Natural Linoleum Tile Flooring from Forbo Marmoleum
Our Marmoleum Modular tiles & planks combine modern design with outstanding functionality. A
powerful trend flooring – even for high-traffic areas.
The sustainable linoleum tiles stand for a healthier indoor climate and a responsible use of the
environment. The colors are presented in visuals of wood, concrete, stone, marble and 2 vibrant
embossed designs that change with every angle you look at it
Marmoleum Modular Natural linoleum tile flooring is a naturally sustainable tile
collection comprised of 59 beautiful colors and 4 coordinated sizes designed to mix and match for
endless design possibilities. Available in 10”x10”, 20”x20”, 10”x20” and unique 10″x40″ rectangular
Striato tiles, Marmoleum Modular makes it easy to create inspiring designs ranging from timeless
chevron, herringbone, and checkerboard patterns to modern mosaics.
Marmoleum Frequently Asked Questions
Lots of people ask the simple question, What is Marmoleum anyway?
First of all, it is a four-syllable word that is slang for marbleized linoleum. Made from linseed or
flaxseed oil, natural pigments, limestone dust, wood fibers, and resins and then pressed onto a jute
backing it is a great alternative to vinyl flooring. People who are sensitive to plastics and their
off-gassing like it because it is not PVC or rubber and contains no acrylics. It also doesn’t
require the use of volatile adhesives or contact cements to install it.
I ordered samples of Marmoleum and I heard that the color will be very different when the product
arrives to be installed?
There is definitely some truth there since all-natural
linoleum flooring that was made with flaxseed oil has a natural amber hue to it when it is
first made. When exposed to sunlight it’s color changes and it loses much of its amber hue. For
instance, many of the blue colors will look green initially and when the amber-yellow cast fades
they become the true blue color of the samples. A lot of folks get totally freaked out by this but
it is not necessary to get crazy and the color will definitely change over time.
Can I install any of the three types of Marmoleum myself?
MARMOLEUM CLICK: This linoleum tile product is very similar to the
other floating floor products on the market but with a few small exceptions. The Click II does not
install with a tapping block and hammer, in fact, if you try you will damage the product and it may
leave bulges in the seams that can not be undone. The floor is installed best by installing it in
full and complete rows with the first few being the most important. They must, when completed be
blocked in place with solid spacers against the walls and at the ends to prevent the beginning
portion from moving. It is also critical to come back when you are done and remove those spacing
blocks at the perimeter so the floor can float horizontally.
Being a “tool-free” installation means that each of the rows is simply slipped into the row before it
but up at an angle. When the row being installed is raised up and the linoleum faces from the rows
meet, the product will engage and snap together simply by pushing down. It is VERY important to only
push down once the pieces are tight up against each other which may require a little practice or the
help of a patient and adaptable helper. Really only one person can lead the click-in process and it
must be gradually and carefully to prevent damaging the material. After two or three rows, people
become experts. Undercutting door jambs and trim, cutting the L and flag shaped pieces around
doorways, locating field seams when necessary and snapping in the very last piece of the puzzle take
some head scratching and can perplex the impatient installers.
GLUE DOWN TILES: A little different than installing traditional VCT, PVC, Cork or
Rubber Tiles, Marmoleum Natural Linoleum Tiles must be done in a very simple but specialized manner.
They must be installed into the WET adhesive so people who install VCT are usually surprised that
the floor installation fails in a few days because they ASSUMED it was the same. The other thing
that is different is the need to use a 100 LB Roller rather than a 50, 60 or 75 lb roller that is
typical in the industry. You can download plans to build your own 100LB Roller for free here.
SHEET GOODS: A trained installer is usually the best bet when you want to install
Marmoleum Sheet Material. Master Mechanics are actually often able to do some remarkable art work in
the Marmoleum medium like water cut patterns, inlays, borders, stripes and swirls. Lots of folks who
are not trained can figure out how to install the floor themselves by reading the Marmoleum Glue
Down Flooring Installation Guide and watching the videos. Knowing how to use scribing tools and how
to make patterns can make the job a lot easier. I would absolutely not like to see beginners trying
to heat weld themselves because it is so specialized and best left to the pros.
What is the best way to maintain Marmoleum Flooring?
