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We're likely to be having this flooring in a room we're converting into a kitchen.
Currently the floor in there is t&g pine with 3mm(ish) gaps between each plank at the top (obviously the tongues engage in the next board a bit so it's air tight). Some have raised a bit at the edges/have previously been lifted so that it it isn't very even.
Is fitting say 9mm ply on top of this and screwing through it and the existing boards into the joists and making sure that any board edges meet at a joist the best approach?
I'm more comfortable screwing it down than nailing (if only because there'll be no hammer marks on the floor when I've finished) unless there's a good reason not to.
Anyone recommend someone who can supply & fit in the Brighton area?
What sort of price per metre should we expect to pay for fitting to a floor prepared as above? It'll be about 7 sq. metres of actual flooring in a room that's 11 sq metres once the kitchen units are taken into account.
We've laid it on top of victorian floorboards using 6mm ply. Ensure screws are flush (and beware of pipes underneath) and fill heads/gaps joins between boards with 'feather finish'.
9mm ply would probably be better but more expensive and more lost height.
If you can prepare the floor you can probably lay Karndean - it's about as easy as it gets. Tiles are manageable and easy to cut with a straightedge and a stanley knife. Online suppliers are usually cheapest.
Our 10 year old Karndean kitchen floor still looks great but some of their finishes are much more convincing than others so get samples. Worth getting an equivalent in Amtico as well - in some finishes they're much better (but also about twice the price but, if you lay yourself, you might be able to justify the extra spendiness)
cheers, not too worried about a few mm here and there, more about having a solid base - overall height is likely to be similar to laminate with a decent underlay anyway.
I know what you mean about fitting it and I'm doing the kitchen myself but quite like the idea of getting it done by a pro so that the guarantee is there.
We had 12mm ply put down in our house and screwed in. We then had a stretch compound put all over to try and even out where the joins would be. I would say it's great, however having gone for a the cheaper knight tile, it has shown up the imperfections on the screed, so i am now battling with the fitters to come and fix it as it's causing the edges to peel at certain points. Spend money and get a decent tile!!!! other than that it is good stuff.
I've had Karndean fitted on a concrete floor and over marine ply. In both cases my local supplier would not lay it without a levelling screed compound underneath. They did a brilliant job and despite the kitchen floor being under a cm of water when a pipe burst the floor is still level. I believe the Karndean 20 year guarantee is only valid when it is fitted by an approved installer.
The stuff is brilliant, very durable and much warmer than a real slate floor.
I used Ammonite Flooring in Hayes, Kent. I'm not sure if they would cover Brighton and they always have a long waiting list.
The whole reason we chose to use Karndean on our floors is because they're nowhere near level! And, being wooden, and old, the upstairs bathroom floors move as well. Any form of stone or porcelain would be cracking or moving but Karndean copes with this fine.
We had amtico fitted throughout our downstairs, I fitted 6mm ply then they layed the flooring. Its been really good really hardwearing! We're in Worthing and we used our local carpet shop .
Amtico in our living room, ply on a concrete floor. Still looks pretty good after 13 years, 18+ ferrets(and associated carpet mines) + 2 dogs. It's getting a bit tired in places (certain favourite corners) but I dread to think how many carpets we would have been through in that time.
Another question, if I may butt in, what primer would you guys recommend to go on to plywood?
Cheeky bump, any floor gurus about?
Karndean require you to install their product on top of 4-6mm feather-edged boarding, otherwise it invalidates the warranty.
I've had meetings with Karndean reps where they confirmed this.
Oh, and definitely get it installed by a Karndean approved installer only. Contact Karndean and they will recommend someone in your area.
Where abouts are you? my mate is a qualified Karndean fitter in Leicester.
Where abouts are you?
OP's in Brighton, cheeky interloper asking about primer is considerably more northern 🙂
Spoke to a place supplying Karndean yesterday. They charge fitting at £484/day and reckon it would be 1.5 day job.
Looking at what's available self fit now. Quite impressed with quick step flooring in our bedroom but have seen some self fit Karndean type stuff that's click to fit too.
definitely get it installed by a Karndean approved installer only
Why? It's a doddle to do yourself.
Doesn't necessarily do well if there is any damp underneath it.