What’s the difference between linoleum and vinyl flooring?

It’s no secret that there are a large variety of flooring options available, which can make it easy to get lost in the specifics of how one type of flooring differs from another. One common flooring question we often receive from consumers is: what’s the difference between linoleum flooring and vinyl flooring.
The vinyl flooring vs. linoleum comparison is one filled with many similarities. There is however a few key differences between the two flooring options that should definitely not be ignored.
Composition
Linoleum is a mix of renewable natural materials: primarily linseed oil, which comes from flax seeds, plus other natural ingredients such as jute, cork powders, wood flour and tree resins. The design is not on a separate image layer, but is embedded throughout the materials.
Vinyl flooring, on the other hand, is a synthetic product that is made up of vinyl, a combination of chemicals including ethylene and chlorine, and other additives (like felt, fiberglass, and dyes).
Life Span & Durability
Speaking of life spans, linoleum flooring can last anywhere from 20 to 40 years, while vinyl flooring typically lasts anywhere from 10 to 20 years. Because of this, linoleum is considered more durable than vinyl as it has similar properties to ceramic flooring and hardwood.
Look & Style
The difference in design versatility between vinyl flooring vs. linoleum is astounding. Linoleum is extremely limited in its design options. Unlike vinyl, which authentically replicates the natural look of wood and stone, Linoleum doesn’t have the same style versatility in terms of mimicking other flooring types. However it can be great for creating large patterns, embedded designs or blocks of color. Linoleum is colorfast, which means that the patterns and hues are not just printed on the surface but are dimensionally present through the entire piece. This allows the flooring to wear down without fading, as the colors are true all the way through the material.
Scratch, Stain and Dent Resistance
Both vinyl and marmoleum floorings have hardened wear layers designed to provide maximum scratch and stain resistance both are designed for superior dent resistance from things like cleats, heavy appliances and dropped objects.
Installation
Vinyl flooring is considered to be the easier option out of the two (especially if you’re looking for a DIY flooring project). While linoleum flooring installation is typically not considered a complicated process, certain precautions are needed.

Maintenance
Both Vinyl and Linoleum requires extremely low maintenance. Considered one of the easiest flooring types to clean, both flooring can withstand normal sweeping and vacuuming as well as mopping. You won’t have to worry about damaging the floorboards as they are not affected by moisture, mold, or mildew.
Price
While linoleum flooring isn’t expensive, it typically costs more than vinyl, fairly head to head.
Applications
Both vinyl and linoleum flooring are ideal for almost any commercial design project thanks to their multi-faceted and cross-purpose functionality.
Whether you decide to go with linoleum or vinyl tile flooring, there are plenty of beautiful, high-quality options for both types of flooring material. Because they’re both considered types of resilient flooring, and are great choices for homeowners looking for affordable, comfortable and practical flooring products.

Floor Décor Kenya Cares about Your Health and Well being with our Original floors with zero cancer causing chemicals

Floor Décor Kenya Cares about Your Health and Well being

Majority of Home Builders and Owners fall prey to unsuspecting developers and businessmen who source substandard flooring materials from some factories in China and Eastern Europe. Some low quality laminates and Vinyl from these regions contain high levels of cancer causing Phthalates and Formaldehyde. Phthalates are mainly used as plasticizers; substances added to plastics to increase their flexibility, durability, transparency and longevity.

It is therefore important for buyers to check the kind of flooring brands used by developers; majority of the developers only care about the selling value and ease of making quick returns on building developments and ignore the consumer and the health risk associated with installing substandard flooring materials.

The debate on the dangers and toxicity of phthalates and formaldehydes has been going on for years. Research has proven to the fact that exposure to phthalates may lead to health problem such as cancer, asthma and allergies, autism, low IQ, fertility problems and neurodevelopment issues, birth defects, learning and memory disorders.

