Discover the beauty of Karndean flooring

Explore the world of Karndean luxury vinyl flooring with Heringbone, your trusted flooring contractor in Ware. Learn why Karndean is the perfect choice for your home, offering outstanding performance, design versatility, and long-term peace of mind. Let us help you transform your space with the timeless elegance and practicality of Karndean.

Installation flexibility & long-term confidence

Karndean offers versatile installation formats to suit your needs. Choose rigid core (click-lock) for easy DIY or floating floors, gluedown for a permanent, secure installation, or loose lay for quick fitting with minimal adhesive. Most residential Karndean floors come with a lifetime residential warranty, providing peace of mind about their durability and long-term performance. Backed by over 50 years of expertise in luxury vinyl flooring, Karndean represents a mature product range supported by extensive experience. You can trust in the quality and longevity of your Karndean floor.

Hygienic and safe & addressing common concerns

Karndean's non-porous surface doesn’t harbour dust, bacteria, or allergens, making it an excellent choice for family homes. It’s easy to keep clean, ensuring a hygienic environment for your loved ones. We understand that Karndean can be more expensive than standard vinyl or laminate. However, it's a premium LVT with thicker wear layers, realistic designs, and long warranties, often lifetime residential. Over time, it usually works out cheaper than replacing lower-quality flooring. While rigid core options can be DIY-friendly, gluedown Karndean should be installed by a professional, especially because subfloor preparation is critical. Correct fitting protects the warranty and ensures long-term performance.

The Karndean experience: A floor you'll love every day

Imagine a customer thrilled with their new Karndean floor. The floor looks beautifully natural – guests often assume it’s real wood or stone. The colour, grain and layout elevate the whole space, making the room feel more expensive and thoughtfully designed. It feels comfortable every day, warm and soft underfoot, quiet to walk on, with no cold shock like tiles and no creaks or hollow sounds. Spills no longer cause stress; water splashes, pet accidents, or kids’ messes don’t trigger panic – just wipe it up and move on, confident the floor won’t warp or stain. Life happens – and the floor keeps up, looking great because it’s built for real homes, not showrooms. Cleaning is effortless, no special routines, sealing, sanding or polishing needed – just sweep or vacuum and quick mop. It looks professionally finished, with neat edges, planks lining up perfectly, and no gaps, lifting or movement. They feel confident long term with a strong warranty, durable wear layer, and trusted brand.

Popular styles in Ware: Natural and warm wood looks

In Ware, Hertfordshire, natural and warm wood looks are timeless and trending. Consider Karndean Art Select Dove Artisan Oak for a soft, calming oak that pairs well with modern and traditional décor, or Karndean Van Gogh English Character Oak for a classic oak wood grain that brings depth and natural warmth to living spaces. Karndean Van Gogh Golden Brushed Oak offers a golden-toned wood look that’s cozy and versatile, while Karndean Grey Limed Oak LVT Flooring provides a muted, grey-washed wood effect for contemporary spaces. Karndean Knight Wood Luxury Vinyl Tile Flooring is an excellent value wood-look option with broad appeal.

Rigid and click-fit options & stone and neutral looks

Rigid and click-fit options like Karndean Korlok Luxury Vinyl Tile Flooring are popular for their DIY-friendly installation, ideal for living rooms or upstairs spaces. Stone and neutral looks such as Karndean Knight Stone Luxury Vinyl Tile Flooring are a go-to for a durable, waterproof option great for kitchens, bathrooms, or utility rooms. Karndean Cotswold Stone offers a light stone effect for a clean, contemporary base that suits neutral interiors. In areas like Ware, the broader UK trends strongly influence customer choices – people tend to pick warm oak wood looks for living spaces, stone effects for kitchens/bathrooms, and versatile neutrals that suit period homes or contemporary renovations.

