Karndean Flooring - What is it?

Karndean flooring is an easily maintained type of flooring manufactured from partly recycled or virgin PVC. The addition of high quality plasticizers makes it customizable to a variety of textures and surfaces that are realistic and easily able to replicate a wide variety of natural materials.

For those who are looking for a beautiful floor without the high cost of natural materials, and easier installation and maintenance, Karndean flooring is becoming a popular choice.

Unlike some flooring choices that only mimic the look of natural materials, Karndean flooring also replicates the feel and the texture, resulting in an authenticity that often makes it difficult to tell the difference between the genuine materials and the manufactured counterpart. It’s the attention to detail that makes this type of flooring so unique and yet when compared to natural materials, lower in terms in maintenance and price.

Types of Karndean Flooring

There are many types of Karndean flooring, made to look and feel like wood, glass, marble, slate, even ceramic and limestone. The flooring itself is available as tiles or planks, which helps to add to its’ realistic look once installed.

Karndean flooring can be installed with strips, which are designed to complement the flooring design and to provide contrast between tiles or planks. Design strips are cut from a wood plank or tile, feature strips are designed to mimic grout lines, and there are also metallic strips available; all of these come in various sizes.

There are also border choices which enhance and complement Karndean flooring, including: a standard border created with patterns; a key-line border which are strips added as a framework, and a tramline border which is a combination of various strips used to frame the floor.

Where Can Karndean Flooring Be Used?

Karndean flooring can be used in any room of the home, which makes it a very versatile product and flooring choice. Whether it’s for a basement bathroom, recreation room, or upstairs bedroom, there are styles and choices available.

It is not suitable for outdoor use, but it can be used in sunrooms. It is also possible to install Karndean flooring over in-floor heating systems. Properly installed, it can even be used on stairs.

Pros and Cons of Karndean Flooring

Karndean flooring offers many choices for flooring designs and applications. It is an affordable, beautiful alternative to natural materials, and is easy to maintain, making it an excellent choice for busy homeowners.

Design choices are vast, and the durability of Karndean flooring makes it a long-lasting product, and depending on the thickness chosen it can last from 12 to 20 years.

Like any smooth surface, it can be slippery when wet, so spills need to be cleaned up quickly. Water left on the surface will leave marks, which can be removed with Karndean products.

Karndean flooring should be installed by a professional, so it is not a DIY homeowner’s job.

Karndean recommends the use of their products for cleaning and maintenance, which means that in order to extend the life of the flooring, it will be necessary to purchase their products.

For anyone looking for a beautiful, durable floor, one that will last with less maintenance than the natural material it is designed to replicate, and cost less, Karndean flooring is worth considering.

Please remember the above is just a guide and you should seek professional advice.