Linoleum is a resilient floor made mostly from natural materials. Marmoleum is the linoleum line made by Forbo. Vinyl roll looks similar but is made of plastic (PVC). All three come as a smooth surface with few seams. In a basement, linoleum is glued to the floor, so the concrete has to be ready. This guide explains what linoleum is, how to read a Marmoleum page, and what to check first.
Forbo says Marmoleum is made mainly of linseed oil (pressed from flax seeds), wood flour, pine rosin and limestone. The sheet has a woven jute backing. The tiles have a polyester backing. The Forbo Marmoleum Modular Tiles T5229 Fresh Walnut 9-13/16" x 39-3/8" lists Primary Backing Type: Polyester.
Forbo also explains two things you may notice. A new floor can look a little yellow at first. This comes from the linseed oil and is normal. And the linseed oil keeps hardening over time, which Forbo says makes the floor more durable.
The FloorBox Linoleum & Vinyl Roll page answers this. Linoleum is a family of resilient sheet floors, and Marmoleum is Forbo's linoleum line. Vinyl roll is a synthetic (plastic) sheet floor. The same page says these floors are chosen when you want a continuous surface with fewer joints.
Here is what the main lines on the Fresh Walnut page mean:
The other Marmoleum Modular colours are in the Linoleum & Vinyl Roll category.
Forbo says Marmoleum sheet can go on approved subfloors at all grade levels, including below grade (below ground level). But the concrete must be tested first, whatever its age. Forbo's guide asks for two tests: one that measures moisture leaving the surface (ASTM F1869) and one that reads humidity inside the slab (ASTM F2170). It also says every slab on or below grade needs a vapour barrier under the concrete.
FloorBox sells both kinds of test. The American Moisture Test Single Calcium Chloride Concrete Moisture Test is the surface test. The Centura Concrete Moisture Test Starter Kit with Rapid RH L6 is the in-slab test. More tools are in Moisture Testing Tools.
The slab must also be smooth. Linoleum is thin and follows every bump. Patches and self-levelers are in Floor Patch & Levelers & Primers.
It is glued down with an adhesive made for it. The Forbo Sustain 1195 Adhesive for Linoleum & Marmoleum lists Marmoleum Modular among its uses. Its page says it is solvent-free, has 0 VOC and has little or no odour. One gallon covers about 125 sq ft with a 1/16" square notch trowel. Forbo also asks that the room be heated to at least 20 °C for seven days before, during and after the install, and that the floor and glue sit in the room for 48 hours first.
Both can work. Pick linoleum if you want a floor made mostly from natural materials and you are ready to test and prepare the slab for a glue-down floor. Look at vinyl if you want click planks that float and often have a pad attached. The FloorBox Vinyl page says vinyl is fully synthetic, which suits rooms with more moisture. Click planks are in Vinyl Planks.