Dangerous volatile organic compounds, a.k.a. VOCs, are the last thing you would want in your home. Because these chemical compounds have a very low boiling point, large numbers of their molecules will evaporate at normal room temperature. The resulting vapor mixes with clean air inside your rooms exposing you and your family to cancer causing chemicals.

Floor Décor Kenya an award winning floor covering retailer in Kenya takes to heart with its guarantee. All our Brands are safe for you and your loved ones. Pergo® Wood Laminates, Beauflor® Vinyl a.k.a Mkeka wa Mbao™ and Oryzon® Artificial Grass all manufactured in Belgium are subjected to rigorous tests by Third Party Laboratories that are designed to ensure they all meet the highest standards set by the European Chemicals Agency and California Air Resources Board regulations (“CARB”). All our brand products are evaluated as a ‘SAFE’ to use due to their excellent toxicological profile.

Our partner Manufacturers uses only alternative, phthalate-free plasticizers, with a strong preference for bio-based plasticizers. They typically off-gas all flooring products at the factory, prior shipping to us. This means our products do not release harmful levels of VOCs (Volatile Organic Compounds) into your beautiful living environments. As an importer of flooring solutions, Floor Décor Kenya guarantees 100% phthalate-free flooring products that pose neither unreasonable risk to human health nor the environment.

We shall continue to educate our loyal Clients on the health hazards of Cheap, Substandard, Counterfeit flooring from some factories in China and Eastern Europe Imported by rogue traders. Floor Décor Kenya flooring consumers’ brands offers the greatest possible level of quality in terms of sustainability and health. Our flooring solutions are very easy to care for and will last a long time if properly maintained, translating into a low environmental impact over the floor’s lifetime.

When you choose one of our floors at any of our showroom; Nairobi, Mombasa, Kisumu, Eldoret, Nakuru , Naivasha and Nanyuki you should be able to feel safe in the knowledge that it has been produced without any chemical of concern for health and wellbeing. And we are proud to say: You can. We have made fashionable flooring affordable; you get that lavish and elegant look you have always wanted for less, saving you time and money.

0780 955 000 Kijabe Street, Nairobi
0780 355 000 Moses Mudavadi rd Nakuru
0755 960 000 Links Road Mombasa
0780 755 000 Sosian Street ,Eldoret
0755 660 000 Irura Road , Nanyuki

For all your flooring needs visit
https://www.floordecorkenya.com/

How to distinguish genuine mkeka wa mbao vinyl flooring from the copy

Well Levelled floor

Original mkeka wa mbao beauflor cushion vinyl flooring

Original Mkeka wa mbao™️ FACTS

Sold in the Kenyan market since 2016 thousands of happy clients .

 Exclusive Prints like Woods , ceramics , plain colors or fabric color designs .

None shinny look doesn’t feel or look like plastic carpets original mkeka wa Mbao™️ has real wood textured matte finish to last a long time , anything shinny will eventually loose the shine😊.

Our warranty starts at 10 years .

We strive to ship textile backed rolls exclusively in 4 meters , textile backed are more stable on your subfloor and avoid furniture tearing them up and indentions .

 We stock matching accessories for your flooring like skirting baseboards with provision to run cables , aluminum door profiles , rubber stair nosing etc .

Our pricing starts from Sh 1500/- per sq meter and price depends on wear Layer the higher the wear Layer the higher the price and durability our experts at the showrooms will advice as per your usage .

Check our designs here

https://www.floordecorkenya.com/browse/beauflor/

Forbo Flotex floor covering Vs Carpet tiles whats the difference

Carpet tiles or Flotex ….. whats really the difference …

 

Flotex is a unique textile floor covering that combines the hard wearing and durable characteristics of a resilient floor with the quality, warmth and comfort of a carpet. Flotex is a strong and hygienic floor, and being completely waterproof, it is also the only truly washable textile floor.

It’s ideal for corporate offices , hotels , homes etc

Durability and Value

Flotex durability is proven in the tough Australasian market and backed by a unique 15-year wear and anti-static warranty. Flotex has countless installations throughout the Australasian market from health and education through to the public transport system that back its claim as the most durable textile floor covering on the market.

