Just got some rough numbers on linoleum from a master installer. Forbo is about $2.99/sqft for sheet and $3.99/sqft for squares. Basic install (no underlayment and no seam welding) for $1.65/sqft. Welding the seams is $1.15/linear foot, but he doesn't often do that and most of his work is hospitals, schools, and corporate stuff. For underlayment, he says he uses something called Haylex (???). It is 1/4 think birch plywood of some kind. That he installs for $1.10/sqft. You need the underlayment if 1) sub floor is less than really smooth as even small imprefections will telescope or 2) you don't want to glue this stuff down to your subfloor (which would make it hard to remove in the future without damaging the subfloor). Then again, it wouldn't be too hard to lay something like cork or hardwoof right on top of the lino.

Bottom line, figure on $5-$6 for sheet lino installed and add $1 if you use tiles.

Finally, it can be run up the wall 4-6 to form baseboards. They cap it with some type of aluminum extrusion. With a different extrusion, they can then continue it up the wall (e.g. behind a bathroom sink) to form a backsplash. Cool.

He also mentioned that Forbo is the most expensive, but I have not had any luck finding prices for other brands (Armstrong is one (only 12 colors), but he claims there are others). Anyone know of other sources?

I've been partial to Medium Density Fiberboard and Cement Fiberboard eversince I found them as cladding material.

MDF can be had in a light tan color and some brands like Sierra Pine are formaldehyde free. Most MDFs you see at HD or Lowes are of wood species that are too dark. Search the internet for many brands like Plumb Creek or Canfibre, which come in light tan. Sometimes you CAN find the light color at HD, so go check it out. The homogeneous color gives this monolithic and grain-free aesthetic that I find very modern in simplicity. Besides... it's CHEAP and can be fastened with corner screws! Chamfer the edges for safety and tile-like form.

Cement fiberboards like Viroc can give the slab look most of us cannot afford on a second floor. Again... it can be screwed down in tile-like sheets like MDF - 2x2 or 4x4 or 4x8 tiles. Low cost and low install labor.

Every now and then I catch an architect using them for the same purpose I found, so it must be plausible.

Here's another mfgr of sheet and tile composition materials
http://www.mannington.com/commercial/floorOptions/main_flooringTypesCollections.asp?business_unit_id=2surface_type_id=2

I like the idea of using cement fiberboard to make tiles. Any pics of an install?

There was a recent posting regarding Cement Fiberboard that has company names.

I haven't built my home yet, so no pics.

You can get the company names, call/email them for samples (free) and use your imagination. Pretty simple.

I plan on just laying them over subfloor and screwing down corners with nice screws. Joints have not been determined yet, but I don't expect it to be rocket science... like the HVAC setup for my flat roof with deck over top.