Karndean Looselay / loose lay flooring

lg13mza

Has anyone got any first hand experience into whether it is any good long-term?  It sounds great, but feels a bit too good to be true.  Something like this:

Discover our Looselay Wood and Stone collection | Karndean

We've got a bungalow, approx. 120m^2.  We fully refurbed it a few years ago and currently have Polyflor click type vinyl tiles all way through with no joints.  They haven't really lasted but that is mostly due to my error when laying.  The error on my part was we have underfloor heating, but its an overlay system.  So its polypipe cement type boards with the pipes laid in.  The vinyl tiles have cracked and deformed slightly where multiple pipes come together and leave a slight void in the surface.  I thought they would be strong enough to bridge the gap.  Over time they have gone with traffic.  So I need to lift and replace.  At the same time I will locally fill the voids and make the subfloor flat and level.

We need to replace with something.  Don't want ceramic tiles as its a suspended wooden floor underneath (albeit now with approx 35mm of 'board') and I'd be constantly worried about tiles cracking.  Don't want to replace like-for-like as I don't want to have to take all the skirting off (I put it on and it isn't going to come off easily!), and don't want beading.  Would like engineered oak, but don't want it for previous reason.  So, after researching, looselay looks like the answer to our prayers, but it does sound too good to be true.  Anyone offer any experience?

Alanp

We had karndene tiles in our kitchen when we refurbed it last year, it’s not a massive kitchen, and we don’t have underfloor heating ( or any type of heating in there) but it’s not cold to walk on even in bare feet, ours was professionally done, I would find a supplier who can advise you on your requirements 

Rosa_Damascena

I think Karndean sells itself on being hardy and suitable for UFH? Check the spec as there are lots of different ranges with wildly differing pricepoints. (I had to look at other options when I learned the supply and fit price of the designs I liked were a whopping £90-120/sqm. Lesser ranges just did not look good).

benson1980

I've installed it. From what I recall it recommends gluing it in high traffic areas. I glued it down in the kitchen/diner, and then 'loose' laid it in a bathroom and downstairs toilet.

With the latter approach even in the small rooms gaps appeared that I then had to try and fill. Therefore I personally can't recommend taking the non-glue down method, and thus probably defeats the object of the product. I picked it because it was the particular pattern I was after, rather than the looselay feature. 

Rosa_Damascena

benson1980 said:

I've installed it. From what I recall it recommends gluing it in high traffic areas. I glued it down in the kitchen/diner, and then 'loose' laid it in a bathroom and downstairs toilet.

With the latter approach even in the small rooms gaps appeared that I then had to try and fill. Therefore I personally can't recommend taking the non-glue down method, and thus probably defeats the object of the product. I picked it because it was the particular pattern I was after, rather than the looselay feature. 

Are you an accredited Karndean fitter? My suspicion is a professional would circumvent head problems.

[Deleted User]

I had it laid here a 3 years ago, by professional fitters, and although i have no idea how it secures down it looks and performs well, it also comes with a howevermany years warranty/guarantee too - i have the paperwork somewhere on it - but liked that particular aspect too.

benson1980

Rosa_Damascena said:

benson1980 said:

I've installed it. From what I recall it recommends gluing it in high traffic areas. I glued it down in the kitchen/diner, and then 'loose' laid it in a bathroom and downstairs toilet.

With the latter approach even in the small rooms gaps appeared that I then had to try and fill. Therefore I personally can't recommend taking the non-glue down method, and thus probably defeats the object of the product. I picked it because it was the particular pattern I was after, rather than the looselay feature. 

Are you an accredited Karndean fitter? My suspicion is a professional would circumvent head problems.

 Yes- probably by glueing it down. If you look at some trust pilot reviews I’m not the only person who’s had problems with some movement of the loose lay tiles.

neilmcl

benson1980 said:

Rosa_Damascena said:

benson1980 said:

I've installed it. From what I recall it recommends gluing it in high traffic areas. I glued it down in the kitchen/diner, and then 'loose' laid it in a bathroom and downstairs toilet.

With the latter approach even in the small rooms gaps appeared that I then had to try and fill. Therefore I personally can't recommend taking the non-glue down method, and thus probably defeats the object of the product. I picked it because it was the particular pattern I was after, rather than the looselay feature. 

Are you an accredited Karndean fitter? My suspicion is a professional would circumvent head problems.

 Yes- probably by glueing it down. If you look at some trust pilot reviews I’m not the only person who’s had problems with some movement of the loose lay tiles.

What was the subfloor you were using? I can only think that gaps would appear if the floor tiles aren't cut so there sitting tight enough against each other and the skirting.

benson1980

neilmcl said:

benson1980 said:

Rosa_Damascena said:

benson1980 said:

I've installed it. From what I recall it recommends gluing it in high traffic areas. I glued it down in the kitchen/diner, and then 'loose' laid it in a bathroom and downstairs toilet.

With the latter approach even in the small rooms gaps appeared that I then had to try and fill. Therefore I personally can't recommend taking the non-glue down method, and thus probably defeats the object of the product. I picked it because it was the particular pattern I was after, rather than the looselay feature. 

Are you an accredited Karndean fitter? My suspicion is a professional would circumvent head problems.

 Yes- probably by glueing it down. If you look at some trust pilot reviews I’m not the only person who’s had problems with some movement of the loose lay tiles.

What was the subfloor you were using? I can only think that gaps would appear if the floor tiles aren't cut so there sitting tight enough against each other and the skirting.

Concrete- screeded over it. All butted up. I’m talking gaps or less than a mm developing. Still noticeable but have to look for it. If I did it again I’d glue it all. Even the product itself recommends glueing in high traffic/larger areas areas as above.

tehone

I have it, excellent, only place I have it glued is the staircase. there is one room I have where occasionally [maybe once a year] a gap opens up, and I just slide it back (its because the skirting board isn't flush at that point).

I did however have a Karndean fitter fit mine

lg13mza

I'm still looking at possible solutions.  I requested various samples of these interlocking tiles.  It solves the problems over gaps appear and individual tiles can be taken up if there are problems.  Still requires expansion gaps, but we might just about get away with a silicone bead between the tiles and existing skirting:

Interlocking Tiles | Order Workshop & Garage Flooring Online in the UK (bricoflor.co.uk)

the tarkett option looks really good stuff, but with a price to match!  Anyone used these before?