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Hi all,
We decided to go for new flooring downstairs. I was after a fit and forget solution, hoping to never do this ever again, so decided to spend a little more than expected and install some Karndean gluedown flooring.
All good- we found a localish company who came out, gave us a quote, and we ordered.
I tore out the old laminate flooring in prep for their install, and they turned up on the appointed day. At this point, they conducted a quick survey and announced that gluedown wouldn't work. The reason for this is that there are 2 strips of breeze block, one between the kitchen and extension, one at the backdoor of the extension. I was unaware of the existence of this. Apparently, moisture will rise through the breeze block and cause premature failure of the Karndean, and being a diligent company they wouldn't recommend this kind of installation. Their moisture meter did show some elevated moisture levels when placed in contact with the breeze block strips.
So they came up with a backup plan- Karndean click laminate. They tell me this is just as good, and I shouldn't worry. In fact, they'll be coming back this week to initially screed, and then install.
Knowing next to nothing about this, I wondered if the massive would know the answers to my 2 burning questions:
-is there really no way that the breeze block can be "sealed" to prevent moisture from rising into flooring?
-would the click laminate version of this flooring be just as good?
Total 1st world problem, I know....
thx
I can't answer directly but our kitchen/dining room has 3 distinct areas in one 9m run. 3m quarry tiles on concrete (1960 built) 3m suspended wooden floor, 3m Marley tiles bitumen-stuck onto concrete (1980s). We wanted Karndean, having used it several times before. Same as you, the meters came out and heads were shaken, teeth were sucked.
We went for latex screeding to sort the levels and an engineered oak floor on 3mm underlay. The preparation costs would have more than made up for the price increase. I'd have been happy with the click Karndean but, you know...
Edit - and having seen 2 badly-laid glued Karndean floors (not my work) I'd have click LVT over that any day.
Karndean installation is hit and miss by me some firms will only do it if 100% happy some will do it then quote terms&conditions when it fails.
I went for click ltv in the end and fitted it myself it's been down a year and fine and my kitchen floor is rubbish out of level ect.
I'm an ex chippy so have fitted plenty of floors so it never phased me and I had the tools.
Thanks both, I'm reassured!
Well we have had the top end karndean since Xmas. it looks nice but I'm not impressed, it scratches far too easily. considering they market it as commercial grade my kids have marked it with the dining chairs when the pads came off. any product that requires you to fit everything with flet pads to protect it yet claims it is hard wearing is not fit for.purpose. looks nice, but I wouldn't get it again in a kitchen or dining room
Thanks DT
<p style="text-align: right;">OP they can just put two two coats of liquid DPM before the levelling compound and then glue down on top. Unlike the posters above I’ve seen many failures in LVT click so have glue down in my house and it’s perfect in every way.</p>
Thanks BlindMelon.