Karndean Flooring: Definition, Types, and Other FAQs
Karndean Flooring is one of the most crucial parts of a home, albeit often overlooked. It structures the design and feel of the house more than we realize.
A simple change in colours can change the style from cozy to rustic. It also protects your floor foundation!
This is your sign to prioritize choosing the quality of your flooring for your dream home.
What Is Karndean Flooring?
Source: Karndean.com
Karndean flooring is one of the best options for your luxury vinyl plank flooring (LVP).
Karndean Designflooring is a UK company brand that offers beautiful flooring. They carry different ranges of designs that are not only aesthetically pleasing but also highly durable.
Their main compositions are Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC) and calcium carbonate (limestone).
They only produce luxury vinyl plank (LVP) and tiles as of this writing, and they specialize in it. Don’t expect laminate or hardwood floors with Karndean Designflooring!
What Are the Benefits of Karndean Luxury Vinyl Flooring?
Many people think of Karndean flooring as the top-of-mind brand in the market when they think of luxury vinyl flooring.
Their flooring styles make your homes look like it’s lifted from a catalog! But besides beauty, people love them because of their impressive functionality.
1. Easy to Clean and Maintain
Karndean vinyl flooring is extremely easy to maintain. You can sweep and mop the plank floors without having to sand or varnish!
Your floor gets the dirtiest in the house, with food crumbs falling, drinks spilling, and everyone stepping on them.
The term “less is more” is highly applicable in this case. The less effort you exert to maintain the floors, the more time and energy you can devote to other home parts.
Read also : How To Clean Karndean Flooring? Check This Ultimate Guide
2. More Peace of Mind, Less Hassle
If you have kids and pets, they’re always on the floor! Poor quality floors can rob your peace of mind whenever you think about their safety as they play and walk around the house.
The Karndean vinyl plank floorings are great for kids and pets. They’re not prone to accidents, it’s safer for them to explore, and you’ll be more at ease knowing these.
And even for adults, you’ll also appreciate the comfortable underfoot of Karndean flooring.
3. Durability Is Guaranteed
If guests often visit your house, that means more stepping and movement. A low-quality floor would show wear and tear quicker than luxury vinyl plank flooring.
Since Karndean Designflooring is a brand that specializes in luxury vinyl plank floors, it’s a given that durability is one of their guarantees.
You may think that such nice plank floors with natural wood and other materials won’t be as sturdy, but that’s precisely the selling point of LVP.
4. Lifetime Warranty
Another good perk from Karndean Designflooring is its lifetime warranty.
They offer good warranties for all users, assuring you that you can run to someone when your Karndean plank floors need some extra care.
Most brands that offer these warranties are confident of the products they have sold, knowing that it’ll take a long time before problems arise with your tiles and vinyl plank floors.
What’s Luxury Vinyl Flooring, and How Is It Different From Other Flooring?
Luxury vinyl flooring is an upgraded version of the more common vinyl flooring.
1. Vinyl Flooring
Vinyl is a common material for flooring made from a plastic polyvinyl chloride (PVC). All flooring made from vinyl is durable, waterproof, and long-lasting.
They often use the glue-down method for much thinner vinyl floors. It’s an affordable option for flooring while still getting the vinyl benefits.
2. Laminate Flooring
Another common flooring type is laminate, made from High-Density Fiberboard (HDF).
Despite a difference in material from vinyl, laminate is similar, with only a few distinctions in the underfoot feel and its embossed design.
Both vinyl and laminate are used for affordable fake wood flooring. They have that realistic wood aesthetic, even if it’s mostly plastic.
3. Luxury Vinyl Flooring
As the name goes, it’s LUXURY. Although it’s still vinyl, it’s much more high-end, waterproof, and durable.
It’s more rigid, lasts longer, and is THICKER than ordinary vinyl floors. It can also endure frequent spills and scratches better than standard vinyl and laminate.
Luxury vinyl plank floors can perfectly mimic wood and stone effect designs, giving you that prestigious look without spending on real wood and stone.
The life span of LVPs is very long, too. It can last up to 25-30 years or even more, depending on how you care for them.
That catch is that luxury vinyl plank floors are MORE EXPENSIVE than your standard vinyl and laminate.
