Flooring for kitchen/living room and hall

5 years ago

Hi, we are half way through a rear extension project and I'm stuck on deciding what sort of flooring to have. We basically have one big room which will be a kitchen/dining/living room, and a utility cupboard and loo thst all need flooring. We are also planning to take the new flooring through the hallway, replacing current carpet. The extension area has concrete floor and the original room has floor boards. In the past we have had laminate - really cheap stuff in this house & previous flat. Both times the laminate got damaged by water from various leaks. I looked at Karndean as it seemed more durable, but the quote we've had is quite a bit more than I've budgeted for. Would a decent quality laminate fair better? Are there any other options we could consider? Sorry for the long post! TIA.

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Comments (5)

User
5 years ago
A high quality laminate will withstand general leaks and spills, Anna.

They look fabulous and wear for ages. Quick-Step is one such high quality laminate, carries lengthy manufacturer backed warranties and we currently offer all their collection with 0% finance and quantity discounts. Click here to see Quick-Step's collection.

LVTs are also a viable solution. Different method of manufacturing compared with laminate. LVTs are pvc based and generally 2.5mm thick and are fully adhered to the subfloor, whereas laminates are wood pulp based and generally around 8-12mm thick. In terms of wear and appearance there's very little pros and cons between the better quality brands.

Karndean make a good LVT but with all the hype behind their brand and marketing you do end up paying a little more than perhaps you should.

As you touched on in your post with your previous experience with lesser quality laminates, cheaper products meet budgets but rarely stand the test of time and, actually, aesthetically they are noticeably inferior.

Amtico and Karndean are LVT brand leaders and back their products with significant warranties but we would also recommend you considering these keener priced alternatives that come from equally reputable producers:
- Flooring Megastore own label LVT, all of which have 0% finance available. Click here.
- Polyflor LVT. Click here.
- Natural Solutions LVT. Click here.
If there is anything we can do to help you Anna do feel free to contact via live chat directly from our web site, or email us at info@flooringmegastore.co.uk or telephone which is 01622 - 790 356.

Finally, we suggest any consumer performing due diligence before commissioning work to an unknown supplier. You can view ourTrustPilot reviews by clicking here. We currently score 9.4/10

We're cute, we're cuddly… we're the Flooring Gurus!
Tani H-S
5 years ago
Oo we have exactly the same issue. Concrete extension for kitchen/diner and floorboards for the lounge.
I also debated about the flooring LVT vs laminate. We could probably save over £1k by choosing laminate but we have bifolds opening to the garden and the kitchen to bear in mind and dogs. Our previous laminate did not stand up to spillages and general wear in those areas so we are going to find the extra money and go with a lesser branded LVT instead.
It’s a lot of prep work ie screening the concrete and overboarding the floorboards that costs a bit for the prep. My fitter said we could get flooring at cost from him if we go and choose it - and not to bother with karndean as it’s too expensive (unless we wanted it especially of course!)

I’m sure there are good quality laminates suitable for high use and wet areas (maybe look at bathroom ranges?) and we would still consider these as we can fit them ourselves.

Ultimately it’s down to your budget and how long you are staying in your house for.
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Hi flair lighting. The back door over by the laundry is the one that would be used by us day to day. as the cars will be parked around the back of the house (maybe under a carport later on) away from our view. When guests arrive they will come in through the front door, which we are having some design issues with. We like it so when you open the front door people can't see straight into your living area. you never know who's gonna knock on your door! i really hear you about the fact that it leads to the bedrooms, but really unsure how to remedy this.also the laundry is by the back door so when you do the washing you can easily nip out the back door to the washing line which is out the back also away from view. our coats and shoes can be stored in the laundry also. was thinking lisa, that maybe a bench seat against the wall as you walk in the front door with a couple of coat hooks for guests? Lol we dont really get guests. In our current home i can count on one hand the amount of times the front door gets used. we just access through our internal garage.... any thoughts.
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PRO
FAIRFAX FLOORING
5 years ago
Hi there. Have you considered using tiles? If you like wood, then wood look tiles. There are so many options on the market now days. And it would be definitely water resistant and hard wearing option.
PRO
Woodpecker Flooring
5 years ago
Hi Anna,

Our Brecon collection seems like it could be just what you're looking for. It's essentially a next generation laminate, combining the ease of fitting and wood-effect detail found in a laminate with the practicality of a vinyl floor. It's water resistant throughout and on the surface, with a strong core and highly durable vinyl wear layer. It fits together just like a laminate but has a built-in underlay too for easy fitting over many existing subfloors.

Brecon flooring is suitable for even the most demanding rooms in the home, including bathrooms, conservatories and over underfloor heating. So it would be more than practical for your kitchen/dining/living/utility areas. And it's a more affordable option than Karndean or Amtico, with an RRP of just £39.95/m2

You can find out more about the product here

And view the collection here

Free samples are available from our website if you'd like to take a closer look.

Here's a little inspiration from the range...

Brecon Barley Oak · More Info

Brecon Warehouse Oak · More Info

Brecon Farm Oak · More Info

Brecon River Oak · More Info

I hope that helps!

Best wishes,

Hannah | Woodpecker Flooring
User
5 years ago
Woodpecker's recommended laminate is actually expensive, for a laminate. Woodpecker point out it's cheaper than Karndean or Amtico LVTs and it is, but as we posted earlier Anna, you don't have to go to these brands to purchase an authentic looking, high performing LVT.

Click here to view Conceptline, from Cavalio. It's a fabulous product, looks great and starts from just £16.04m² including VAT. That's fabulous value for money, from a premium producer. Fancy any samples?

Cavalio is a sub-brand of James Halstead plc, trading as Polyflor, a Manchester based manufacturer, whom sell worldwide and float on the London Stock Exchange - click here - to view their current share price and - click here - to view James Halstead plc homepage and - click here - to view their Polyflor product website.

This all points to Cavalio and Polyflor being a premium producer, with a historical evidence and a producer you can place absolute faith in delivering premium products that have ethically sourced raw materials, produced to meet British Standard kite marks.

Flooring for kitchen/living room and hall

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Tani H-S

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