Karndeen /amitco and normal vinyl click floroong what is the difference please

[Autumngoldleaf]

Can anyone explain the difference? Is it because amitco is a brand that's trust worthy?
Why do people buy it

I want a lovely looking floor in the kitchen that's water proof and hard wearing and won't scratch if say a washing machine has to be put pulled out etc

Really optimistic bump

Have you searched for old threads, I'm sure I've seen some before on this subject, might help. We've got karndean in our living room, it was here when we moved in. I think it's 15yrs old. It's got a scratch I put in it when a stone was stuck under the sofa and that's it. We're getting the same flooring extended into our new kitchen diner.

I think Amtico was one of (if not the) first of its kind, therefore very expensive. I know people who've had Karndean and happy with that. Now there are lots more to choose from, so I think Amtico don't have such a monopoly.

I've seen some smashing floors laid that aren't Amtico, I'd do a bit of research if I were you

Amtico was fitted here before we bought the house, I love it! So hardwearing and easy to clean. Absolutely recommended.

Anticipation and karndean are really really good quality and very hard wearing.

The "proper" amtico and karndean is glued down so will never move and is rock solid. However this needs a lot of preparation to make sure the floor is totally flat as the planks are very thin. Click together flooring is a much cheaper product, it is cheaper and easier to lay as it is more rigid so will smooth out an uneven sub floor. Confusingly amtico and karndean also do their own versions of click flooring, bit these are generally not seen as solid and hard wearing as the glue down stuff.

So I'm paying for a reliable brand of plastic flooring rather than any special materials?..

Reliable brand and I suspect good quality but its the same stuff?

Eg in property someone has recommended nest flooring.

I got excited, it's cheap, in sale and looks lovely.
Unfortunately the review says the company is awful (selling nest) and it's cheap China stuff not fit for purpose.
Can I assume with amitco that kind of thing can't happen?

As mentioned above, most Amtico and Karndean flooring is not click flooring but glue down. A lot of the cost is down to the preparation and fitting, as the floor needs to be absolutely level and damp proofed. It comes with a long warranty (lifetime for some ranges) if laid by a recognised fitter.

Re. “Cheap China stuff”, if this is a concern, Amtico is made in the U.K. and Karndean in Korea, I believe.

I’ve just shelled out for Amtico in my new kitchen, for the same reasons you’re looking at it, OP. Thankfully, it is not a big room.

If you're looking at LVT, camro polyfloor is a really good value brand. Compares well to karndean & amtico.
I have amtico and it's great.

I'd recommend going to a local independent flooring supplier and looking at some options. The patterns and fake grains can vary so it's worth seeing them up close

I really liked the look of Polyflor; in some ways I preferred it to Amtico. But I found that the samples were very textured which made me worry that all those grooves would trap dirt and it would be a nightmare to clean. If you’re less of a slattern than me, it may not be an issue.

@GCAcademic

Where did you get yours from please?. I've been to John Lewis and we are going to a local place and home base on Saturday

Oh no absolutely nothing that would increase dirt.
We struggle to clean the floor, I Csnt really do it and dh never does it so I need something I can use floor wipes for really m

The difference is the protective layer in the tile. Amtico and Karndean are thicker. This protective layer can also be removed and reapplied every couple of years to take out scratches and renew.
I have both Amtico and Karndean in my home. Love them both.
Perhaps the other brands also have this feature but when I bought mine Amtico and Karndean were by far the leaders.

Oh and I use a spray mop which is quick and easy to keep floors clean. The cloths are washable a so better than the floor wipes IMO.

Amtico will last a lifetime. My neighbour has some was put down in 1980s and still looks amazing.

We have Karndean (glued down) in our kitchen and utility room. Really happy with it.

Re moving appliances, we’ve stuck Magi-glide pads on the feet of our washing machine and tumble dryer so they’re easy peasy to move, and no floor scratching 👍🏻

We have Amtico in most of our downstairs. The sitting room is small parquet style planks.

It looks really good, majority of people who have seen have commented what beautiful wood flooring we have.

It's been down 2 years and is so far surviving well with constant traffic from 3 kids, dogs and all the workmen we've had coming and going with outdoor shoes still on.

Our young nephew has also dragged many things across it too 😂

Ours was fitted by FIL as a moving in gift , so we didn't pay for fitting but I know he charges quite a bit to fit usually as the floor underneath needs to be prepped really well. Ours was levelled first. I also know He personally prefers Amtico over karndean as he's had more issues with karndean over the years with deeper scratches etc but he's happy to fit either.

Fabulous pm so greatful for these tips thank you.

Esp that planks can be replaced, stay with me my blood.

Wow! Dragging appliances out and damaging the floor has been one of my biggest issues... Such a simple solution!

• I'm

[quote Autumngoldleaf]@GCAcademic

Where did you get yours from please?. I've been to John Lewis and we are going to a local place and home base on Saturday[/quote]
A local flooring company. It's best to look on the Amtico website to make sure you use a company recognised by them otherwise the warranty won't be valid.

Gc good tips thank you!

I've got some places to go too now.

We have KarDean in Our kitchen. It is hard wearing apart from one area that a knife landed top down . We went for a tiled look and the vinyl strips ( that are like the grout) are terrible dirt traps. Especially as some are not full strips and the fifers have maybe joined two smaller strips. I’ve always regretted not getting the fitters to come back and choosing that style.

Never, thanks for that tip!! At the moment I'm thinking of the wood style parquet floor