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1. Pre-Installation (Before Installation Day)

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A. Product Check & Planning

✔ Inspect all products on delivery:

correct range, colour, batch number, quantity
no visible defects or damage
This avoids issues once installation begins because complaints often aren’t accepted after fitting starts.

✔ Shuffle planks/tiles from multiple boxes before laying to ensure colour/pattern variation looks natural.

✔ Complete other trades first (painting, plastering, plumbing) so no damage happens after the floor’s laid.

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2. Acclimatisation (Get Material Ready)

✔ Remove flooring from boxes in the room where it will be fitted.

✔ Leave flat for at least 24 hours to adjust to room temperature (typically 18-27 °C).

✔ Maintain this temperature before, during, and after installation.

🛠️ Why?

This minimises expansion, contraction, gapping and buckling once stuck or clicked into place.

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3. Subfloor Preparation (Crucial Step)

A properly prepped subfloor is the foundation for a flawless Karndean floor.

✔ Subfloor Must Be:

Clean — no dust, debris, old adhesive, or wax residues.
Level & Smooth — uneven areas will telegraph through the finished floor.
Dry — moisture levels must be below acceptable thresholds (e.g., <75 % RH for gluedown).
Firm & Stable — no movement or springy areas.

📏 Typical tolerance examples:

Levelness: Allowable small deviations only (e.g., millimetres over a few metres).

👉 If subfloor isn’t correct, installers often use:

damp-proof membrane (if moisture is present)
self-levelling compound
plywood over timber boards

Proper prep helps prevent buckling, gaps or future repair calls.

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4. Installation Methods

Karndean offers several installation types — your fitter will choose based on product and room use.

A.

Gluedown

✔ Apply manufacturer-approved adhesive.

✔ Place planks/tiles into adhesive within “open time” window.

✔ Roll with a heavy roller to ensure full contact and avoid bubbles.

✔ Typically requires no traffic until adhesive is dry (often 24 hrs for standard glue).

👍 Best for: Ultimate flat finish, kitchens, bathrooms, high-use areas.

B.

Rigid Core / Click-Lock

✔ Floats over the subfloor with interlocking edges.

✔ Leave small expansion gaps around walls so floor can move safely.

💡 You can usually walk on this immediately after fitting.

👍 Best for: Living rooms, bedrooms, upstairs rooms.

C.

Loose Lay

✔ Uses specially designed backing and friction to hold in place — often no adhesive.

✔ Can allow quicker installs and easier future removal.

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5. Laying the Floor

✔ Plan layout — typically parallel to longest wall or light source.

✔ Stagger joints for natural look.

✔ Cut pieces neatly at room edges as required.

✔ Leave required expansion gaps where needed (especially with click systems).

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6. After the Planks Go Down

✔ Final Trims & Edging

Fix skirting boards or trims to hide gaps.
In wet areas, silicone seal edges for extra protection.

✔ Curing Time

Rigid core & loose lay: Walk on right away.
Gluedown: usually 24 hours before full traffic.

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7. First Walk & Use

🎉 Once the installation is fully complete and glue has dried:

The customer can step on the floor confidently.
Rigid and loosed lay floors are walkable immediately; gluedown may require a short wait.

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8. Post-Installation Care

✔ Regular sweeping or vacuuming (no beater bar).

✔ Damp mopping only — no steam cleaners or harsh chemicals.

✔ Felt pads under furniture legs.

✔ Avoid rubber mats and harsh products.

💡 Pro tip: Deep clean every 6–12 months with mild, approved cleaners.

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9. Warranty Considerations

✔ Correct installation (including subfloor prep and adhesive choice) is essential for the warranty to remain valid.

✔ Improper care or DIY mistakes are common warranty pitfalls — always follow guidelines or use an accredited fitter.

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Summary Timeline

Order & inspect materials.
Acclimation (24–48 hrs).
Subfloor preparation.
Install (method depends on product).
Post-installation curing.
First walk & daily use.
Routine care & maintenance.