Linoleum is affordable, tough, and comes in lots of colors and texture choices. There are plenty of reasons why clients choose linoleum, and one of them is its ability to resist stains. However, no flooring material is completely immune to discoloration, and there are occasions when linoleum may acquire a yellowish cast. This discoloration is known as ambering.
Ambering happens when the linseed oil, which is a component of linoleum oxidizes with age and exposure to UV light. The combination causes a chemical reaction, and that gives it a yellowish cast. It is not a stain, and scrubbing or treatment will not restore the linoleum to its original appearance. This means that the only solution to get rid of ambering in linoleum is to replace it.
Flooring contractors should mention the effects of prolonged UV exposure when they discuss the pros and cons of linoleum with clients.
Leave a Reply