Karndean 'looselay' LVT.

neilmcl

FTB_Help said:

neilmcl said:

FTB_Help said:

Just had Luvanto Lvt laid at mine (glue down), so far very happy with it, and get loads of compliments.
 Per sqm it was about £25ish so much cheaper than the bigger brands such as kardean and amtico

That's all well and good but we are discussing loose lay product.

Luvanto does loose lay too
My comment is to let op know there are much cheaper brands out there (that are just as good) than the big named ones

Do they, which one of their range, I can't see any?

Gavin83

I'm also looking into LVT for our bathrooms at the moment and to be honest it seems far more complicated than I was expecting. Seem plenty of places saying it's a super easy DIY job and others saying you must get a professional in to fit it, for some reason. Which is it? 

Bendy_House

Thanks again for your thoughts, folks.

To be clear, Nan was looking at this specific 'looselay' just because it had the preferred finish. If it happens that she cannot find a nicer finish, then she'll still go for it - but have it stuck down!

The sticking-down isn't really an issue; most of the LVTs out there would require it. And I think it's pretty certain now she wouldn't have the Karndean 'looselay' loose laid.

So our search has now simply come down to - which is the best value high quality LVT? ~0.5mm wear layer as a min, along with a 'registered' embossed texture.

m0t

I have karndean looselay in our kitchen diner. 

When I fitted it I was told to use a thin underlay product and as a result it isn't as firm as the glue down in the bathroom.

We have an issue with a couple of planks repeatedly gaping when they get warm that you wouldn't have with a glue down product.

neilmcl

Gavin83 said:

I'm also looking into LVT for our bathrooms at the moment and to be honest it seems far more complicated than I was expecting. Seem plenty of places saying it's a super easy DIY job and others saying you must get a professional in to fit it, for some reason. Which is it? 

Again, really depends on what type you go for, and just how competent you are at DIY. Standard glue down LVT is pretty much a job for the professional to get the perfect finish but the click stuff or loose lay is no harder a DIY job that fitting laminate. As with all flooring the important part of installing it is getting your subfloor perfect and level.

Personally though, if you buying the more expensive LVT flooring I'd probably get a fitter in to install it, nothing worse than spending loads on expensive flooring and doing a bodge job yourself.

neilmcl

m0t said:

I have karndean looselay in our kitchen diner. 

When I fitted it I was told to use a thin underlay product and as a result it isn't as firm as the glue down in the bathroom.

We have an issue with a couple of planks repeatedly gaping when they get warm that you wouldn't have with a glue down product.

I don't think you should be using any underlay with loose lay LVT, it's specifically designed to grip to the sub floor.

Doozergirl

m0t said:

I have karndean looselay in our kitchen diner. 

When I fitted it I was told to use a thin underlay product and as a result it isn't as firm as the glue down in the bathroom.

We have an issue with a couple of planks repeatedly gaping when they get warm that you wouldn't have with a glue down product.

Hilarious!  See, my client's been told that they shouldn't have had the thin underlay product and that's why they've got lifting. 🤦🏼‍♀️

There's so many 'reasons' now, I get the impression that it's just rubbish.  

GDB2222

What glue do people use for loose lay LVT?

Bendy_House

There's apparently a 'low-tack' type that can be used, since - supposedly - it doesn't really need it anyway...

Ma botty.

benson1980

Gavin83 said:

I'm also looking into LVT for our bathrooms at the moment and to be honest it seems far more complicated than I was expecting. Seem plenty of places saying it's a super easy DIY job and others saying you must get a professional in to fit it, for some reason. Which is it? 

I’d say it depends- as said, all in the sub floor prep. I self levelled a concrete sub floor and this isn’t a job that I’d try to do on my own again. If board of some description and reasonably level, overboard with ply and make sure joins are smoothed out. The actual laying of tiles and cutting them is extremely easy. 

And as always, getting a tradesperson doesn’t always equate to a quality job anyway so arguably either way you take your chances.