Laminate vs Vinyl vs Karndean

Deleted_User wrote: »

Hi All

After debating whether to have carpets or hardwood floor in the downstairs of our house we have decided on hardwood.

I've never lived with a hardwood floor before and I'm struggling to understand the differences between laminate, vinyl and karndean. I know karndean is more expensive but what are the benefits to it? And whats the differences between vinyl and laminate?

I'm no expert, but can share what I have learned in researching for a new floor.

Hardwood is wood. Most expensive of your options, generally. Engineered wood is cheaper.
Takes some care and attention, and depending on how picky you are, can be damaged by high heels, etc. Personally, I think this is what gives old floor character.

Laminate is like fake wood planks - can look very good, but cheap stuff can look pretty, well, cheap.

Vinyl comes as looselay (one-piece sheets, similar to carpet), glue-down, or click-fit. Karndean is simply one of the more expensive choices among the various vinyl suppliers. Decent quality vinyl is probably the most durable and low-maintenance. Quality is partly determined by thickness of the vinyl tile/plank, and thickness of the "wear layer" (that's the bit that has the pattern on it).

That's the basic story; I'm sue further details will be forthcoming.

Keep_pedalling wrote: »

None of those options you have mentions are actually hardwood.

or even wood of any kind at all

The new build house we have recently bought has vinyl flooring in the kitchen and bathrooms. It wouldn't have been our choice but we have actually found that we prefer it now to the laminate we had in our old house.

It feels warmer underfoot and is easier to keep clean.

Karndean is brilliant - looks exactly like a hardwood floor (people assume I have an oak floor), but is really easy to keep clean, no splinters, and if you move house really easy to just take it up and move it to your new place

Cheap vinyl, looks like vinyl, so don't go for a wood effect, its not that convincing.

Cheap laminate, also looks cheap and quite often warps if it gets wet

Hardwood, needs more care, and can get stained quite easily.

My advice go to a decent flooring company and you should be able to see the difference. From memory (and of course haggling) there is no difference in pricing between decent hardwood and Karndean, vinyl and laminate and cheaper

parcival wrote: »

we put down vinyl planks in a bedroom with wood effect. It looks very realistic and is warm underfoot. Also looks as good as the day it was laid.
Having said all that it was fairly expensive - £25 per square meter plus underlay......

For the OP, I'd add that cost can include extensive prep work, depending on what sort of flooring.

Click vinyl is easier to lay for competent DIY-ers than glue-down.

Cost can also include laying of screed/self-levelling compound before laying the floor.

Decent vinyl can cost £50 per square metre and upwards, including all the necessary prep work and fitting by a professional.