Keeping a linoleum floor swept with a fine broom and spot cleaning occasionally is all that is needed
for the most part. Many folks confess to hardly ever washing their floors entirely. It is really
quite remarkable that the floor does not get dirty as fast as other flooring products because the
linseed oil has a naturally bacteriostatic negative charge that prevents many things from adhering
to the floor. Using a capful of Forbo PH Balanced cleaner and a damp mop is all that is necessary
when the floor accumulates enough mess to require thorough cleaning.
The introduction of TopShield II has brought a much more durable floor finish for Marmoleum onto the
market, even for commercial spaces. Floors installed before 2013 will usually have TopShield I and
may require that the finish be reapplied every few years depending on the amount of traffic and the
level of care the floor receives. People have had to reapply their finish each year and other people
have their floors down for 10 or 15 years with it still looking new. It all depends on the amount of
care and traffic. It is far better than the wax and periodic stripping that was common for linoleum
back in the first half of the century.
Can Marmoleum be used for wall paneling or wainscoting?
Absolutely, in fact many people have used the 12″ x 36″ click type planks as wall paneling below a
chair rail. Hospitals will also often “flash cove” Marmoleum up the walls to create and easy to mop
joint where the floor meets the walls. Fast food businesses across the country are putting the
product in many of their dining areas as a sustainable building product option.
Can I repurpose Marmoleum Natural Linoleum Tile Flooring?
Repurposing is a major element in Green Building and Sustainable Living. Marmoleum Click snaps up in
a flash and can be installed and removed over and over. Many companies use the product as their
flooring of choice in trade show booths for that reason.
People have also installed a new Click floor over a perfectly good apartment floor with the plan to
take the floor up when they move.
Is Marmoleum a great kitchens?
The kitchen is the perfect place for forbo marmoleum. It’s waterproof easy to clean and is easier to
maintain then traditional linoleum. It also has a softer tactile feel on your bare feet then
traditional vinyl or linoleum floors.
Should I use Marmoleum in my bathroom?
Yes, It is waterproof and durable and can make an average bathroom into something special. While it
may require the making of a patter to get the fit just right, or perhaps the need to remove and
reinstall the toilet, it is worth it. It is important to note that Click floors are just not
appropriate for wet areas and shower rooms.
Is Marmoleum the right flooring for my basement?
First off, no matter what flooring you are installing in your basement, you should do basic moisture
testing with relative humidity or calcium chloride testing beforehand in order to eliminate the
opportunity for mold, mildew and humidity to create an indoor air quality issue. 85% humidity is the
threshold for Marmoleum.
How humid is too humid for Marmoleum installation?
Floors over 85% humidity generally require some form of mitigation which might be a simply paint on
finish if levels are under 90% while levels up to 99% generally require a specialty contractor to
apply epoxy-based coatings and to then encapsulate that coating with a cementious skim coat. There
are really no other methods right now on the market to deal with 85% or higher moisture contents.
Update 2015: Forbo now has come out with a 1195 adhesive that will allow installations over concrete
floors with 11 pounds of vapor pressure and 95% humidity. While this product is a little spendy it
combines moisture mitigation with the adhesive, combining steps and saving time and money.
Is Marmoleum cool for the living room or bedroom?
A beautiful and healthy option for your family and it can be combined with area rugs or throw rugs.
Many people have chosen natural Marmoleum after they have a brush with bad allergies or asthma.
How long does Marmoleum last?
Some floors have lasted 35 years and are still in good condition. Forbo offers a full 25 year
warranty on normal wear and tear
Do you have recommended cleaning products for your linoleum products?
Full cleaning and maintenance links can be found below
Commercial Products:
Forbo Commercial Floor Finish
Forbo Mop On Restorer Commercial
Forbo Spray Buff Restorer
Forbo Hydrogen Peroxide Cleaner
Forbo Commercial Floor Cleaner
Residential Products:
Forbo Residential Floor Finish
Forbo marmoleum Neutral PH cleaner
Forbo Adhesive Remover
Forbo makes so many awesome linoleum flooring products, how can I ever settle on just
one?
Marmoleum Click: is the snap lock floating flooring that is perfect for any DIY
installer with basic skills.
MCT Tile: is the thin linoleum tiles that just about anyone who has put down any
tiles can manage.
Sheet Marmoleum: is the glue-down heavy duty linoleum that we have all come to love
for the last 150 years.
The best part is that no matter what you select and for what specific application, they will all hold
up well because virtually all their product’s surfaces are now coated with the revolutionary
TopShield II finish.