Health and Hygiene

Unlike traditional tufted carpets or any carpet tile, Flotex Sheet can be scrubbed like a hard floor in copious amounts of water for a completely hygienic clean. The Sanitized®
anti-microbial embedded in Flotex inhibits growth of bacterial cultures such as E-Coli, MRSA and moulds such as athletes foot fungi.

Safety and Acoustics

The dense flocked surface of Flotex provides an ideal acoustic barrier for both ambient and contact sound up to over 20dB – providing comfort and ambiance inside the room as well as to those rooms located below. Furthermore the R12 slip resistance rating of Flotex prevents slips and trips, meeting commercial safety requirements.

Appearance Retention

Flotex’s unique construction allows for superior appearance retention, long after your floors have been installed. The premium nylon 6.6 fibres used in Flotex achieves outstanding levels of colour fastness. What’s more, with over 70 million of these fibres per square metre which is nine times denser than commercial tufted carpet, Flotex sheet is resistant to flattening, fraying and gapping.

Forbo Flotex flooring

Forbo Flotex flooring

It’s important to check if your subfloor is completely dry or it has some humidity levels in it before installation of any floor covering material

#Flooringtip

It’s important to check if your subfloor is completely dry or it has some humidity levels in it before installation of any floor Covering material  .

When a subfloor has high humidity level :-

1. Vinyl flooring will curl , form bumbles and get black spots on the decorative layer .

2. Tiles will discolor .

3. Laminate floor underlay will collect water and they will be dampness smell in your house .

4. Epoxy and regular paint on walls will crack and swell .

With such a tool as humidity moisture meter it’s easy to know the real levels some subfloor may look dry but in the real sense they are not .

For more tips visit

www.floordecorkenya.com

How to level your concrete Subfloor

FLOOR LEVELLING .

To have a good solid floor the Subfloor level is a very important factor .

We urge Fundi’s not to install any type of Floor covering Materials on an uneven Subfloor .

Uneven floor are the reason your PERGO laminate /LVT floor is bouncing whenever you walk on it and after some times the joints will unlock .

Ceramic tiles will have uneven grouts joints , some will leave air bubble or even crack , during installation a lot of tile adhesive , cement is used up to level .

Mkeka wa  mbao BEAUFLOR Vinyl flooring laid loose will form bubble underneath and eventually it will crease .

Epoxy flooring will start cracking over time .

It’s very simple to check a subfloor surface level as DIY using a two meter straight strip it can be metal based strip ETC .

The conventional way to level a subfloor is two hack that subfloor and apply new coat of mortar , this conventional way is tedious in labor and again you will wait close to a week or more while watering it for the subfloor to cure 😩

At Floor Decor we are using self leveling compound it can be sika brand or kenbro no need for hacking within 24 hrs your floor is smooth , well leveled and dry 😊.

1 bag weighs 25 kgs and covers 8-12 sq meter when applied 2mm coat .

Cost Sh 1500/- a bag .

Take your time and Watch this video to learn more .

Follow our blog and read more https://www.floordecorkenya.com/blog/

What is Vinyl flooring ?

Vinyl floors are one of the most durable and affordable flooring solutions available on the market these days. Depending on the vinyl you select, the costs can be up to 70 percent less when compared to other flooring materials, such as Ceramic tiles , Laminate floor , marble and stone. High level of durability, very warm unlike ceramics ,None slip ideal for bathrooms ,easy to install ,low maintenance and versatility make the vinyl flooring a very popular flooring choice for commercial and residential applications. There are two types of vinyl sheet flooring: homogeneous and heterogeneous flooring.

The homogeneous vinyl floor covering is made of one single layer that offers vibrancy and depth of the colour. The heterogeneous flooring on the other hand, is a multi-layer flooring which comes in wide variety of beautiful patterns with endless design possibilities. This feature gives a feel and a look of natural flooring materials. Heterogeneous flooring also offers low maintenance cost, which is why is primary choice of homeowners, health care facilities, schools, etc.

