Marmoleum – What’s Old is New Again
On a recent trip to my hometown of Portland, Oregon, I rediscovered Marmoleum. For those who are not familiar with it, Marmoleum has been around for about 100 year. It is made primarily of natural raw materials including linseed oil, rosins and wood flour backed by natural jute. Marmoleum is usually installed with sovent free adhesives, so no pesky VOC’s to contend with. It is a hard working floor that hardens over time, making it even more durable. My first encounter with the flooring was at the Oregon Coast in the home of friend - her kitchen floor was natural and seemless with an earthy limestone appearance. I asked what it was… marmoleum. Later that week, while visiting an old friend in Portland, I immediately recognized her red-orange kitchen floor as marmoleum. The effect was entirely different but very appealing just the same.
Forbo Marmoleum offers a huge selection of colors and with varying degrees of patterning. There is also the option of combining colors in patterns on the floor. I am more of a fan of the solids, but its an option. Forbo recently introduced DUTCH DESIGN: 12 designs by 12 Dutch Designers, which includes Sunflower Gold, pictured above. It looks like marmoleum can run from $3 – $5 per square foot (before installation) depending on the color and whether you select sheet or tile. A fresh, green alternative for floors.