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.
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.