Kitchen flooring Karndean cheaper alternative

Hockeynut

I'm looking into choices for my kitchen floor. I will be my bathroom soon too, but that's for another day!

I want a laminate style tile. About the only ones I've come across that I like are Karndean. Looked at B&Q & Wickes too, but nothing there floated my boat.

However, I know Karndean can be quite costly, are there any options in between the Karndean - B&Q/Wickes choices, for a tile style laminate?



Another question. I've not idea about when to lay the floor. I could lay it before the kitchen is installed, but then it might get damaged during the kitchen fitting. Plus I'd need to over a lot larger floor area, and pay for flooring I wont see. Or we floor afterwards, but then I'm worried about the kickboards/plynths sitting correctly, so they are perfect.

Advice appreciated on either matter.

Thanks.

Bibliophile_2

Hi

I've been looking at Karndean recently and the only other one which is similar I believe is Amtico, which is unfortunately just as expensive, perhaps even more so, but does seem to have a lot more designs.

Sheet laminate is another option and is definitely cheaper.

If it's a wood effect you want I saw some good ceramic tiles this weekend which they do now in a plank style.

Good luck

Hockeynut

Thanks for that.

No, it's not a wood effect I want, quite the opposite, a natural stone kind of look. I would go for proper ceramic tiles, but they feel so cold. (

ka7e

Re fitting, I think it's best to have flooring laid after kitchen has been fitted to avoid damage. But before moveable white goods are fitted or you risk ripping it if you pull out the fridge etc.
Most fitted kitchens have kickboards at the front and they are designed to be fitted over flooring to give a neat finish, so your fitter can extend the flooring some way under the units and the kickboard fitted last of all.

startrekker

There are other products on the market less expensive than Karndean.

Try your local independent retaier, the rpducts in question are Colonia..... Camaro.... Bevel Line... etc etc

Altarf

A couple of points, firstly there are some internet companies who supply Karndean flooring at cheaper prices (e.g.http://www.direct-flooring.com).

Secondly, a significant part of the cost is the fitting. With Karndean the floor needs to be properly prepared and you need a decent fitter, if you are going to get a good job.

Hockeynut

Polyflor was the best alternative I came across. Their Camaro range, I've opted for that in the bathroom. As it happens I have gone for Karndean in the kitchen after all, as there was so much wastage with lino, due to the layout, that there wasn't much difference in price!

Got a really good fitter too, so happy as a happy thing. )

Thought I'd reply incase it helped other people in the future.

Baylee01

First select a style and color of kitchen flooring that needs to fit your space. There are many types of floors that you can choose from such as linoleum, vinyl and tile. It is also a good idea that you get the advice from a professional who can help you decide which flooring will work well in your kitchen area.

Albert01

[FONT=&quot]The flooring is the foundation of your kitchen. If you choose the wrong flooring, even a great kitchen can look average and you will soon want to replace it. And that's why custom flooring is your answer to a supreme kitchen. It is necessary to have an open floor plan for your kitchen because the kitchen is not just a place for cooking or dining, but also a meeting place for the family and even friends. Keeping all of this in mind you need to prepare a floor plan which gives you enough amount of space to work around easily.


[/FONT]

grimsalve

I've got Karndean in my conservatory, I paid to have it fitted by an approved Karndean installer too - IMO, worth the expense. I think you can get Karndean a bit cheaper but if you're going to do that then you might as well just buy any old bit of vinyl and throw that down, preparation seems to be the key with Karndean.

I've got some Karndean look-alike stuff in the kitchen but it's already starting to look a bit tatty and it's only a couple of years old. Unfortunately it was done by a kitchen fitter before I moved in.

Hintza

We decided on linoleum (marmoleum). Good old fashioned natural stuff.

http://www.forbo-flooring.co.uk/