PVC: PVC flooring contains plasticizers, primarily phthalates. Over time, these plasticizers leach out of the product—in liquid or gaseous form. These plasticizers pose an increased risk of cancer as well as the risk of serious effects on the endocrine system and organs such as the liver, kidneys, and testicles.

Vinyl: Vinyl flooring, often referred to as design flooring, may now also contain safe plasticizers. There is no mandatory labeling requirement for its ingredients.

Linoleum: Unless additionally coated with plastic, linoleum flooring does not contain any substances harmful to health. Thanks to its antibacterial properties and durability, linoleum is resistant to fungal growth, among other things.


Note!
If you are experiencing health issues and would like to know whether, for example, a PVC floor might be related to them, it is best to contact a specialist and/or an environmental health counseling center.

PVC and vinyl sheets: With this type of flooring, the material is cut from a roll into sheets and installed. The subfloor should be dry, clean, and carefully leveled. Even though PVC is flexible, any unevenness will quickly become noticeable and visible later on.
Some flooring options come with an additional textile underlayment that may help compensate for minor unevenness. When installed from a roll, PVC andvinyl floors are typically glued to the subfloor. It’s also recommended to add impact sound insulation between the flooring and the subfloor.

Click-lock PVC and vinyl: Click-lock floors are available in planks or tiles, which are usually thicker than roll flooring intended for gluing. The planks are connected at the sides using a click system and therefore do not need to be glued to the subfloor. This is also referred to as “floating installation.” Thanks to this system and the greater thickness, no waves can form later on. Additional impact sound insulation is generally not necessary here or is sometimes already integrated.

Linoleum: Linoleum flooring is also available in planks or tiles with a click system. Although it is more durable and can withstand heavier loads than PVC and vinyl flooring, it is usually thinner and therefore even more susceptible to unevenness in the subfloor. Unlike PVC and vinyl flooring, linoleum should always be installed only by certified professionals.

PVC and Vinyl: Flooring from this range is relatively easy to maintain in both homes and offices. Although they are generally water-repellent, that doesn’t mean you should submerge them in water. Liquids other than water can dry out and damage the coating over time.

Important: Vinyl flooring is considered particularly suitable for damp areas (kitchen, bathroom). However, in such cases, you should choose a particularly solid vinyl floor that is fully glued down. Be careful if a subfloor panel is to be installed under the vinyl. Some, such as HDF subfloor panels, are not moisture-resistant. When exposed to water, the material may swell later on.

For dry cleaning, a soft broom, cotton cloths, or a vacuum cleaner with a hard-floor brush will suffice. For slightly more stubborn dirt, a mop and damp (not wet) mopping are recommended. You can add a little dish soap or all-purpose cleaner to the water. Under no circumstances should you scrape off stubborn dirt.

Linoleum: Linoleum floors are more sensitive to moisture—unless they are extremely carefully sealed at the seams or fully coated. They are less suitable for wet areas such as bathrooms and kitchens than vinyl floors. As with vinyl floors, scraping off stubborn dirt is not recommended. For minor surface stains, even an eraser is sometimes sufficient.

When it comes to wet cleaning, the same rule applies here: dampen, don’t flood. The procedure is similar to that used for hardwood floors. One tip that also helps restore shine is to add a little vegetable or linseed oil to mild cleaning agents.

PVC: PVC flooring generally has a lifespan of up to 15 years. Higher-quality products can even last up to 30 years. The figures vary considerably here. It’s worth paying attention to any warranties offered by the manufacturers.

Vinyl: Here,too , the lifespan depends on quality and price. Inexpensive products last around 10 years. A lifespan of 15 years indicates good durability. The comparison with laminate flooring is obvious. Here, too, it’s worth checking the manufacturer’s warranty information. For new and particularly high-quality products, a lifespan of up to 20 years is possible.

Linoleum: Linoleum flooring is generally considered somewhat more durable than vinyl and PVC flooring. A lifespan of up to 40 years is no longer an exception.

PVC and vinyl: Whether installed using a click system or as rolls, the average price per square meter ranges from 12.00 to 40.00 euros. If you want to have the flooring installed by a professional, you should add about 25 to 30 percent of the purchase price per square meter to your total cost. Based on our observations, whether the flooring is installed using a click system or glued down does not play a significant role in pricing. Larger price differences are primarily due to product quality.

Linoleum: Because of its natural ingredients,linoleum is more expensive than PVC and vinyl flooring. Affordable options for linoleum in rolls start at 15.00 to 25.00 euros per square meter. When purchased as planks or tiles, the purchase price rises to 40.00 to 50.00 euros. Particularly high-quality click systems can cost up to 80.00 euros per square meter. For professional installation of linoleum, you should budget between 30.00 and 60.00 euros per square meter.

PVC and Vinyl: Plastic flooring should be disposed of as bulky waste, at a public recycling center, or through a waste disposal company. Our recommendation: Be sure to hire a waste disposal company. PVC flooring, for example, may contain hazardous substances such as asbestos. Experts can usually identify this fairly quickly.

As a general rule, none of this belongs in household or residual waste. This also applies to vinyl flooring that is certified with the “Blue Angel” label, for example. Smaller scraps in the black trash bin are not a problem. PVC products that are allowed in the yellow recycling bin are limited to packaging.

Linoleum: Linoleum flooring installed decades ago may contain numerous hazardous substances such as asbestos. Disposal companies can analyze the flooring before removal. Information on this can be obtained from them or from consumer advice centers. The cost of the analysis must be borne by the owner of the flooring.

Newer linoleum flooring, unless it has an additional coating, usually consists only of natural or harmless materials. If natural resin or casein adhesive was used during installation, this material is also safe. Such linoleum floors can be disposed of at low cost in mixed-waste containers.


Info!
Some companies offer interactive disposal calculators online. Simply select the type of flooring and enter the number of square meters.