Styles-Planks--36" long x
12"wide or squares 12"x12". All are 3/8" thick made with a 3 ply sandwich of 2.5mm Marmoleum on
the top layer, high density fiberboard middle layer and cork bottom layer. As of 2023, this is a waterproof product.
Styles--Modular,
(2.5mm thick in 10"x10", 10"x20", 10"x40", or 20"x20") or MCT
style (2.0mm in 13"x13"). Both are glued down with Forbo Sustain 1195 adhesive.
Subfloors are usually made of concrete or wood (plywood, OSB, chipboard). Proper installation requires that the subfloor be clean, dry, flat, smooth and
free of dips and bumps. Cracks and sloping subfloors need to be filled and leveled; this can be costly, as it usually requires professional installation. A
plywood underlayment may also be needed on top of the subfloor.
Note: Marmoleum sheet and tile cannot be glued directly to underlayment or subfloors made of luan, particleboard or chipboard because these materials
expand and contract too much and are not stable.
Tip: If you live in an apartment or condo with concrete subfloors, make sure that it's Portland cement (grey) concrete and not gypsum (white, lightweight) or Gypcrete. Special priming will need to be administered if it's gypsum-based.
Marmoleum Click panels and squares are the only type that can tolerate slight unevenness in the subfloor, up to 3/16" over an 8' span. Larger variations in
your subfloor will cause too much stress on the click mechanism and eventually wear it out. Click panels and squares can even be applied over most vinyl or
ceramic tile. If you have asbestos tile, before installation please consult with professionals who provide asbestos abatement.
In older homes, Marmoleum Click panels and squares are preferred because they're easier and faster to install than glue-down sheet or glue-down tile, and they require much less floor preparation. If you install the flooring directly over another floor such as vinyl, ceramic or hardwood, you can save time and money because there's no tear out required. This is possible with Marmoleum Click because it requires no glue or nails, and it floats over the existing flooring or subflooring.
Installation of Marmoleum sheet or tile in an older home requires complete removal of the existing floor and usually some adjustment to the subfloor, as it
has often settled or warped over time. Although the initial cost of the material may be less expensive than the Click product, the preparation and
installation costs could be far more.
In new construction, any of the three Marmoleum flooring products can be used as there's usually little or no prep work required. For DIY installations, the Click products are the easiest, but Marmoleum tile can be a good option because it's easy to install piece-by-piece and there's little waste. They are certainly easier to install than sheet goods.
Tip: The use of Marmoleum sheet usually requires professional installation due to the seams which require special tools and lots of experience. If, however, the width of the room is less than 79", as in a small bathroom, there may be no seams, and sheet goods should be considered. Cutting Marmoleum is
relatively easy and not too challenging in small rooms. However, unlike tile-which can be discarded if you make a bad cut-there can be no mistakes with
sheet goods as one bad cut can ruin the entire piece.
When you look at the costs of Marmoleum plus installation and maintenance, it can be less than cork, bamboo, hardwood and ceramic or vinyl tile. But, it
all depends upon how much prep has to be done and who will do the installation and maintenance.
Bear in mind, preparation costs can be substantial for glue-down sheet and glue-down tile because the subfloor needs to be perfectly flat. This is true of any nail down
hardwood floor, ceramic tile or vinyl tile floor too. However, the Click product is much easier and requires little or no floor prep. Many customers have
found installation of Click panels or squares over existing subfloors by themselves can save a great deal of money.
However, if your subfloor is smooth and flat, and the dimensions of the room requires no seams, i.e. less than 79" wide, you can install Marmoleum glue-down sheet or
glue-down tile by yourself. On the other hand, if you live in an older home that has severe settling and needs serious attention, you probably will need a
professional no matter what type of floor you purchase.
Tip: Be realistic about your skills. Installing Marmoleum tile or sheet goods can be done by most contractors, however, seaming and complex floor
preparation usually requires professionals with experience in this type of flooring. While Marmoleum Click may be a DIY product, it still requires
certain skills, tools and patience. We can help walk you through most of the installation process, but if you need floor preparation, it's best to
consult with a professional.
Like any long term investment, you have to consider the cost of upkeep. Forbo Marmoleum is designed to last a very long time. It has earned the nickname
"40 year linoleum" and "battleship linoleum" for good reason - it holds up under abuse and is inexpensive to maintain and repair. For starters, all Marmoleum
products come with TopShield Pro built into the surface which is a protective sealer that makes cleaning dirt and scuff marks much easier.
