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.
Are Marmoleum Click Tiles and Planks easy to
install?
When the product comes out of its boxes and is allowed to acclimate for 24 to 48 hours, it has become
stable in its final dimensions and is ready to install. Starting with one row against the long wall
is an easy way to start. Once that row is complete and blocked into place, you can start to add
complete rows by tipping them into place. No tools are necessary except maybe some wedges to hold
them up at an angle prior to snapping into place. It is important that the products finished
surfaces touch each other perfectly before it is pressed down into place. While the general practice
is slightly different than the official Forbo Marmoleum Installation Guide, few people have trouble
installing this flooring. Generally, a jigsaw can make all the cuts but a tablesaw, chop saw or
handsaw may come in handy in different situations. Undercutting door jambs and trim and using shoe
moldings at the perimeter will make for the most professional installation.
How can I get the best deal on natural flooring products?
Many local flooring stores do not carry Marmoleum but if it is available locally, we are sure that
the local stores will appreciate your business. Be sure to contact us before a purchase to find the
best price and to get an estimated time of arrival for your product and a stock check accross our 4
warehouses.
Is Marmoleum click cheap?
click is cheap or inexpensive when your calculating installation costs into the mix. It can be
installed in many different configurations and can be installed like any other floating floor.
New Click II with the brown core fits tighter together than the old green core Click Classic which
needed to be installed with a tapping block and a hammer while the new click does not and is
tool-less. In fact, using a hammer and block of wood can damage Click II pretty easily. Seaming on
the new Click II is so tight it is hard to see where the product joints are once it is installed. On
the odd chance you found some quantity of Click Classic it WILL NOT marry up with the Click II.
How do I estimate the cost of flooring materials?
Measure carefully, being sure to have 5 or 10% overage for square patterns and maybe some more for
diagonal patterns as an allowance for cutting and waste. You can use graph paper to lay out the
design and count the exact square footage or number of pieces when you are estimating tile projects.
Here are some tips:
Click Tiles and Planks: At
approximately 12″ x 12″ squares and 12″ x 36″ planks they are 7 pieces to the box, so boxes are
approximately 7 square feet and 21 square feet. Loose pieces are generally not sold. Click can
generally not be easily installed on 45 degree angles because of the way it locks together.
Glue Down Tiles: At approximately 13″ square, the
exact number of tiles can be confusing if you are using graph paper with 12″ squares. MCT comes in
boxes of 45 or 54 square feet and the thicker Dual Tile comes in boxes of 45 or 54 square feet but
also in boxes of 9 for mix and match color floors. Also, available in 20″ tile the Dual Tile comes
in boxes of 54 square feet as well.
Sheet Material: Not considered a DIY or novice product, 79″
wide sheet material estimating should be left up to the installer. Since the product is very, very
heavy and must be handled with specialized equipment when taken off the truck, it is uncommon to
order it without the installer involved.
NOTE: Be sure to leave yourself some extra when estimating since getting more product in the exact
same color lot can sometimes be impossible.
What questions should I ask in order to find an installer?
There are no hard and fast rules, but it takes a certain person who has pride in their workmanship
and in their abilities to be able to install Marmoleum. It also takes a person who has been trained
in the Forbo school or who grew up under the wing of an old time lino mechanic, because the product
can be very technically demanding to install. If an artisan has a respect for math and science then
they will be much better technicians, since there is really no way to get lucky or to fake it when
installing linoleum products. Setting index lines, making patterns, having the right tools, knowing
how to scribe fit and heat welding are all elements of the job that take a lot of practice to get
right.
Can I install any of the three types of Marmoleum myself?
MARMOLEUM CLICK: This 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 un-done. 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 are 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 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 I find Marmoleum at Home Centers like Lowes, Home Depot, Walmart or Menards?
Big Box stores don’t sell Marmoleum.
Is Marmoleum good for countertops?
Linoleum is very commonly used as a countertop for desks, libraries and spaces where cutting on the
counter would not be a temptation. While it is durable as a floor surface it may not be right for a
kitchen counter for most folks, although many have learned to care for it and be careful with it and
they enjoy a beautiful countertop aesthetic.
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?
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 OK to use in commercial buildings?
Many architects and designers specify Marmoleum for gymnasiums, hospitals , classrooms, treatment
rooms, hallways, and offices. Durable, elegeant and natural it can be a great choice where all three
are desired. The product will hold s up with a minimum amount of maintenance and can easily outlast
linoleum and commercial carpet and in most cases it needs less maintenance.
Can I install borders and inlays in my floor?
From the simplest option which is to add a cut corner insert to a tile floor to the addition of some
beautiful custom borders from Forbo, the product is designed to be customized and to stretch the
imagination of the designers and architects. Dual Tiles and standard Sheet Marmoleum are also the
same thickness and can be combined easily in the same design to open up even more choices. Heat
Welding can be used to insert pin stripe elements and accents
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 Commercial floor cleaner
Residential Products:
Forbo Residential Floor Finish
Forbo marmoleum Neutral PH cleaner
Forbo Adhesive Remover
Is Marmoleum easy to clean and will it hold up when if chemicals are spilled?
Forbo Marmoleum products are subject to indicative chemical/stain testing in accordance with European
standards. The tests provide baseline information on the effects of short term exposure to chemicals
after cleaning and should be used as a comparative guide.
If specific chemicals are of particular concern we would advise that the effects are checked by the
client on a sample of the proposed colour and material in conditions representative of those that
will be experienced in service.
Is your Bulletin Board paintable?
Yes. We would suggest using a water based emulsion paint, but would advise testing the application
first for adhesion on a small sample of material. However, as the paint is going to be less flexible
than the Bulletin Board, marks may remain visible in the paint layer.
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.
