Historical question about flooring

[AK444]

I’m reading about linoleum flooring and comparing it to modern vinyl floors. At the same time, I’m thinking of another material whose name I don’t know. It was like some sort of tar paper or something similar. Not reinforced with jute fabric like linoleum flooring but just some papery material. Maybe a bit coarser. It had a patterned top side and could be varnished when it got worn. Also, it could be painted with a covering paint if it was very worn.
What was this flooring material called?

 

[Räknenisse]

Could it be masonite flooring you are thinking of?

http://www.hallahus.se/renovera/interioren/detaljer/masonitinredningar/
http://hanbogard.blogspot.se/2012/09/rivning-av-koket.html

 

[justusandersson]

It was called a cork floor, even though I don't think it contained any cork. Rather paper pressed under high pressure. Cheap and very common until the 60s. Thick linoleum laid on a good base by professional installers is far superior.

 

[AK444]

Räknenisse: I'm very familiar with Masonite, so that's not it. I believe more in Korkmatta, without kork. The material was quite thin, maybe 1 - 2 mm.

 

[BirgitS]

Cork mat is another word for linoleum.
http://byggnadsvard.se/byggnadskultur/golv/linoleum-korkmattor

There was a need for a mat that was cheaper than the linoleum mat and in 1938 the production of a new type of mat, Götaleum, began in Sweden. It had previously been produced in Germany and the Netherlands under other names. The mat consists of bituminized rags that are provided with the same type of oil print as printed goods. Other brands were Congoleum, Balatum, and Trelinum.

 

[AK444]

BirgitS: In your post with the link, there was something called Götaleum. It mentioned rag paper soaked in Bitumen (asphalt without gravel). That fits quite well as these mats were like tar paper.

 

[Räknenisse]

Really paperboard? I understand that it needed varnishing and painting if it was to withstand wear as flooring. Sounds like a distinctly low-budget option. I guess very few examples are preserved...

Fun to hear about in any case