Cohousing-L Mailing List: Re: best flooring for Common House?

[Sharon Villines (sharon]

> On Jun 18, 2024, at 11:12 AM, Jack Wilbern <jaxaccount [at] gmail.com> wrote:

> It is a very earth friendly product in many ways, especially production. It 
> allows for welded seams and rolled
> base which has been a huge benefit in the kitchen. We used a textured, almost 
> marbleized paper version for the field for simplicity and a contrast border 
> for interest.
> 
> It has worn like iron and has sound deadening benefits ala cork if you buy
> the right version. Comes in loads and loads of colors.
> 
> https://www.forbo.com/flooring/en-us/products/marmoleum/acoustic-linoleum/marmoleum-decibel-on-order/bpimqn

Nice to hear from you, Jack! 

Can you say something about how you maintain the Marmoleum? We went with 
Marmoleum sheets and welded seams in the kitchen and I’m not totally convinced 
that it was the best choice but that may be because we don’t maintain it well. 
I described the problems in an earlier recent email — I think because it gets 
wet and is not dried quickly, is not swept after meals, and is not polished 
frequently enough. We also have Marmoleum in the kids room and it seems fine 
although it is a few years newer.

It does deaden sound, is soft under the feet,  and does have an incredible 
range of colors. 

The person who installed it was a long time floor finisher. He said the reason 
that Marmoleum was better than linoleum (which it technically is) is that when 
linoleum went out of fashion in favor of vinyl tile (which I mistakenly called 
acrylic) everyone except Forbo quit making it. Forbo kept producing it and 
refining the manufacturing process, so when linoleum came back into favor as 
sustainable and environmentally sound they had a product ready to go. Other 
manufacturers had to start over again.

Sharon
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Sharon Villines
Takoma Village Cohousing, Washington DC
http://www.takomavillage.org