Painting 1950s lino instead of replacing it with vinyl flooring.

Sounds like a good viable idea !

Rip it up, and get some food quality vinyl cushion floor. Mine has lasted for years and still in good nice.

It doesn't contain asbestos does it?

After my flat flooded twice rather than replace the carpet again I went with tiles instead.

The problem was the lino under the carpet did have asbestos in it, and when the carpet was removed some of the lino was cracked so the asbestos was exposed.

It was a big job, I had to stay at my sons for a few days and the men who removed the lino were fully covered with masks etc.

I still have one room with carpet and lino underneath, so no matter how grotty that carpet is I just clean it rather than go through the hassle of having the lino underneath removed.

PS the lino was laid in the early 1970's.

Huge thanks for all your answers. Am giving what I envisioned as a fairly simple task some deep thought. Am coming down rather on the idea of covering up the lino with vinyl flooring.

Anyone know when the asbestos was used in lino?
I'm guessing 70s ish.
Hoping mine from 1950s might be OK...?

AmberGran If lino produced prior to 1980 had asbestos in it several generations of workers and residents in the town where it was/is produced would have succumbed to asbestosis. The company employed about 4000
for many years. Indeed, the linseed oil used in production was considered to be beneficial to health. Linoleum production is still ongoing in the town

Dorrain I still have contact with a couple of people who have worked in the linoleum production. The company is now the only linoleum production site in UK. I too worked and lived in the town and never heard or had encountered anyone who knew that asbestos was used in linoleum. Given the scale and length of production in the town I am astounded that I have never heard of anyone, worker or resident suffering from asbestosis. Just like now, there were companies that imitated the "real" product mainly in Asia perhaps that's were the asbestos problem arose. Wonder how many hospital had to close when linoleum was removed or surface broken as that was the standard floor covering for decades in hospitals due to its robustness and the antiseptic qualities it contained. Sure the town will have reference to the lino manufacturing in the museum. I am definitely going to check as cannot understand why there was no mass contamination.

I agree with the leave it alone brigade.
Don't paint it but clean it thoroughly and either put a rug over it or nothing. What colour is it?

I pulled up 1950s industrial tiles which had been glued to the wooden floorboards with a black sticky horrible stuff. We managed to sand some floors but the bathroom in this photo has yet to be finished. I don't mind it enough to tackle it.

My friend has hessian backed marmoleum in her kitchen. Very nice.

Grammaretto Marmoleum was produced by the linoleum company I worked for in the 60s. Now the only company producing linoleum in UK. Linoleum is bombproof hence been used in public buildings, hospitals, for about a century.

My daughter has used linoleum (Marmoleum) from Forbo in both her recent houses.
It is warm, indestructible and "green".
I really love it.
My daughter has gone for several warm shades laid in irregular strips because she needed joins to fit the room. She had tiles of it in the previous house in a bold zig-zag pattern.

I have loved this product for years but sadly never had any myself.

www.forbo.com/flooring/en-uk/commercial-products/marmoleum/c0aq3g

When newly laid it is softer then it will be as it compresses so no stilettos on it please! 😂

Hi 4allweknow

I live in Australia so its possible the lino was sourced in Asia.