Each plank or tile can cost up to $2 to $5 per square foot, compared to $0.50 to $2 per sq. ft. of vinyl and laminate. But to be fair, the benefits outweigh the costs by a lot.
Read also : How Much Is Karndean Flooring? Here The Cost Guides!
Types of Karndean Vinyl Flooring Installation
There are different ways to install Karndean flooring based on your personal preferences.
Karndean Glue-Down Ranges
As Karndean Designflooring said, glue-down floors have the “highest level of personalization” since tiles and plank floors are individually and carefully installed.
Glue-down flooring is precisely what it sounds like. Each luxury vinyl plank is stuck down with strong glue, making it easier to personalize and adjust.
It’s a sturdy option as you can’t easily lift it unless you deliberately do so. It’s more affordable, too. If your flooring is thinner, a glue-down option is more than enough.
With Karndean flooring, using a glue-down format has the following benefits:
- A huge range of designs to select from
- It’s easier to replace individually when needed
- Personalization is easier
- The glued-down flooring is highly secured
The Karndean vinyl ranges applicable for a glue-down format are:
- Art Select
- Da Vinci
- Van Gogh
- Opus
- Knight Tile
1. Karndean Loose Lay Ranges
If gluedown uses glues, the Karndean looselay format uses a K-Wave friction grip.
In easier words, it’s a rubber backing that grips each plank or tile to the floor. By the term “friction,” we know it’ll be tough to move it around once installed.
But since the loose lay has a grip-type, it’s also one of the easiest to install and uninstall.
If you’re the type to change flooring frequently, the loose lay option will be the most efficient for you. You can easily top it on a hard floor without much subfloor preparation.
The Karndean Looselay collection has the following benefits:
- Great for decent soundproofing (up to 13dB); it’s suitable for apartments and lofts
- Fewer gaps, even against curvy walls
- Minimal subfloor preparations are needed, thanks to the K-Wave friction grip
- Tiles and plank floors are easy to install and uninstall
The Karndean Loose Lay collection has a lot of colour options to choose from. They have hues of Hudson, dark brown tones of Dover, and the copper colours of Winchester.
Besides colour selections, you can also go for traditional oak styles or contemporary stone effects.
2. Karndean Rigid Core (Click-Lock) Ranges
If you’re not for the adhesive styles, you’ll prefer the click-locking system of this format. It’s the best alternative for laminate and gluedown.
The plank clicks down in place, so it’s easier to lay it atop subfloors and floorboards. Karndean Designflooring uses K-Core technology for these click-lock ranges.
The Karndean Rigid Core ranges have the following benefits:
- Can soundproof up until 21 dB; best for high-end apartments and lofts
- Quicker installation
- Best for renovations since it can lay over existing floorboards with minimal subfloor preparations
How to Choose Your Karndean Vinyl Flooring?
The Karndean flooring company offers a huge range of floor selections. It can be overwhelming to search for the style you like, so they’ve categorized it by look and by range.
By Look
They have TWO (2) PRIMARY LOOKS you can explore, wood or stone effect.
Karndean Wood
For wood, each plank has a realistic wood design, from light to darker tones, that can create a cozy feel. You get the look without dealing with splinters and other cons of real wood.
It’s impressive how they perfect the natural wood styles! Some of their ranges are:
- Ivory Brushed Oak
- Millstone Sycamore
- Spring Oak
- Limed Linen Oak
- Warm Ash
You can explore more of their wood options here.
Karndean Stone
With the rustic look on the rise, many people opt for the stone effect. If the wood ranges look like real wood, these mimic the real stone look excellently.
We agree! The natural stone style of a home increases its high-end look. But it’s crazy expensive!
Although the quality and durability of real stone are unquestioned, the downside is how uncomfortable it is. It’s also harder to maintain!
So? Fake it is! The fake stone flooring of Karndean can still create a rustic atmosphere minus all of the drawbacks.
Karndean ranges can quickly achieve the modern slate tiles, intricate limestone effect, and natural stone surfaces.
By Range
Karndean categorized their flooring by range, and they have a lot!
Karndean Art Select Range
If you’re looking for stylish and artistic floor designs that feature so much personality, you’ll enjoy exploring the art select range here!
Some of the styles they carry are:
- Jersey Limestone
- Alderney Limestone
- Classic Hickory
- Coffee Maple
- Midnight Oak
Karndean Da Vinci Range
The Karndean Da Vinci range features a “traditional meets modern” style.
