Does linoleum shrink: depending on the floor and the quality of the material

Linoleum is a quality floor covering. But even he has some drawbacks, one of which is shrinkage. To avoid this, you need to find out in what cases it occurs, and what to do about it.

Does linoleum shrink

Yes it does. During operation, the material begins to dry. This contributes to downsizing. Such cases are most likely to occur when covering wooden surfaces.

Depending on the type of floor

Shrinkage may occur depending on the type of floor. If the floor releases a small amount of moisture, the material expands. There will be no such unpleasant consequences, since the material absorbs water. The latter does not contribute to a decrease in thickness. But at the same time, inside the coating itself contains a small amount of moisture. Therefore, if the floor is made of wood and is very dry, it begins to absorb the moisture contained in linoleum. Then shrinkage occurs. It is impossible to say how big this indicator will be. It all depends on the type and quality of the material. But you can give approximate figures - about 0-40% of the height of linoleum.

Depending on quality

The quality of linoleum also plays a significant role. Good linoleum is made with a gasket under the bottom layer. It is able to absorb moisture, thereby swelling and expanding the thickness. It should be noted that the highest quality types of material do not shrink, under any circumstances.

Another important parameter is the conditions of detention. Where exactly was it stored before flooring (wet or dry storage room).

There is a method by which you can determine how much linoleum shrinks. To check you need:

1. We buy a small roll.
2. We leave it rolled up, in a warm room for 1-2 days.
3. Roll the roll across the floor.
4. Let him lie down for a week.
5. If necessary, cut the individual parts of the roll.
6. You can check. If the size of the material decreased, or linoleum became too dry, it happened.

There is a way to avoid this unpleasant phenomenon. To do this, allowances of 5 cm are left on each side of the material (the size may be larger, depending on the room).