checkerboard kitchen floor: Linoleum (v vinyl)

[SparkyUK]

I'm planning the new kitchen (for the house we are waiting and waiting and waiting to exchange on) and was thinking of a black and white checkerboard floorala this

I'm trying to find out more about linoleum, as it's more eco than vinyl but have trouble figuring it all out. Is it frighteningly more expensive? Is it only sold in tiles? In which case I would have to get half and half of black and white? Or does anyone sell the checkerboard on a roll? Or is that only vinyl?

Has anyone used anything simillar that can offer advice?

[hitmouse]

We've got a very dark navy lino in the bathroom - it looked lovely when put down but I've been hopeless about doing the re-sealing you're supposed to do quite frequently and it now looks very scuffed and tatty.
We've also got light grey in our shower room and black mould has grown inside the lino where the wet mat has been left on it - so I wouldn't wholeheartedly recommend it unless you're more motivated tham me to keep it nice!

[SparkyUK]

oooh, I'm so not that motivated to keep it nice . Is vinyl less maitenance or is this true of all non-tile floors?

[GrendelsMum]

My parents have linoleum (Marmoleum) in their kitchen and bathrooms, never reseal it, and they've never had the problem described above. I've always been impressed by how stain and scratch resistant it is. Maybe the quality of the original lino or the fitters makes a key difference?

Also, I really really wanted a checkerboard marmoleum kitchen floor and DH wouldn't let me. So I say go for it! You need to buy the individual tiles, I think.

[hitmouse]

I don't think the fitters would make a difference as it's to do with the actual product (which is proper Marmoleum). I think it's because it's so dark and flat - my mum has a mottled one and you don't notice any scratches. I had vinyl in my old flat and it was pretty forgiving, though looked a bit more downmarket than the lino!

[SparkyUK]

so maybe the key is to get the sort of marblised looking black and white (like this) rather than a flat black and white. As it isn't in a wet room, hopefully mould wouldn't be a problem.

Any ideas about fitting costs (I'm in south London) or what alternatives on the roll (rather than tiles) might be?

[hitmouse]

I think that would be a good idea. We only got mould I think because the mat is always down and usually damp!I hope I'm not coming across as too much of a slattern.
I can't remember what we paid but it can't have been too much or I wouldn't have had it!

[domesticslattern]

Hello SparkyUK.

We have checkerboard lino. In all honesty it was a bit of a mistake. It is really a massive feature, very in-your-face and makes the room look smaller- much smaller. Also you need to get one with a slight mottle to it otherwise it shows every speck of dirt. Lots of visitors pull a face when they see it, so it wouldn't be great if you think you might need to sell at any point.

Sorry to be on a downer- just don't want you to be unhappy with it like we are!