For those of you with dogs, cats or children, it's important to know that Marmoleum flooring, whether sheet, tile or Click, will wear well. That's because
it's a solid through-body product. Forbo does not claim that it will never be scratched, because it certainly can. But, it can be easily and inexpensively
repaired and re-sealed creating a long-lasting finish unlike vinyl, laminate or ceramic tile, which can be scratched or cracked and not easily repaired.
Some of the largest users of Marmoleum are schools and hospitals. The primary reason is because it holds up to heavy foot and wheelchair traffic of all
types, is colorful, completely non-toxic, anti-microbial, anti-static and repairable.
Marmoleum has proven that it can handle moisture very well. Recently divers explored relics for the 100-year anniversary of the Titanic and discovered lots
of Marmoleum flooring that was still intact in the cabins after being underwater for 100 years! You read that right.
It has also proven that minor or major scratches can be buffed out with the right equipment. Making quick and easy repairs is far less expensive, time
consuming and sustainable than sanding and refinishing the entire floor. Please see the Marmoleum maintenance guide for more details.
Marmoleum sheet goods offer designers a huge palette of 150+ colors and textures. Marmoleum tile offers 60+ colors. Marmoleum Click offers 40+ colors.
Marmoleum tiles offer neat classic patterns and styles, without the high price
tag. Marmoleum Click panels and squares afford more modern themes at the least cost.
Tip: One thing you'll notice about all Marmoleum colors is their matte finish. They seem
to blend beautifully with one another and with your home. Don't be afraid to experiment. Be
bold, because once installed on the floor, even the strongest colors don't appear that way on
the floor.
Marmoleum can also be used on countertops, desks, wall panels, bulletin boards, furniture and more. If you haven't been to a Taco Bell lately, check out the front desk and surrounding walls which are both covered with Marmoleum sheet and wall panels.
All interior residential or commercial walls, tackboards
Special Use
Walls, furniture, door panels and cupboards
Application
Glue to smooth substrate
Colors/Styles
15 colors
Once you've chosen the color and style, please request a sample to review it in your home or office. Samples are available on our website on the right hand margin below the add to cart button.
If you need further assistance, please call 800-405-0222 or email [email protected].
Marmoleum Click—floated by professional or DIY over moderately perfect subfloor.
Marmoleum Sheet and Marmoleum Tile are both glued (with Forbo’s Sustain 1195 adhesive) over any smooth, level, dry subfloor whether it’s made of concrete, plywood or other stable surface as long as they are free of dips and bumps. Cracks and sloping subfloors need to be filled and leveled; this can be costly, as it usually requires professional installation. If there are gaps or height variations on your existing subfloor, a ¼” plywood underlayment or leveling compound might be needed in order to create a smoother surface.
Note: Marmoleum Sheet and Marmoleum Tile should not be glued directly to underlayment or subfloors made of luan, particleboard or chipboard because these materials expand and contract too much and are not stable. Neither should they be applied over vinyl, asbestos or ceramic tile. If asbestos tile, please consult local authorities about abatement.
Tip 1: If you live in an apartment or condo with concrete subfloors, make sure that it's Portland cement (grey) concrete and not gypsum (white, lightweight) or Gypcrete. Special priming will need to be administered if it's gypsum-based.
Marmoleum Click panels and squares are floated over most subfloors such as concrete or plywood without any glue. They require no underlayment because 1/16” cork is already built into the backing. Marmoleum Click can tolerate a slight unevenness in the subfloor, up to 3/16" over an 8' span. Larger variations in your subfloor will cause too much stress on the click mechanism and eventually wear it out. Click panels and squares can even be applied over most vinyl, ceramic tile and most other solid subfloors, including some (not all) short commercial carpet.
Marmoleum Click is faster and cheaper to install than either Marmoleum Sheet or Marmoleum Tile, especially if you do it yourself. It requires less floor preparation, no glue and can often be installed right over existing tile, vinyl, hardwood or even some (not all) commercial carpeting.
Tip 3: Marmoleum Click requires a vapor barrier in the form of 6 ml plastic (e.g. Moisture Block). However, if it's applied over existing vinyl, no vapor barrier is required.
Just to give you some background on this question, if you are old enough, you may recall the term “battleship linoleum.” That term was popular during both World Wars because linoleum was used on the decks and in the cabins of battleships. Not convinced?
