How to paint linoleum

People have been using linoleum as a floor covering for decades. Due to its low price, variety of types and easy installation process, it has easily conquered the market. Even to this day it is in great demand.

However, over time, any coating becomes unusable. Scuffs, stains, a design you don’t like – there can be many reasons for the desire to update the decor. But why take drastic measures in the form of replacing linoleum if you can simply paint it?

What is the composition of linoleum?

There are five types of this finishing coating in total, divided according to the binding material:

• Natural. It is made without chemicals, exclusively from natural materials.
• Polyvinyl chloride. It is created from petroleum products, in particular from vinyl chloride polymer, a plastic widely used in the modern world.
• Relin or rubber linoleum. Various types of rubber are used in its production.
• Colloxylin (aka nitrocellulose). The basis of this type is cellulose.
• Alkyd (also known as glypthal). It is similar in composition to natural, but is also based on jute fabrics.

Different types of coating have different properties due to their composition. Natural types are wear-resistant, durable, but expensive and are only suitable for dry rooms.PVC is cheaper, its characteristics depend on the base and thickness, but it has a noticeable odor and stretches over time. The nitrocellulose type is moisture-resistant, but is too flammable, and the rubber type contains harmful volatile substances.

REFERENCE! The possibility of painting the coating also depends on the composition. Not every paint will suit every surface. Due to incorrectly selected consumables, there is an opinion that painting linoleum is completely useless. But that's not true.

Is it possible to paint linoleum

The myth that no paint will last long on linoleum has been around since the times of the USSR. This stereotype arose for three reasons:

• An extremely poor variety of paints and varnishes, a shortage of consumables in general.
• A rare opportunity to properly prepare the floor before work.
• Low quality of available resources.

In fact, such a coating can be painted quite easily if done correctly. Correctly selected consumables and strict adherence to technique are the whole secret of long-lasting paint on the floor.

There is no need to worry about the feasibility of such an event. Whatever one may say, installation work requires more time and effort than simply painting the floors. In addition, the owner of the house can equip himself with a roller, saving on the labor of workers.

IMPORTANT! If you are not confident in your abilities, it is better not to undertake repairs yourself, even if it is purely cosmetic. Even for painting you need to have the minimum necessary skills.

How to paint linoleum

Selecting the right materials is almost half the success of all work. The ideal paint for such work should have:

• High degree of adhesion to planes with low roughness.
• Good resistance to mechanical damage, that is, to abrasion.
• Keep the content of organic solvents as low as possible, as they can contribute to corrosion of the surface under the paint.

Fortunately, these parameters correspond to as many as four types of consumables: enamels, alkyd-chlorinated rubber and alkyd pentaphthalic, liquid plastic and, of course, oil paints.

Oil paints are the cheapest and most accessible option. Among others, they have the highest adhesion rate, which means they will not wash off. However, the layer can only be renewed with the same composition, because other paints and varnishes simply will not lie on top of the oil. In addition, when working with them you need to be careful, because the composition is toxic.

Enamels are highly resistant to moisture and are also much more durable. They are not as cheap as regular paint, but most often it is better to pay a little extra for quality. In addition, the enamel dries faster and does not smell of toxic fumes.

The so-called liquid plastic will be one of the best materials in terms of quality. It is durable and resistant to damage. However, the plastic hardens for a very long time and is by no means cheap.

Rules for painting linoleum

However, good paintwork is only half the success. Without knowledge of all the technical nuances of painting work for linoleum, even the best paint will peel off many times faster than it should. The correct procedure should be:

• Clean the floor as thoroughly as possible. Remember that grease, dust and dirt are firmly embedded in the surface, so you need to scrub it conscientiously. If the floor was additionally covered with wax, you definitely need to get rid of it.
• Next, if oil paints or alkyd pentaphthalic paints are used, the surface must be primed.It is important to apply the priming solution to a dry and clean surface.
• And finally, the surface can begin to be painted.

The best tool for painting is a spray gun. In the absence of one, you can use a roller, or, in extreme cases, a hand brush.