Kitchen flooring-tiles, karndean, amtico or wood?

hotcookie101

Looking to redo the kitchen floor, we first had laminate-flooded, ruined, advised to get vinyl, so did-big mistake!
We have found this warped, rips if we try and move anything, and has loads of little cuts in it.
So-new kitchen-new floor!
Our kitchen is a kitchen diner-so we need the new floor in 2 rooms. Tiles would obviously be ideal, but the kitchen does get VERY cold in winter (concrete floored extension, no radiator bar one in dining room) Underfloor heating is a possibility, but I'm not too sure re cost (of both installation and running)
I like the look of karndean and amtico-but are they really just posh vinyl tiles? Kitchen floor is concrete, not 100%level-slightly bumpy from glue from very old vinyl tiles lifted god knows when. Dining room is chipboard screwed over floorboards (I presume floorboards, living room has oak boards just beside it) there is a few mm difference in height between the 2.
Solid wood would look the best, be warm enough etc, but worried re resilience to water. God forbid we had another leak-it would be ruined
(how would other flooring stand up?)
We found with the vinyl that it bags and tears if we try to move anything (WM DW freezer etc.... We also have an american FF in the dining room...)
HELP please! I am awfully indecisive...
Oh, and any recommendations for the essex area for shops of whatever is good? Would we need a specialist fitter for karndean etc?
Thanks

jools27_2

I had Amtico wood in my kitchen and bathroom for years and it was fab, so easy to clean, not slippy and not damaged by water. OH is a floorlayer, got fed up with it in the kitchen and put down Amtico tiles one day when I was at work, I hated them, murder to keep clean. Fortunately kitchen got flooded and he lifted them! New kitchen just fitted and new wood going down this week, thank crunchie I don't need to pay for all the flooring we have had over the years!!!

hotcookie101

Is amtico wood not just a wood effect vinyl tile? Or do I misunderstand?

ali-t

The only one I have personal experience of is karndean which is thick vinyl strips and needs professionally fitted. I have concrete floors and it seemed quite easy to fit as the fitters put down a screed and then fitted it. I love it and it is pretty much indestructable. I have an aged oak effect one and it was the cheapest range so was around £40psqm fitted.

It is easy to clean and I don't use the proper cleaners and have had it down for around 4 years and it still looks brand new.

moonrakerz

GOOD quality, water resistant laminate !

Are you actually expecting another flood ?

loracan1

I don't have Amtico or Karndean but my neighbour does - a couple of years ago she had a massive flood (seeped into mine, damaged MY floor) ended up having a new carpet in the front but the back room, after having a few inches of water over it for hours, got mopped up and was cleaner than ever.

Hintza

I wanted the oak floor extended into our new kitchen but instead of picking a cream kitchen the boss chose oak. Decided oak on ok wouldbe too much so opted for good old fashioned lino. Might not be for you but it is natural and vey hard wearing product. (Ours has still to be laid.)

http://www.forbo-flooring.co.uk/For-Your-Home/Products/

We went for a roll and not tiles and with dogs, horses etc we wanted a colour/design that wouldn't permnently look manky.

Worth a look if nothing else.

hotcookie101

moonrakerz wrote: »

GOOD quality, water resistant laminate !

Are you actually expecting another flood ?

No, we aren't expecting another one-but its the kitchen-things can leak And stuff spills (a lot in our house )

When we had the laminate before the surface scratched when you moved things on it (washing machine etc) are newer ones better? I just keep hearing to keep wood and laminate out of the kitchen.

Is lino not very like vinyl? We have the cushioned vinyl at the moment and its the biggest waste of money:(

(PS how easy is it for floor fitters to work around things? We are planning on stripping out kitchen before floor gets done, but there will still be stuff like washing machine DW freezer in there, and american FF in dining room-can they sort of be moved around or will floor have to be done in 2 stages? Everything bar FF could be removed from room, but it is TOO big to get out the door and down steps! There is also a large dining table that we might be able to squeeze out.

Hintza

hotcookie101 wrote: »

Is lino not very like vinyl? We have the cushioned vinyl at the moment and its the biggest waste of money:(

Noooooo, it is a natural non plastic product invented in 1855.

Linoleum (informally abbreviated to lino) is a floor covering made from renewable materials such as solidified linseed oil (linoxyn), pine resin, ground cork dust, wood flour, and mineral fillers such as calcium carbonate, most commonly on a burlap or canvas backing; pigments are often added to the materials.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Linoleum

I fuly expect the Lino to see me out, our new build is all based on low maintenance and good quality floorings and coverings to last over 20 years.

However the blasted builder is doing his level best to screw everything up but that is another story

tpt

warmth wise - it will still be as cold as the substrate its fixed to, ditto for tiles.

u/floor heating is good but can be quite expensive to run. if you use it use an insulation board like no more ply, marmox etc

hotcookie101

Thanks,
What about the working-around-stuff thing?