Think of it as a mix of American Oak and Australian Walnut with beveled edges and light surfaces.
Some of the options they carry are:
- Cambric
- Limed Linen
- Single Smoked Acacia
- Scorched Oak
- Blended Oak
You can go through their other Da Vinci plank options here.
Karndean Van Gogh Range
If you want to go as natural as possible, the Van Gogh range is all about the beauty of rawness. It captures the realistic look as close to the real material as possible.
Their Van Gogh flooring comes in two (2) formats, either gluedown or rigid core (click lock). There are 32 stock options for the former and 20 stock options for the latter. Take a look at this range by clicking here.
Karndean Opus Range
For those in the market for an all-modern floor, the Opus range can keep with you and match your modern life!
We’re talking about abstract to minimalist designs. You’ll surely love their selections.
Some of the modern plank options they carry are:
- Marrakesh
- Linea
- Mayfair
- Fumo
- Tenebra Walnut
Check out the opus range here.
Karndean Knight Tile Range
Want a mix of wood and stone? No problem.
The Karndean Knight Tile selections offer precisely that. Like Van Gogh, there are options for gluedown (32) and click-lock (13). Take a look here.
Karndean LooseLay Range
We’ve already discussed the Karndean Loose Lay flooring above, but we haven’t told you that they offer many beautiful options for this range here.
- Antique Karri
- Country Oak
- Tasmanian Wattle
- Copper Gum
- Burnt Ginger
Karndean Loose Lay Longboard Range
A longboard plank is faster and easier to install than tiles. And since it’s loose lay, you can lay it on top of an existing floor board with minimal preparation.
Some of their longboard floor selections are:
- Weathered Heart Pine
- Lemon Spotted Gum
- French Grey Oak
- Distressed American Pine
- Worn Fabric Oak
check out the looselay longboard range here.
Karndean Korlok Select Range
Up your floor design by going for marble or wooden designs with unique accents. The Korlok Select range can effortlessly match and suit any house design.
Some of the Korlok Select selections are:
- Palazzo Marble
- Brunella Marble
- Baltic Washed Oak
- Canadian Urban Oak
- Kilauea Koa
Check out the korlok range here.
Karndean Korlok Reserve Range
If you’re looking for more premium wood flooring, the Karndean Korlok Reserve range has the best ones. Some of their selections are:
- Ghost Elm
- North American Oak
- Smoked American Maple
- Vintage Oregon Oak
- Grey Oiled Oak
Karndean Design Components Range
You can also personalize your Karndean vinyl floor designs! Karndean helps you achieve even the most specific look possible to create a style you’ll enjoy.
You can customize it by choosing from the different design strips, design borers, and design features.
Karndean Design Strips
These are the narrow strips that you can place between tiles and plank flooring. It serves as the grout for the tiles but in a more presentable manner.
You can opt to have it look like a border, in-between grout, or as a shiplap. They offer lots of strip selections such as:
- Carbon Cross Grain (strip)
- Taupe (grout)
- Brown (feature strip)
Karndean Design Borders
You can also add decorative borders for framing your Karndean vinyl flooring. It’s usually an accented design to make certain areas of your floor pop more.
They have a wide selection range, some of which are:
- Zigzag
- Kousa
- Mackintosh
- Mosaic
- Regent
Karndean Design Features
Last but certainly not least, you can add an extra trademark for your floor! Be it a customized brand logo or a medallion; you can add a mark to shape your brand further.
They have standard selections you can decide from:
- Cartwheel (with or without border)
- Celtic
- Galaxy
- Star
- Nexus
Karndean Vinyl Herringbone
Herringbone is a flooring design that has been rising recently because of its unique criss-cross aesthetic. It makes the room stand out!
Of course, the Karndean vinyl company won’t miss out as they also offer high-quality Herringbone plank selections.
Different Types of Karndean Herringbone
You can explore the wide selection ranges of Karndean herringbone here. But we’ll discuss them here for your reference.
Karndean Classic Herringbone
Simplicity is best, as they say.
The Karndean Classic Herringbone features TRADITIONAL floor designs. Each plank or tile is positioned at 90-degree angles, creating a zigzag herringbone look.
