The basic techniques for cutting, fitting and welding linoleum are much the same as for commercial vinyl.

However, linoleum has slightly different properties from vinyl, so there are a few important differences.

Cutting seams

When linoleum is rolled out and placed into the adhesive, the hessian-backed material picks up moisture from the atmosphere and adhesive.

This causes a small amount of expansion across the width of the sheet, which stops when the adhesive starts to cure.

Even though the expansion is only tiny, it can cause the seam to peak if you don't make allowance for it.

The allowance only needs to be about the thickness of the pin in a pin vice.

You can accommodate any expansion by using the following procedure:

1. Cut the true edge in the first sheet of linoleum as you would for commercial vinyl.
   
   
2. Lap the second sheet under the first sheet, either matching up the pattern or leaving a 20 mm overlap.

3. Score the second sheet with a pin vice, keeping the pin vertical and pressed against the true edge of the first sheet.
   
   
4. Cut the second sheet with a straight blade and hooked blade.

Alternatively, you can use a recess scriber to scribe the second sheet. Run the 'under' guide along the true edge of the first sheet and scribe the second sheet with the 'over' scribe pin.

But remember to offset the scribe pin by the thickness of the pin to achieve the same result as described before.

Fitting long lengths

If the sheet is long, it will tend to shrink slightly along the length, so you need to make allowance for the shrinkage when you cut the sheet.

One method of dealing with the shrinkage is to only scribe one end and stick down the sheet up to about the last 2 metres.

Then scribe the second end, spread the remaining adhesive and stick that end down.

Note that the whole sheet must be stuck down while the adhesive is still wet. If the first part starts to set before you lay down the last section, any overspread in adhesive might result in bubbles where the two parts meet.

Heat welding

Welded joins are less necessary in linoleum than in vinyl, because well-cut seams are more likely to close up tightly after the material has been stuck down.

However, if hygiene or water resistance are important aspects of the job, you should still weld all joins.

The tools used for heat welding are the same for both vinyl and linoleum.

However, the welding cable is different, and linoleum is welded at a lower temperature and slower speed.

The chemical reaction that occurs in the welded joint is also different.

In vinyl, both the flooring material and welding cable melt and fuse together; but in linoleum, only the cable melts as it bonds to the routed seam.

Linoleum welds should be trimmed almost immediately for the first pass, and soon after for the second.

This is different from vinyl, where you should wait a bit longer before doing the first pass, and then let it completely cool before the second pass.