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.

Why You’ll Love Mkeka Wa Mbao® Floors and Walls in Your Bathroom


Whether big or small, with shower or without one, your bathroom represents a special room in your home reserved for hygiene, cleanliness, and improved quality of life.
Just try going a couple of days without one and you’ll see exactly how important these rooms are in our lives. Whether it’s taking a shower, visiting ‘the throne’, or simply washing your teeth, it’s in the bathroom that our day starts!
Now, the décor in bathrooms is a question that has bugged many interior designers in the past. Should it be minimalistic and simply to the point of serving its purpose, or should it be elaborate so that it represents a place of enjoyment and relaxation?
The bathroom is the place where you relax and unwind after a long day of work or the place where you fresh up after an intense workout. More than anything, it needs to be practical and evoke a sense of calm and relaxation. Floor Décor Kenya offers a range of water-proof Mkeka wa Mbao™ flooring and walls so you can enjoy your bath time to the fullest.
Choosing vinyl bathroom flooring offers many benefits over natural products such as stone tiles. Vinyl is a practical choice for your bathroom as it is easy to clean and is waterproof. It is ideal where slip-resistance, durability and hygienic conditions are required.
Mkeka wa Mbao™ on Bathroom Walls and Floor can withstand the test of time. To make sure you’ll enjoy every minute of your time in the bathroom. It has dense concentration of deep inlaid anti slip particles throughout the wear layer for permanent slip performance with enhanced slip resistant safety.
You can also cover old looking tiles on your bathroom walls without the need for demolishing them making remodeling of a bathroom very easy with Mkeka wa mbao vinyl sheets .
Splash without Worrying!
Although vinyl can give a look similar to tile or hardwood, it is much softer underfoot, thanks to its felt or foam backing. That provides a comfortable surface, which is particularly helpful in bathrooms where slip-and-fall accidents are common on wet floors.
Whether it is for a bathroom, changing room or shower room, Floor Décor Kenya has a range of vinyl flooring which is perfectly suited for each environment. Our ranges offer high performance slip resistant safety flooring for wet and dry, barefoot and shod applications.
Good-looking and supremely practical, vinyl is becoming a popular choice for bathroom flooring in the world today. Mkeka wa Mbao™ is your best option if extreme amounts of water are expected.
Mkeka wa Mbao™ have a fantastic range of bathroom flooring for both residential and commercial applications. There are many different flooring designs to choose from whether you prefer a more natural stone look, wood effect or a modern geometric design. Our bathroom flooring range from Floor Décor Kenya is sure to have something to satisfy your needs.

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