Karndean or engineered wood floor?

[RunLyraRun]

Whilst we are having a new kitchen fitted, we have decided (I think!) to go for a wooden floor for the whole downstairs of the house, which is just living room through to kitchen/diner.

My kitchen fitter keeps banging on about Karndean. Why would I go for this as opposed to engineered oak flooring?

DH and I usually prefer natural materials where possible (we're going for painted wood kitchen cabinets and oak worktops), so I'm finding it hard to get my head around why Karndean might be better.

Is engineered oak a silly idea for a kitchen, perhaps it is not as moppable as Karndean?

Thanks in advance.

[bitzermaloney]

We considered both for our L-shaped kitchen/dining/living room, and came to the conclusion that for the price, we'd rather have the real thing. Karndean can look nice, I think, but it never looks like the real thing and if that is what you prefer I think you would be disappointed.

We are going for strand-woven bamboo now, btw - very hard wearing and similar price. Considering Karndean for the shower room, though.

[bitzermaloney]

Forgot to say, have friends who have the cheaper Karndean (Knight Tile, I think?) and it has scratched very quickly.

[LemonDifficult]

I've got both. The karndean was too expensive for how it looks in preactice. Get the engineered board, I'd say.

And both are in kitchens!

[LauraScudders]

I have engineered oak ( brushed and waxed from Bausen, gorgeous wide long planks ) throughout downstairs.

Its very practical for mopping etc. Its just a problem if you leave a big puddle of water on it for a long time. It will stain then.

[exexpat]

I have engineered oak through most of the house, and it is great for living rooms, but I wouldn't put it in the kitchen because of the water-staining issue unless it was really heavily oiled or waxed. The grain of the wood I have would also pick up dirt in the kitchen, I think, though maybe there are smoother kinds around.

My kitchen currently has standard laminate left by the previous owners, but when I get round to replacing it, I'll probably go for bamboo flooring - very hard wearing, eco-friendly, and easier to keep clean than real wood.

[RunLyraRun]

Thank you so much for your thoughts.

I'm interested in the bamboo, bitzer. I've had a quick look at strand-woven as I take it that's the good stuff? Seems to be about £30 per sq. m inc VAT, so about the same as engineered oak or Karndean - does that sound right? I guess I would have to swap to bamboo worktops though, and I'm pretty set on oak at the moment.

I've also had a look at Kahrs engineered oak which varies greatly in price but I think I could get plank/single strip for just over the £30 psm mark. Is Kahrs OK or does anyone have any other recommendations? (Bausen seems a bit rich for my blood!)

[teta]

I havs Vittoriana oiled oak flooring in my study and it looks pretty good.See it at Real Oak Floors.co.uk.I got it a a local stockist for arround 24 pounds a metre[Boys and Boden].You would need lacquered for a kitchen though in case of water spillage.

[bitzermaloney]

THIS is the stuff I am planning to get (£24ish sq/m) as it can go over underfloor heating.

Re different kinds of wood going together, you can get a free sample from the website above (they do a few colours) - you may find that you can get a nice contrast with one type or just that the oak worktops just 'go' with the bamboo... worth a go anyway.

[higgle]

I have Karndean in my bathrooms, and tiles in the kitchen, with engineered wood everywhere else downstairs. The wood is lovely but if you have any standing water it marks and can lift. Following old dog around with a mop was not my idea of fun leisuretime.

[CMOTdibbler]

Karndean - we had engineered wood in our last house, and have Kardean in this, and it is so practical - no problems with water or staining at all. Also it is much quieter and warmer than the wood was