Clean it with a soft bristle brush, vacuum cleaner or active fibre mop. Foot marks can easily be wiped away with a moist, clean cloth. It is recommended that you do not wash the floor with a wet cloth or mop. This spreads the dirt, and can cause swelling of the joints.

Advantages

• It is durable and strong.
• Designed for heavy traffic.
• Easy to clean and maintain.
• Versatile and available in a range of colors, shades, and styles.
• Less expensive than hardwood flooring, but can give the same look.
• Dirt and dust cannot gather.

Disadvantages

• Not the most environment friendly product.
• Only lasts 10 to 15 years.
• If laminate floors are installed in wet areas such as bathrooms, many manufacturers will not honor the warranty if something goes wrong with the flooring.
• They cannot be sanded and refinished if they are damaged.

Laminate flooring is cheaper and easier to install than hardwood flooring. Prices range from about $1.50 per square foot to $3.00 per square foot.

At Mitre 10, there is a range of two laminate thicknesses with a large selection of styles, colours and textures.

The 12mm range is the best in strength and durability that is suitable for large residential and commercial floor areas. All 12mm options include silent underlay for sound insulation.
The 8mm range is suitable for large residential and general commercial floor areas.

- Livvy Bain

Linoleum

Linoleum is a material used for floor covering made from renewable materials such as linseed oil, pine rosin, cork dust and wood flour. These materials are heated and compressed into flexible sheets in a range of colours and patterns that are then inlaid or joined together. Since these materials are natural, they are also biodegradable which makes linoleum eco-friendly and suitable for green construction. Also, as it is supposedly non-allergenic in nature, the higher quality linoleum (uses linseed oil as main ingredient) is used especially in non-allergenic homes, hospitals and health care facilities. Linoleum is recommended as an alternative to vinyl or ceramic for which it has the same cost and durability but is advantaged because of its elasticity and its acoustic properties.  

'Cross section'

 During the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, it was used mostly in hallways, passages and as a carpet surround. People now mostly associate linoleum with the kitchen as this is where it is now mostly used. It made standing easier from its elasticity and reduced breakage of dropped objects such as china.
The product “battleship linoleum” was also manufactured to meet the specifications of the U.S Navy for enclosed deck coverings. This product is mainly used in high-traffic areas like offices and public buildings but had to be removed from the ships because it was considered too flammable.


Durability depends on the quality of the inlaying and the amount of linoleum used to make the sheets. The inlaid linoleum floors are extremely durable whereas the cheaper patterned linoleums were printed with thinner layers, making them more prone to wear and tear. Because of its extreme durability, it makes for a suitable covering for homes with pets and children.

Residentially, linoleum is traditionally used in the kitchen. The wide range of colours, patterns and textures also allow for it to be more aesthetically pleasing. Because of its anti-static properties and easy-to-clean surface also means the amount of dust and mites to gather on the surface will be limited. This makes it suitable for people with respiratory disorders. Linoleum isn’t recommended for use in bathrooms as dampness in the concrete sub-floor could be an issue along with the steam and heat from showers, causing the linoleum to lift and bubble.

Commercially, linoleum is used in high traffic areas, for example; bus stations, airports and schools. It is suitable for this type of installation because of its durability and acoustic, bacterial and anit-static properties.


Linoleum used in a commercial setting

Linoleum should be prevented from direct sunlight as this will cause fading. Avoid sliding heavy furniture across this flooring type because this could create an air bubble. Linoleum should be swept or vacuumed regularly and as linoleum is sensitive to alkaline-based cleaners, mop only with cold water and clean with a cleanser when necessary.

Advantages

-          Extremely durable due to its coating

-          Can be made to look like wood, stone or any type of flooring one might choose

-          Less expensive way of achieving a more expensive look

-          Easy to clean and maintain

-          Attractive in appearance

-          Reduces the noise

-          Resistant to impact damage

-          Colour expands right through material so it has improved colour retention

-          Water and stain resistant

-          Quiet, elastic and comfortable

-          Long, useful life (up to 40 years)

-          Suitable to use with underfloor heating systems

 Disadvantages

-          Does require maintenance, will need polishing regularly

-          Not recommended in a space where moisture damage could be an issue (eg. Bathroom)

-          Can be punctured or nicked by sharp objects

-          Moisture in the sub-floor can cause warping or loosening

-          Highly flammable and catches fire easily

-          May get damaged by chair legs that aren’t rubber protected

The price for linoleum is flexible depending on the size of the installation. Average price is of $4.00 - $6.00 per square foot. Armstrong’s commercial grade linoleum is priced at $3.75 - $5.00 per square foot.

- Livvy Bain