CEMENTED LINOLEUM.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXV, Issue 4709, 9 June 1924, Page 2

CEMENTED LINOLEUM.

AN ECONOMICAL FLOORING. SOME PRACTICAL HINTS. As a rule linoleum is used in this country only as a floor covering. It is not usually fixed permanently to the floor. In America linoleum is used extensively as a finish flooring, which is cemented down by the builder before a house is handed over. In some rooms, notably, bathrooms and kitchens, an excellent finish and appearance are obtained in this way at very moderate cost. In an article describing Ameircan methods of laying linoleum, the. “Building Age" observes that as thismalcrial is entirely sanitary and impervious to moisture, it is as suitable for kitchens and bathrooms as tile flooring and it can be placed at far’ less cost. "Handsoine-appearing designs," the trade journal continues, "can be obtained, but if one wants something individual it can be had by using some different colours and cutting out certain portions, inserting another colour. In this way various designs to fit any individual taste can be made. There are certain patterns of linoleum in tile-llke effects, and a handsome finish can be had by running a border of plain colour around a tile-like field. "To get the best results from linoleum used as a flooring it should be cemented down. This is accomplished as follows: First smooth down the rough flooring so that no sharp ridges appeal Be sure that all nail heads are sunk. Deadening felt is first to be cemented firmly to the floor and rolled so as to be very smooth and tight. “Then every inch of the felt except where the seams in the linoleum come is coaled with waterproof cement, and the linoleum put in place and rolled. There is, of course, a lap at the seam. To make a good joint here the workman takes a good sharp knife and cuts through the overlapped edges of both strips (using a straignt-edge as a guide). This means that noth strips of linoleum will fall down in place and make a perfect joint that will practically be invisible after the seam -' is cemented and rolled. "After the seams have been cut the impasted edges of the linoleum strips are lifted and a waterproof cement is thickly applied. Then the roller is used, and the result is a permanent watertight joint, with the seam practically invisible. “The secret of laying a good linoleum floor is to get every square inch pf the linoleum lying flat, and to do this rolling is highly important, as it ensures a perfect adhersion between the linoleum, felt, and floor. One should take particular pains with all seams and edges along the wall. An iron roller weighing about 1501 b answers the purpose. There is no reason why the bathroom floor in the small house should not be made to look attractive . People have become so used to the tile effect that it isalways a good selling point in a house, but to the man whose every dollar counts it is a luxury that he cannot afford. With linoleum used in place of tile he can have just as good aireffect, besides certain advantages which the tile does not possess, and at a price within his reach.”