not to understand the obsession with Karndean flooring

[Catsanddogs11]

It is just vinyl tiles isn’t it?

I had karndean in my bathroom in previous house, was a white /grey individual large tiles. Hated it, looked dirty all the time and went yellow after 6 months. The room faced north so couldn't blame any direct sunlight for it.

going yellow is really poor, didn't think that would happen

The other option is engineered wooden flooring but I fear this won't be hard wearing

I have just had an infuriated landlrd on my case because I [correctly] described flooring as cream vinyl. It was Karndean!!

I told him and the agent that I would not working out manufacturers names when describing flooring.... it is vinyl... just as composite work tops are composite, I don't care if it is Corian, I wasn't there when it was bought!

I may have been grumpy but a tradename is only as good as its advertising!

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@CuriousaboutSamphirehis is what confused me, why does everyone refer to it as Karndean not just as vinyl flooring I thought it was completely different and might be an option for us if it was completely different

£12k!!! Wow.

I'm having my kitchen, utility & conservatory done in Polyflor Camaro at the moment.
I'd estimate it's 40sqm and it's costing around £1,300 inc fitting (depending on how existing tiles come up and how much latex is needed).

I appreciate that's a lot less floor that you're having done, but the cost per sqm is also a lot less.

I have the exact same flooring down in the hall about 8 years ago and am really pleased with it. Using the same fitter.

I know! I have to type 'vinyl flooring' on a daily basis. I spent stupid amounts of time looking up variants, to check I wasn't using a trade name!

And the other one is sisal and seagrass. The only difference is sisal is a land grass, seagrass is, as it's name suggests, not. So a woven grass carpet... I use sisal cos it is a shorter word. But OMG the email bollocking I got from one landlady! The agent thought it was funny and just let her have at me

People get funny when they spend a lot of money on something. It's like the M+S ads, not just a carpet, an M+S carpet!

I have real wood, karndean, amtico and Italian marble! Keep your wood and marble, they cost me a fortune to have fitted, a fortune in upkeep and when you have 3 kids and 2 dogs? Engineered flooring all the way. You can buy different grades and finishes. It doesn't have to be grey and shiny. My amtico flooring has fooled many a visitor and I wished I'd found it before the damn Italian marble

Have a look at Evocore, ours has just been fitted so can't comment on its longevity, but it seemed hard wearing when I tried jumping on it in stilettos when we had the sample at home 🤣

@Chasingsquirrels I know I don’t want to spend £12k and buy the wrong thing. I just worked it on 200 Sam at £60 per sqm but I’m sure you could shop around and get a better price. £1300 for 40sqm seems much better and half the price. It seems if you want to go down the vinyl route then there are much better and cheaper options without overpaying for a brand name

When I had my hall done about 8 years ago my fitter, who was doing my lounge carpets at the time, told me the Polyflor Camaro is much the same thing as Karndean (the I haven't investigated different brands and prices) but he used it as it was a lot cheaper. I didn't investigate other brands as was happy with his price for the carpets, and with his work and the product samples he had. He did my hall & downstairs loo, plus stairs & landing carpets and fitted a large inset door mat at the front (which he is now going to replace for me - dogs, kids etc). I think that cost £1,600 total.

I consider myself a stickler for original features and I honestly thought the Amtico sample I was shown was wood. It has a fine grain, massive variation in the tiles and isn't shiny like Karndean. Karndean to me was detectable as vinyl, Amtico wasn't.

OP, this is my engineered wood floor. Laid in my kitchen about 12 years ago.

There are underfloor heating pipes below. And many children and pets tumbling on it, spilling food, riding scooters )It gets robovaced most days, mopped at least once a week and waxed roughly every other year.

Maybe closer to 11 years ago. But I'm still thrilled with it.

Loved ours, esp with asthmatic family. Easy to clean, maintain and actually warm on feet!

We have had Karndean down for 20 years and it still looks and feels great. No chips or curling or cracking...just a little colour fading by the door where the sunlight streams in nearly all day. My parents had Amtico that looked as good 30 years later as the day it was fitted. We are planning on one or the other in new extension and hall. So much better quality, durability and look than other flooring.

I feel very sorry for my floor right now.

What exactly is this that I’ve got down? It was in when I got here. Ignore the bits, this is the hall and I’m about to sweep up.

This might be the perfect thread to ask this question as everyone here has researched flooring.

When I watch American tv programmes, they always have a high shine wooden floor. It is definitely wood as I previously looked into it and it starts as a natural looking timber/wood floor but what type of wood? And then they varnish it until it’s a super high gloss and until sun practically reflects on them. They ate outstandingly beautiful imo (not least because American houses are often such big spaces) but how on earth is this look achieved and lastly maintained?

Mine has lifted by the patio doors where it gets a lot of sun. And it does scratch, although after a mop it isn’t too noticeable. Very easy to keep clean. Obviously we’d all love solid wood parquet but that’s phenomenally expensive so you go with what’s achievable.

I'd have to agree with you op cuz I haven't got a clue what you're on about.

Can anyone recommend the cheaper alternatives to karndean. Just priced up a kitchen floor and it's a bit out of our price range but I love the look of it. Used to have Amtico years ago and everyone thought it was a real wood floor.

Another here saying to go with engineered wood. I can spot lvt a mile away and dislike it. I generally don’t like materials that pretend to be other materials... Engineered is at least real wood underfoot and feels just like solid planks if it’s glued down. Very easy to maintain as well if you get a matt lacquer finish.

It just looks like posh lino to me

Lino, e.g.Marmoleum is a natural product, for those who want that Orion. Not sure how it wears though.