LVT Options

Gardenholiday

Hi there, 
We are currently renovating our downstairs and were planning to use LVT for the kitchen/diner, hallway and lounge.
We had picked out some options from the Amtico Spacia range, but were taken aback by the cost when it came through. As a result, we are looking at alternatives, specifically, Polyflor and Karndean. In terms of pricing, I beleive it is roughly Amtico > Karndean > Polyflor.
In terms of comparing ranges, I assume the Karndean Knight Tile is similar to the Amtico Spacia?
On the Polyflor options, we are a bit lost as there seems to be quite a few different options on their website and no real explanation. What would be the Polyflor alternative to Spacia?
Thanks in advance

Doozergirl

Don't get bogged down in it.  There's very little real difference. 

We had Polyflor in the last house, Amtico Spacia in this one.  There's no discernible difference in quality. 

Jeepers_Creepers

Absolutely include Forbo Allura in your considerations - came across this when sis was looking for flooring. Far superior - and cheaper - than the equivalent Karndean.

Once you choose a finish, do a search for best prices - places like Redland Carpets had them cheap a few years back.

starving_artist

If you are looking for a timber finish there is Impervia.

Grumpy_chap

I don't know about Polyflor or Amtico.
We put Karndean down and it was (A) absurdly expensive and (B) awful in every way imaginable.  I would never go near the stuff again.

phoebe1989seb

My experience with Karndean is the complete opposite of Grumpy-chap's!

We've used Karndean several times in previous properties - the first time back in 1998/9 - and have had no issues whatsoever. Price-wise we felt it was very reasonable, but I guess it depends where you're coming at it from! We have installed it in bathrooms, kitchens and living spaces (including our current upstairs hallway) and plan to use it again if we ever get our extension built 🙄

We recently got some LVT samples from Karndean and Tapi Carpets. The latter were not much cheaper than Karndean but the quality was woefully bad by comparison......

neilmcl

Grumpy_chap said:

I don't know about Polyflor or Amtico.
We put Karndean down and it was (A) absurdly expensive and (B) awful in every way imaginable.  I would never go near the stuff again.

Would you clarify?

getmore4less

Seen in one retailer in the midlands no idea how avaialble the stuff might be
I had a look at this companies products looked very good in terms of choice, construction and wear layer.
https://en.wineo.de/
the heavy metal looked really good for an industrial look
they do have some odd ball choices.

Grumpy_chap

neilmcl said:

Grumpy_chap said:

I don't know about Polyflor or Amtico.
We put Karndean down and it was (A) absurdly expensive and (B) awful in every way imaginable.  I would never go near the stuff again.

Would you clarify?

It is so thin and cheap-quality (but expensive price), you have to get the floor absolutely perfect before you start as it has not capacity to take up any imperfections.  Being so thin also means there is no compensation for the skirting being anything other than 100%, but even then the gaps at the base of the skirting board are still visible.  So, it makes the whole installation process a nightmare, and time-consuming and even after all that effort it looks disappointing.  £3k for the living room and then it doesn't do the job.

I realise though, I was unfair in saying "awful in every way imaginable" - it is so thin and cheap that it was easy to lay a carpet over and get to a nice floor and there is a learning experience that if you want wood floor, get a wood floor not this poor and ineffective imitation.

ComicGeek

£3k is crazy - I've just had the whole of the downstairs completed (living, large kitchen diner, snug, utility, hallway & WC) for less than that, including latex etc to get the floor absolutely level for the install. Yes you do have to spend time preparing the floor, but if you don't want to do that then it's not the right choice for you. I don't see why anyone would want to lay it on an uneven surface.

I think that's the first negative feedback I've heard about Karndean, apart from the price.

Grumpy_chap

ComicGeek said:

£3k is crazy - I've just had the whole of the downstairs completed (living, large kitchen diner, snug, utility, hallway & WC) for less than that, including latex etc to get the floor absolutely level for the install. Yes you do have to spend time preparing the floor, but if you don't want to do that then it's not the right choice for you. I don't see why anyone would want to lay it on an uneven surface.

I think that's the first negative feedback I've heard about Karndean, apart from the price.

The price we paid included for the levelling the floor etc and all done by the same contractor. 
Still over priced.
Still a poor product at the end.
All solved by a nice carpet from a major national chain that does carpets the right way.