Karndean Flooring

aj9648

What are people's thoughts on Karndean flooring and if you had it what you think?

Also would you have skirting boards up or down for installation. We are having our house redone and have not yet put the skirting boards on, so just wondered if I should get the skirtings on or wait for the flooring to on first?

Doozergirl

There's no need to wait to put your skirting down. It can easily be cut to the boards.

I've had every type of floor going. In terms of practicality, there is nothing better or more hardwearing than LVT. It is easily able to withstand pets and children.

There are lots of similar alternatives to Karndean and Amtico on the market now that are cheaper and many retailers are heavily discounting Karndean and Amtico in response. Do shop on the internet, once you've found the exact style you like.

Silvertabby

We have had Karndean in the kitchen and both bathrooms for years - and it's great.

Ours was fitted with the skirting in situ, with slits cut into the architraving so the tiles could just be slid home (neater than cutting the karndean to fit the ins and outs of the architraving).

Don't skimp on the fitting - it has to be done right, especially if you go for the grouting strips. I've always used the official Karndean cleaner, just in case using any other product invalidates the warranty - but don't buy it in small bottles from your flooring supplier, it works out much cheaper to buy it in 5 ltr bottles. My last bottle cost me £25 (including p&p) from an e-bay supplier.

J_B

Doozergirl wrote: »

There's no need to wait to put your skirting down. It can easily be cut to the boards.

I personally disagree, but know that you have more professional knowledge and experience than me.


We were quoted by Polyflor for a project, the salesman was adamant that we put the skirting on after to allow the boards to move a little.
We eventually chose Lifestyle LVT. Our developer put the skirtings on first and then spent an age going round with white silicone to seal the gaps. In my opinion, it looks OK now, but I'm sure it will look horrible in a couple of years.

Doozergirl wrote: »

There are lots of similar alternatives to Karndean and Amtico on the market now that are cheaper and many retailers are heavily discounting Karndean and Amtico in response. Do shop on the internet, once you've found the exact style you like.

Would you say that Karndean/Amtico are over prices with perhaps some sort of status symbol?

Davesnave

We have Karndean limed oak and there were no skirtings when we fitted it, so no debate there!

It does matter who you get to lay it, especially if something fairly intricate is needed.

We know there are other LVTs out there just as good, but this was the style of floor we liked and there wasn't a huge price premium anyway. It fools quite a few people, who really should know better, but then how hard do any of us look in other people's houses?

NaughtiusMaximus

This thread reminds me of the time I unintentionally annoyed a woman I worked with a few years ago. She was talking about the swanky (and from what she was inferring rather expensive) new kitchen she was about to have fitted and said she was getting Karndean flooring. At the time I didn't know what Karndean was, when she described it to me I said words to the effect of 'oh, so it's lino then'

She was most unimpressed

aj9648

Thanks

The other thing I wanted to ask is how hard / easy is it to pull up in an emergency? e.g. radiator problem, pipe leaking etc.

Doozergirl

It's replaceable in sections. It comes up when heated but you'd have to put brand new planks/tiles down.

The issue with something like a full blown leak affecting a timber subfloor (LVT itself is waterproof) would be the bigger pieces of plywood that they are fitted on. Still not impossible to deal with.

Stantheman

If you put the skirts on after and the floor is slightly out you will get a gap which will need filling. Its better to put the skirts on first so they can level up the sub floor to cover any major gaps. They can cut it right up to the skirts,

aj9648

Thanks. I think I will stick the skirts on and get them to fit up to them

Also means the painter does not have to come back in to get everything grubby to paint the skirts again...

Stantheman

aj9648 wrote: »

Thanks. I think I will stick the skirts on and get them to fit up to them

Also means the painter does not have to come back in to get everything grubby to paint the skirts again...

When I had mine fitted all the fitters told me to paint the skirts as well. Only had to touch up a couple of places which they'd scuffed when fitting.