Karndean Herringbone vs. Chevron
Chevron and herringbone look similar but aren’t the same. The main difference lies on the edges, with the herringbone having a squared edge.
Karndean Framed Herringbone
As the name goes, framed herringbone adds framing to your floor. Your Karndean flooring will look like it has borders.
It’s typically for homes with closed layouts, making them look more finished and structured.
Karndean Herringbone Panels
You can create a rug look for your floor with Karndean vinyl herringbone panels. It highlights your landing space or a particular spot better.
A good usage example for herringbone panels is in the dining hall. You can customize a herringbone plank accent on your flooring where your dining table stands!
Why Choose Karndean Vinyl Over Other Flooring Types?
Karndean flooring is a leading company for a reason. Their Karndean vinyl floor selections have many advantages over others, like standard vinyl and laminate.
1. Karndean Flooring Is More Eco-Friendly
One of the Karndean promises is its commitment to sustainability.
They follow the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) standards on Environmental Management (ISO 14001) and Management International Standards (ISO 9001).
They also ensure that in manufacturing Karndean vinyl, no material waste will be generated because of their closed-loop system.
They recycle their waste and use it to manufacture new Karndean vinyl outputs — like a cycle.
Finally, producing Karndean vinyl requires LESS ENERGY than other materials such as PVC and laminate. It’s also a friendlier brand than different plastic variations.
2. Karndean Offers Lifetime and Commercial Warranties
The warranty of Karndean is highly beneficial for you.
Maintaining and fixing flooring can be expensive, so having a long-term warranty can help you save a lot.
And as discussed above, only companies confident with their products can offer these types of warranties.
3. Karndean Vinyl Is Fully Waterproof
Though most vinyl and laminate flooring can decently handle spills, it’s only to a certain extent. Karndean vinyl does it best.
That’s why it’s a perfect choice if you have active kids or pets because you won’t worry too much even if they mess around.
The cleaning is HASSLE-FREE, too.
4. The Karndean Quality Is Unmatched
You can’t deny the quality of Karndean vinyl. It’s thicker than standard vinyl or laminate and won’t get destroyed quickly.
As you know by now, flooring is expensive.
It’s a lot of money to keep fixing your vinyl and laminate flooring over the years, as opposed to the Karndean vinyl that actually lasts.
5. Karndean Lasts for Life
Speaking of last, Karndean is reliable in terms of longevity. Maybe “lasts for life” is slightly exaggerated, but you get it.
Karndean is sure to last for a LONGER TIME as compared to other materials, even witnessing your kids grow up and all.
But of course, it all boils down to how you care for them, too.
The Drawbacks of Karndean Flooring
But we’ll be fair. As much as we vouch for Karndean flooring, we’ll also share some cons.
Expensive
Karndean flooring is more expensive than the standard materials. The latter can achieve similar looks at a lower cost, which is why some people opt for them.
It still depends on how you look at it, though. It’s a cheaper alternative to the natural materials (wood and stone) but seems very close to them.
However, if you look at the bigger picture, the longevity and standard Karndean flooring save you more in the long run.
Think of it as an investment.
Only Offers Luxury Vinyl Panel (LVP) Flooring
As of this writing, Karndean only has LVP options.
It can be both a pro and con: The former because it shows specialization; the latter if you’re looking for standard materials.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Do you still have questions about the topic? Here are the most frequently asked questions!
Is Karndean Flooring Good?
Yes. Karndean is a leading brand when it comes to LVP flooring. They offer beauty and functionality, and they also have environmental sustainability initiatives.
You can learn more about them here.
Is Karndean Flooring Better Than Laminate?
Karndean flooring is better than laminate in terms of longevity, qualities, and aesthetic design.
But laminate is MORE AFFORDABLE while still achieving similar design feels.
Do Karndean Floors Scratch?
Karndean flooring is scratch-proof, making it safe for children and pets to play around without messing with your flooring.
Do You Need an Underlay for Karndean Flooring?
Underlay is not required for Karndean flooring.
Most of their selections don’t need subfloor preparations and can easily lay atop existing floorboards.
Final Words
Aesthetic plus durability? SOLD!
We’ve been constantly impressed with the kind of flooring Karndean offers — and it’s not just us.
We think it’s a worthy investment for your dream home that will grow with you and your family.