Both vinyl homogeneous and heterogeneous flooring are affordable flooring solutions when compared with other flooring materials, and are incredibly stain resistant. These benefits make these two types of vinyl flooring a great choice for heavy traffic areas. With quality vinyl flooring you can create the perfect environment which will be both functional and modern. Vinyl heterogeneous flooring has many options and benefits and comes with varying thickness. It’s also patterned or coloured and it is often used in areas with high level of moisture like laboratories, bathrooms and kitchens as well. This flooring option is the best solution for houses as well, especially if there are kids and/or pets.

Vinyl heterogeneous flooring is available in many beautiful and unique designs that provide excellent acoustic performance and unique sound reduction properties because it can be applied from wall to wall. In wet areas, like showers, sinks, splash areas, swimming pools, etc, the vinyl flooring offers comfort when walking and gives a firm grip.

Vinyl heterogeneous flooring is suitable for both commercial and residential purposes. It can be easily installed (even if without any skills), but for more luxurious and complex forms, it is best to use professional services. You can find vinyl floor covering designed and produced by many manufacturers available in hundreds of colours, patterns and styles to choose from. With broad range of products and techniques, there aren’t limits to the designs you can create making a strong statement with your new vinyl heterogeneous flooring.

Behold the cure for cold floors is here with BeauFlor Cushion Vinyl

Behold the cure for cold floors is here
By Delfhin Mugo Daily Nation  http://www.nation.co.ke/
Twitter: @delphinmugo
Email: [email protected]

Is your floor too cold, stained, slippery, squeaky, and hard on the feet? Are you wondering what to do with it? Well, wonder no more. Cushion vinyl, the newest technology in flooring, which resembles –and is rolled easily on the floor like— a carpet, comes with a new lease of life for your floor.

The flooring product is not just a solution to all floor headaches that bedevils residents but an eco-friendly solution as well since its bottom layer is made of 95 per cent recycled fiber. Cushion vinyl has five layers unlike a carpet that has one.

“The bottom layer, recycled fiber backing, easily fills into the gaps between tiles and this eliminates the need for grouting,” Mr Amos Kibaru, the CEO of Floor Décor Kenya, told DN2.
The compact layer, he continues, which comes above the fiber layer helps to absorb pressure and prevents substrate deformations. Therefore, the floor underneath, whether wood or ceramic tiles, remains intact and undamaged in case the resident decides to remove the cushion vinyl floor.

On top of the compact layer is the glass fibre mesh layer that prevents excessive expansion and tears. Glass fibre layer precedes the design layer which combines hyper-realistic designs, textures and colours for the cushion vinyl. For instance, the design layer can come in wood, ceramic or stone look. All these designs come in a wide variety of colours to choose from. For a house where most accessories are white, the resident could choose, say, a brown cushion vinyl to complement the accessories, and depending on the wallpapers in the house he or she can choose a stone or wood design vinyl.

Unlike foam backing that encourages penetration of water over time and consequent growth of mildew, cushion vinyl whose backing is textile, is waterproof and does not form mildew on the bottom surface.

Terming cushion vinyl as an all-round floor type, Mr Kibaru says it is ideal for residential areas, offices, hospitals, libraries, hotels and clubs. Singling out hotels and clubs since the interior decoration of these two places needs to constantly change for them to remain attractive and inviting to patrons, he says, “It is expensive to change tiles every now and then in such a place where decoration is quite dynamic. Cushion vinyl would be more ideal since it is cheap, easy to install and comes in a wide variety of designs and colours.”

However, when purchasing cushion vinyl, Mr Kibaru advises individuals to inform the seller where they intend to install the vinyl floor. This is because there are two types of vinyl materials; residential and office vinyl. “The difference is their thickness, where residential vinyl is 0.20mm thick. It is manufactured ideally for low traffic areas. The office vinyl is double the residential in thickness and a bit heavy. It is 0.40mm in thickness,” says Mr Kibaru.

