Two-Colour Marmoleum Installation for a Summer House Office in Wimbledon, Wandsworth
Bespoke Forbo Marmoleum Flooring Installation by EXEN Flooring
At EXEN Flooring, we regularly install a wide range of natural and resilient flooring products across London. One of our most recent projects involved the installation of a bespoke two-colour Forbo Marmoleum floor within a newly constructed summer house office in Wimbledon, Wandsworth.
Our client contacted us after completing the construction of a garden office and wanted a flooring solution that would be practical, durable, and visually distinctive. Following an initial consultation, we recommended a two-colour design using products from the Forbo Marmoleum Piano collection:
- Light Grey – Marmoleum Piano Frosty Grey 3629
- Blue – Marmoleum Piano Atlantic Blue 3652
The client was particularly impressed by the colour combination and natural characteristics of Marmoleum and proceeded with the installation for their 12m² office space.
Why Marmoleum Was Chosen
Summer house offices have become increasingly popular in London, particularly in areas such as Wimbledon, Wandsworth, Richmond, Putney, and Kingston, where homeowners are looking to create dedicated workspaces within their gardens.
Marmoleum is often an excellent choice for these environments because it is manufactured from natural raw materials and provides a durable, low-maintenance surface suitable for everyday use.
The two-colour design also allowed the client to create a more individual and contemporary appearance compared to a traditional single-colour floor.
Floor Preparation – The Foundation of Every Successful Installation
Although the summer house was newly built, the subfloor was not suitable for immediate installation.
During our inspection, we identified several uneven areas throughout the floor. This meant extensive floor preparation would be required before any Marmoleum could be fitted.
Unlike some flooring products, Marmoleum requires a very smooth and stable surface. Any imperfections in the substrate can affect the finished appearance, making preparation one of the most important stages of the installation.
To achieve the required standard, our team carried out two separate screeding stages.
The first screed was used to improve the overall balance and level of the floor.
Once cured, a second latex screed was applied to create a smoother and more consistent surface.
Before each screed application, the floor was primed to improve adhesion and help control the curing process.
Priming is a critical stage that is sometimes underestimated. Without proper priming, screed can lose its workability too quickly, reducing its ability to self-level effectively.
After the primer had fully dried, the screed could be applied under controlled conditions.
Moisture Control and Environmental Conditions
One of the biggest challenges during this project was ensuring the floor had reached a suitable moisture level before installation could begin.
Although the screeding work had been completed successfully, the substrate required additional drying time.
Rather than rushing the installation, we allowed an extra day for the floor to dry properly.
This is particularly important when installing adhesive-fixed flooring systems.
For best results, the subfloor should be fully dry and room temperatures should generally remain between 15°C and 25°C during installation.
Where conditions are too cold or too warm, temporary heating or cooling may be required to create a more stable working environment.
Careful control of moisture and temperature helps ensure optimum adhesive performance and reduces the risk of future installation problems.
Final Surface Preparation
Once the screed had fully cured, the entire floor was mechanically sanded to remove any minor imperfections.
Additional feather finish compound was applied where necessary before final sanding was completed.
This stage provided the smooth and consistent surface required for a professional Marmoleum installation.
At this point, the floor was finally ready to receive the new Marmoleum.
Why Marmoleum Installation Is Different
Many homeowners are surprised to learn that Marmoleum installation differs significantly from other flooring types such as vinyl, laminate, LVT, or carpet.
Marmoleum is manufactured using natural materials and has very different handling characteristics.
Unlike flexible vinyl flooring, Marmoleum is comparatively rigid and must be handled carefully during transportation, cutting, and installation.
Incorrect handling can result in cracking or damage to the material.
Because of this, specialist installation techniques are often required to achieve a professional result.
Template Cutting for Maximum Accuracy
At EXEN Flooring, we use specialist template cutting techniques for many Marmoleum installations.
Before cutting the flooring itself, detailed templates are produced using template paper.
These templates allow us to accurately transfer room dimensions and complex shapes onto the Marmoleum before cutting begins.
This approach helps minimise installation risks and improves accuracy throughout the project.
However, template work requires considerable care and attention.
Even small inaccuracies during the templating stage can create visible gaps around walls and other fixed elements once the floor has been installed.
Installing the Marmoleum
Once all templates had been completed, the Marmoleum sheets were cut to size and prepared for installation.
The floor was then coated with Eurocol 414 adhesive before the Marmoleum was carefully positioned.
To ensure proper adhesion, the flooring was rolled using a 75kg flooring roller.
This process helps create full adhesive transfer across the floor and assists in achieving a consistent bond.
Creating a Two-Colour Design
One of the most technically demanding aspects of this project involved joining the two Marmoleum colours.
Standard Marmoleum sheet widths are typically supplied in two-metre widths.
Where rooms exceed these dimensions or multiple colours are being incorporated into a design, joins become necessary.
There are generally two approaches available.
The first is hot welding, which is similar to techniques used within vinyl flooring installations.
However, hot welding Marmoleum requires significant experience because the material behaves differently from vinyl and provides less forgiveness during the welding process.
The second method involves precision cutting and specialist joining techniques.
For this project, EXEN Flooring used a precision strip-cut joining method to create clean and accurate transitions between the two colours.
Achieving a high-quality finish using this technique requires careful planning, accurate cutting, and extensive installation experience.
Even small cutting errors can affect the overall appearance of the floor.
Protecting the Finished Floor
Following completion of the installation, the floor was protected using specialist floor protection materials.
The client had not yet completed the move into the office, and it was important to protect the newly installed Marmoleum from damage caused by furniture, equipment, and other heavy items during the move-in process.
Taking this additional step helps preserve the finished floor and ensures the client receives the flooring in the best possible condition.
Project Completed Successfully
The entire project was completed over three days, including floor preparation, moisture control, screeding, sanding, template cutting, Marmoleum installation, precision colour joins, and floor protection.
The finished result transformed the summer house office into a practical and visually distinctive workspace.
Most importantly, the client received a professionally installed Marmoleum floor designed to provide many years of reliable performance while creating a unique working environment within their Wimbledon garden office.