Frequently Asked Questions

At Karndean we see flooring differently...

We travel the world in our quest to bring you exceptional floors that inspire and delight. From the ancient forests of Europe, to the remote Australian outback and beyond, we seek out expressive and intriguing forms in the natural world to influence our unique floor designs. By combining these original features with cutting-edge design, we create simply beautiful floors that you’ll love for a lifetime.

To find out more about Karndean and our exceptional products, visit our company page.

Karndean flooring is a vinyl flooring product made primarily from calcium carbonate (limestone), polyvinyl chloride, and pigments. It is structured with five layers - two PVC backing layers, one high definition photographic layer, one clear PVC embossed wear layer and a top polyurethane (PU) protective coating. For more information on how our products are made, you can view our Environmental Product Declaration here.

As with most smooth floor coverings, water and other liquids can make it slippery. Karndean floors are designed to be slip resistant, but it is always best to clean up any spillages straight away, and keep the floor dry.

Besides having different design inspirations, sizes and formats which make each range unique, each of our product ranges also have a different wear layer. The thicker the wear layer the more durable the floor, but also the more our product designers can do with the finish - adding unique embosses for more texture and bevelled edges. For more information on each of our ranges, visit our range overview.

Simply visit one of our retail partners who will be able to further assist you with purchasing and installing your Karndean flooring. To find your local retailer, visit our Find A Retailer page.

Our gluedown design strips can be placed between tiles to create a natural grouting effect or to enhance the design of your wood look floor by creating boarders and zones. Choose from a range of tones and textures, available in 10, 5 and 3mm wide, unless otherwise specified.

For more information, please visit our design components page.

We have a selection of four pre-arranged decorative borders to complement our Knight Tile gluedown floors. As with our design strips, our borders can complement and enhance your flooring design.

For help choosing the right border for you, why not visit your local retailer?

If you would like to be provided with up to 6 free physical samples of Karndean flooring, please follow the following steps:

●      Head to a Karndean Designflooring product range page or any other product listing page on our site

●      Click on any product images you like the look of to view more info

●      Select 'Add free sample +'

●      You will see your Basket update (top right of your screen) - you can request a maximum of 6 free swatch samples

●      Once you’re happy you have all your samples in your Basket, click the 'My samples' text in the header bar to proceed to Checkout

●      Fill in your Delivery Details and your samples to arrive at your door within 7-10 business days

Yes, Karndean design flooring can be laid over pre-existing floors. The type of pre-existing floor covering will influence which format of Karndean flooring will best suit your needs. Our Karndean LooseLay and Korlok ranges have been designed to be laid over pre-existing hard floor coverings including tiles, which make them a very cost and time effective product for those who are renovating.

Of course, we recommend having a conversation with your retailer or one of our lovely design consultants before making a decision. 

We offer three types of luxury vinyl flooring formats: Gluedown, LooseLay and Rigid core hybrid. Our three formats each have their own unique features, benefits and installation methods and requirements. Visit our Formats Explained page to explore the key differences between each format.

We know that choosing a floor that suits you and your home can be challenging; that's why we offer many of our beautiful designs in dual format.

Dual Format are designs which are available in both gluedown or rigid core formats, you can enjoy the design you want, in the format you need. Visit our Dual Format page to find out more.

Your floor fitter can advise when the adhesive will be dry and you can walk on your new floor. Remove all loose debris from the floor using a soft brush or dust mop and ensure that all dry adhesive is removed from the surface using Karndean Remove with a non-abrasive scouring pad or the coarse pad from our Floor Care Kit. After a minimum of 24hrs, your floor can be cleaned with a pH neutral cleaner using a damp mop. We recommend using Karndean Clean as this has been specifically formulated to protect and enhance your Karndean floor.

For more information please visit our floor care page.

One of the key benefits of Karndean flooring is that it’s very easy to look after. Its enhanced protective surface treatment provides a hardwearing surface that shrugs off dirt and spills. With regular cleaning and maintenance, you can keep your floor looking as beautiful as the day it was installed. Our Floor Care Kit provides all the products and information you need to clean and maintain your floor.