Here’s another example: recently the sinking of the Titanic celebrated its centennial anniversary with the retrieval of some additional relics from the cabins of that famous vessel. One of them was some linoleum flooring which was still intact after being underwater for 100 years!
Forbo allows installation above or below grade for all its products, as long as moisture is controlled and does not get underneath the glue. They don’t recommend their products for those bathrooms that are plagued with excessive moisture, or wherever there is poor ventilation. Although Marmoleum can handle water on the surface, it does require responsible moisture control.
Marmoleum Sheet and Marmoleum Tile are very popular in commercial bathrooms and locker rooms such as schools, hospitals, and office buildings. They are also widely popular in residential kitchens, bathrooms and basements. We generally don’t recommend the Marmoleum Click floor in kid’s bathrooms or anywhere there is excessive moisture.
Marmoleum Sheet normally requires professional tools and lots of experience primarily because of the seams and the floor prep. However, if your room is less than 79” wide (such as in a small bathroom) and the subfloor is smooth, there may be no seams, and installation will be easier. Some reliable contractors are often able to successfully install Marmoleum Sheet in these situations.
If you're nervous about seams or handling large pieces of sheeting, but you want to do this yourself, we recommend using Marmoleum Tile (MCT or Dual). The tile is much easier to work with and offers some unique design options. It still requires the same floor prep, glue and careful planning, but it's much more manageable. Even easier is the Marmoleum Click.
Be realistic about your skills. While Marmoleum Click may be a DIY product, it requires some experience with construction equipment and patience. We can help walk you through most of the installation process, but if your subfloor needs special attention, it's best to consult with a professional.
The initial cost of Marmoleum Click is more than Marmoleum Sheet and Marmoleum Tile. However, Marmoleum Click installs in 1/2 the time, which can save hundreds of dollars on installation costs. Also Marmoleum Sheet and Marmoleum Tile may require extra sub-floor preparation in order to make the floor perfectly smooth and flat. Marmoleum Click, on the other hand, floats over most slightly imperfect subfloors and can require much less prep work, saving extra time and money. It's because of this reason, that Marmoleum Click has become so popular in residential applications.
When compared to hardwood, bamboo, cork, vinyl, or wool carpet, Marmoleum products (Sheet, Tile and Click) are within the same initial price range of $3.50-$6.50 per square foot. However, when you consider the life cycle cost of Marmoleum, you need to include the cradle to grave costs of floor preparation, installation, maintenance and eventual removal. Although the initial cost can be higher than vinyl flooring, for example, Marmoleum lasts almost three times as long. In addition, the regular maintenance of Marmoleum is generally much less expensive than vinyl. When viewed long term, Marmoleum can be a less expensive option.
Marmoleum is also 100% biodegradable. After its useful life of 30-40 years, it can be returned back to the earth from where it originated without any negative impact to the environment. When carpeting or vinyl is burned in a landfill, for example, they can cause serious air pollution; this takes a big toll on our health and our environment. That may not translate into an immediate cost to our pocketbook, but contributing to the pollution of our environment eventually costs us all.
For those of you with dogs, cats or children, it's important to know that Marmoleum flooring, whether Sheet, Tile or Click, will wear well. That's because it's a solid through-body product. Forbo does not claim that it will never be scratched, because it certainly can. But, it can be easily and inexpensively repaired and re-sealed creating a long-lasting finish unlike laminate, or vinyl, which can be scratched or cracked and not easily repaired.
Making quick and easy repairs is far less expensive, time consuming and sustainable than sanding or refinishing an entire floor. Please see the Marmoleum maintenance guide for more details .
Some of the largest users of Marmoleum Sheet and Marmoleum Tile are schools and hospitals. The primary reason is because these products hold up to heavy foot and wheelchair traffic of all types, is colorful, completely non-toxic, anti-microbial, anti-static and repairable.
Marmoleum can also be used on counter tops, desks, wall panels, bulletin boards, furniture and more. Check out Whole Food's check out lanes or Taco Bell’s front desk and surrounding walls which are covered with Marmoleum Sheet and wall panels.
Once you've looked through our website, feel free to contact us for additional help. We can answer most of your questions and can also speak with your contractor.
If you need samples, estimates or just want to bounce some ideas off of us, please call 800.405.0222 or email [email protected].
