There is nothing difficult in cutting linoleum. The main thing is to choose the right tool. After all, it is difficult to cut through the facial layer with an ordinary knife or scissors due to its density. Therefore, it is recommended to use a special tool.
How to cut: types of tools
If you are laying linoleum on a felt basis for the first time, then you need to choose a tool for cutting linoleum of the size you need. Although it is sold in various widths from 2.5 to 5 meters, not all rooms have the dimensions in which a piece of linoleum from the store will immediately fall. Therefore, when buying linoleum, you immediately need to buy a knife for cutting it.
Cutting is done with the following tools:
- Universal construction knife. It has a retractable design with fixing the cutter in a certain position. Looks like a regular office knife, but the blade and body are less prone to breakage. Convenient when cutting thin linoleum, but you need to constantly monitor the progress of the knife.
- Roller knife, often called a circular knife. Has one or a pair of blades. It is convenient to use both when cutting a straight line and a curve.
- Utility knife. Used for cutting linoleum, carpets, for cord, leaves the edges smooth. The steel replacement blade is held in place by a screw in the handle, preventing it from moving.
- Monthly. Ideal for trimming corners. Also has replaceable blades.
- Cutter with disc. For linoleum, a cutter with a cutting disc is selected. The main advantage is the cutting speed.
Rooms are often both long and wide. In this case, in addition to cutting, linoleum soldering is also necessary. Pieces of material are overlapped with a cut, we go through the seam with a soldering iron and roll the resulting seam with a roller
Benefits of special knives
There are many special tools for cutting linoleum at home. They are divided into several types:
- For cutting synthetic flooring;
- Universal knives with replaceable blades;
- Special, for precise cutting at joints and corners.
- Special knives are required to work with complex contours and corners. Hook and trapezoidal knives are often used. These knives are called designer knives.
- Electronic knives are needed for chamfering.
- A special place is occupied by the crescent cutter. Not only is it convenient for them to cut corners or seams, it is also very convenient for them to remove glue from the surface of linoleum. The choice of such knives depends on the person's desire to work and on the level of skill.
Cutting features
Before cutting out linoleum, you will need all the cutting tools, rulers, a level, and duct tape. It is also necessary to prepare the surface before laying it:
- If previously there was carpet on the floor, then it must be carefully removed. After that, you need to clean the surface.
- If the floors are wooden, check the condition of the boards. If possible, replace bad boards. The cracks between them can be filled. If the surface cannot be repaired, then it is necessary to lay sheets of plywood or chipboard. It is carefully necessary to deepen the hats of the hardware.
- If you already had linoleum, then if the condition is not entirely bad, it can be used as a base for fresh linoleum. The main thing is to thoroughly degrease the surface.
- The simplest option is to lay linoleum on concrete floors. It must be remembered that all irregularities will be felt through the new material and will cause discomfort, both physical and moral.
- Before laying and cutting, linoleum must be rolled out in the room - this will make it smoother and the smell will disappear.
If you buy it in winter, then you need to try to leave the material outside as little time as possible - he does not like the cold. Therefore, we bring the roll into heat and leave it initially rolled up. After letting it lie down for a couple of days, the roll can be unrolled.
After acclimatization, linoleum can be cut out. You need to know and remember:
- It is better to put a plain canvas in the direction of the light. This creates the effect of a "monolithic" finish;
- The canvas must be placed in a pattern, parallel to the outer wall, with strict adherence to the pattern;
- The joint does not have to be in the center of the room. Two joints are often made, but at the edges of the rooms. This does not create a visual division of the room into two parts, and furniture can often hide the joints at the edges of the room;
- Indoor pipes can be a problem. To cut pipe cutouts, bend the material outward and cut the necessary cuts at an angle.
Linoleum covers the entire floor surface. It is advisable to leave 5-10 cm on each side in reserve, then they can be cut. In cold temperatures, linoleum can shrink. Heat waves can cause heat waves. There is no need to throw away the scraps - they can be useful for minor repairs of the canvas.
After you have cut it along the wall and cut it through the holes, you need to let the linoleum lie on the floor. Only after that it is necessary to start laying it.
How to choose the right one?
You can choose linoleum not only in the store, but also think it over at home. There are certain selection criteria:
- Compliance with its purpose;
- Will the coating withstand the weight and traffic load;
- Compliance with the requirements;
- Compatible with room design.
It is also worth considering which type of linoleum to choose. There is a huge list of materials from which it is made. Natural linoleum is ideal for children's rooms. It consists of resin, jute fabric and natural dyes. It has many advantages:
- Resistant to rubbing;
- Does not change color over time;
- Does not burn;
- Easy to care for.
There are also disadvantages of such a coating, such as high cost, fragility and intolerance to high humidity. The structure of felt linoleum is unique. It consists of 5-7 layers. Each layer is responsible for certain parameters. The main layers are face, backing and base. Also, insulation improves the moisture-repellent qualities of the coating. The total thickness ranges from 2 to 4 mm.
PVC linoleum with a fabric thermal insulation base has certain advantages:
- Such linoleum has low thermal conductivity;
- It is a dielectric;
- Does not rot;
- Easy to install;
- Environmentally friendly.
However, it is sensitive to high temperatures, cracks at low temperatures and is not resistant to chemical cleaning agents.
Such linoleum is divided into commercial, semi-commercial and household. Household - thin and cheap, its service life is 5 years. Commercial is the strongest and thickest material. Suitable for offices. Its service life is 20 years. The middle position is occupied by semi-commercial linoleum, its service life is 7-12 years.
There is also colloxin linoleum. It is baseless, and the main material is nitrocellulose. Its advantages: elastic, shiny and does not support combustion. At the same time, it reacts to any temperature extremes due to the lack of a base.
There is also linoleum - relin. It should not be used in residential areas due to the release of harmful substances over time. It consists of two layers: the first is bitumen-containing, the second is a mixture of rubber, pigments and various fillers.
Accordingly, such types as natural, felt, PVC and colloxin can be used in the apartment.
Pros and cons
In general, we can highlight a large number of advantages in laying linoleum:
- Cheapness (the exception is natural, but the price pays off by the service life and service life);
- Service life from 7 to 30 years;
- Ease of laying linoleum, which one can do;
- Wear resistance - modern technologies allow even an inexpensive material to withstand large and long-term loads;
- Does not support combustion (if it is made in accordance with GOST);
- Prevents feet from sliding on the floor;
- Heat and sound insulation;
- Easy to transport;
- Easy to cut and stack;
- Does not require special conditions and facilitates cleaning the premises;
- Wide range of colors and patterns.
The disadvantages include only those that appear when choosing low-quality linoleum or low-quality laying it on the floor:
- Irregularities, "repetition" of the floor relief;
- If air enters and does not remove, a hump may appear;
- The weak points are the seams. With improper care of them, the service life is reduced by one and a half to two times.
- Linoleum is susceptible to mechanical damage. When heavy objects are found for a long time in the same place, visible dents appear that are difficult to correct.
- Elasticity and flexibility are lost over time;
- In some types of linoleum, over time, the release of harmful odors and substances begins, so be sure to find out everything about the material and its properties before laying.
For information on how to lay linoleum, see the next video.