For more information on Karndean Cleaning, please visit this page.

We recommend cleaning your floor with a pH neutral cleaner such as Karndean Clean which has been specifically formulated to protect and enhance Karndean flooring. Avoid cleaning products that contain agents such as bleach as these could cause damage to the floor. For more guidance on looking after your floor please read our cleaning and maintenance pages.

Splashes and spills can be simply dealt with by wiping or mopping as soon as possible with our Karndean Clean. In order to prevent spills from penetrating through the tile edges or custom cuts, your floor should have been installed tightly.

Most spills will not affect a Karndean floor, especially if they are cleaned up straight away. However there are some spillages such as solvent-based liquids, wine and some spices  that can stain. Refreshing the surface layer of your Karndean floor every 12-18 months using Karndean Remove and Refresh will provide some protection against this type of damage.

Karndean cleaning products have been specifically formulated to protect and enhance your Karndean floor. All our cleaning and maintenance products can be purchased from your local independent retailer.

With a hygienic and durable surface treatment that resists dirt and stains, your Karndean floor is easy to keep clean on a daily basis with a soft broom, damp mop and Karndean Clean. If you wish to use a vacuum cleaner we recommend checking with the manufacturer to make sure it's suitable for use on a Karndean floor. We do not recommend using a steam mop or cleaner on your Karndean floor.

White spots are usually as a result of water not being wiped up quickly from your floor - especially in bathrooms. To remove these blemishes simply apply Karndean Remove to the area, then wipe off the residue with a mop and rinse thoroughly with clean water.

As with any flooring, furniture and shoe soles rubbing on your floor can cause unsightly scuff marks. To remove black scuff marks from your Karndean floor, dilute a small amount of Karndean Clean in some water and apply using a moistened cloth or a non-abrasive scouring pad.

By putting felt pads under the feet of your furniture you can avoid table and chair legs scratching your Karndean floor. Floor protector pads are available in our Floor Care Kit or from your local independent retailer. Avoid dragging furniture such as chairs or other objects across the floor. For heavy items such as washing machines that may require moving occasionally we recommend using load bearing castors.

You can improve the appearance of light scratches by applying Karndean Remove with a non-abrasive scouring pad, wiping off the residue with a mop and rinsing thoroughly with clean water. Then re-apply Karndean Refresh to restore the satin finish to your floor and protect the surface from marks and fine scratches. Our Floor Care Kit provides all the products and information you need to clean and maintain your floor.

On the occasion there is a particularly deep scratch, first try using Karndean Remove and Refresh products on your floor. If this doesn't improve the appearance of the deep scratch enough, the best option may be to speak to your floor fitter about replacing the plank that has been damaged. The versatility of Karndean flooring planks allows for a no fuss replacement and this is even easier with the benefits of Karndean LooseLay.

All designflooring ranges are backed by our lifetime residential warranty, which protects against product wear out and manufacturing defects for 35 years. If you purchased your flooring through a Karndean Retail Partner, you will also be provided with a Transferable Purchase Guarantee.

For more information on warranties, you can download our full warranty terms and conditions here.

If you purchased your Karndean Designflooring through a Karndean Retail Partner your warranty will have the added benefit of it being transferable. This means that if you sell your house within your guarantee period, you can pass the guarantee on to the new owners.

To qualify for a transferable guarantee you must:

●      Adhere to the terms and conditions outlined in the Purchase Warranty

●      Purchase from one of our retail partners and they will provide us with your email address to enable us to send you your transferable warranty

If you haven't received your Transferable Purchase Guarantee within two months of your floor being fitted, contact us on 1800 331 170 and a member of our Customer Service team will help.

To transfer your warranty to a new owner, simply leave the Transferable Purchase Guarantee behind for the new home owner and they can transfer the guarantee into their own name, by contacting us either by phone or email.

For more information on our Transferrable Purchase Guarantee, please visit this page.

You can contact our friendly customer service team who will be able to further assist you with all your Karndean enquiries. You can visit our contact us page, or give us a ring at 1800 331 170.