Besides being warm and soft on the foot due to the fibre material used to manufacture it, its top layer, called the wear layer, which is made from polyurethane material, provides resistance to wear and tear that in most cases is occasioned by dragging chairs on the floor or piercing the floor with sharp heals. It also makes it easy to maintain the floor. “You can easily wipe out stains with a wet piece of cloth. The top layer prevents scuffing which is common in wooden tiles,” says Mr Kibaru, adding that walking with sharp heals on it will not leave blemishes behind.

To put it simply, cushion vinyl behaves like a high-density foam mattress that caves in when sat on and regains its shape ones the pressure is off. It comes with a five year warranty.
Cushion vinyl is fire resistance, which means if a resident accidentally drops a red-hot piece of charcoal; the wear layer will not burn immediately to buy some time to put it off. Polyurethane, which manufactures the top layer, is a polymer composed of organic units joined by carbamate (urethane) links; most polyurethanes are thermosetting polymers that do not melt when heated.
Unlike concrete, wood and ceramic tile floors that tend to make noise whenever someone walks on them, especially on heals, cushion vinyl provides a silent floor to a house. This makes it ideal for places such as intensive care units (ICU) and library where dead silence is demanded of visitors.

Since vinyl can laid on top of other floors without damaging it, tenants too can install it in their rented apartments.
“My daughter had hard time crawling on ceramic tiles floor since it was slippery and very cold. Seeing she could not play with her toys comfortably, I took to the internet where I searched for alternative flooring that could cover the entire ceramic tiles floor. That’s how I came across cushion vinyl,” Ms Jema Nkorote told DN2.cushion-vinylcampaign-2-cushion
“It is non-slippery, at least I can attest to that since my daughter has not fallen down yet,” says Ms Nkorote referring to her little daughter who was comfortably playing with her toys on the floor when DN2 visited their rental apartment at Valley Arcade along Gitanga Road.

However, Nkorote’s sister is uncomfortable with her sister’s vinyl floor which seems to fade a bit too fast but blames her sister for using detergents to clean the floor, to which Mr Kibaru says, “Since vinyl does not harbour dust, I would advise her to use liquid soap and vinegar as opposed to powder detergents which have chemicals that can discolour the surface of the vinyl.”

Staying with the same floor type for a long period is both monotonous and boring; therefore, cushion vinyl comes as a relief since homeowners and tenants can now afford to change their floors from time to time. And cushion vinyl does not cost an arm and a leg. A square meter of vinyl, Mr Kibaru says, is going for Sh 1000.

Installation
Though, Mr Kibaru, says they have trained personnel whom they link up their clients with for installation purposes, cushion vinyl installation is an easy, do-it-yourself process that any home owner can install with just a little creativity and a few hours to burn.

“You only need a double sided tape, a craft knife, a skirting wood and a door strip to install,” says Mr Kibaru.
To begin with, the subfloor upon which cushion vinyl is to be laid must be clean, smooth and dry. Then, cut the vinyl into the approximate area, allowing for overhang. When this is done, roll the vinyl on and use the craft knife to cut the vinyl at the edges. Alternatively, a straight edge metal or wood and knife can be used to cut in.

Unroll the overhang material and the vinyl will be laid. Use a double sided tape to hold down the vinyl along the perimeter, and at high traffic areas. Also, at the perimeter, a skirting wood, that has a channel for internet cables running along it on the inner side, is used to hold the vinyl firmly on the floor.

Mr Kibaru advises installers to leave a space for expansion between the vinyl and the wall. Once you are done fixing the skirting wood, hammer in the door strip to hold the vinyl firmly at the entrance. In just a couple of hours, you will have a new floor that is not only beautiful but also, depending on your choice, complements the furniture or the wallpaper in the house.

By Delfhin Mugo Daily Nation  http://www.nation.co.ke/
Twitter: @delphinmugo
Email: [email protected]