Gransnet forums

House and home

Flooring

(31 Posts)
Cabowich Tue 11-Nov-25 16:54:02

I'm looking for some good flooring for a bedroom. Not carpet - I only have to look at it, and a dirty mark appears.

We've just had our kitchen renovated and chose LVT tiling. It's only been down 3 weeks and has scratched already.

We used to have Amtico in our previous house which was generally very good. But now Amtico seems to have been bundled into "LVT" and I'm wary of it. Has it been dumbed down or is it still as good as it used to be?

Talking to flooring sales people is hopeless. I've just asked one for their opinion of the type of LVT I am disappointed in, and she recommended it - said it was just as good as Amtico!

Any advice? Or am I overthinking?

sophie232 Mon 08-Dec-25 11:01:23

Amtico is still one of the sturdier LVT options, but the market has filled up with cheaper products that sit under the same label, which makes it harder to compare. The scratching in your kitchen suggests the batch you used has a softer wear layer. For a bedroom, you could look at Amtico or Karndean in their higher wear layer ranges because they hold up better and clean more easily. You are not overthinking it, the quality difference is real, and choosing from the premium ranges usually avoids the problems you just had.

Jaxjacky Fri 21-Nov-25 06:57:16

Reported

carpetsstore Fri 21-Nov-25 06:18:46

Message deleted by Gransnet. Here's a link to our Talk guidelines.

Bluesmum Wed 12-Nov-25 22:40:46

I have Karndean in my garden room and am so very disappointed in it. It has scratched very easily but what is far worse is the fact that the sun has bleached it, but not uniformally! It was a Pearl grey in colour originally, but the sun has changed the colour to a very washed out pale blue(!) on some strips, whilst other strips have changed colour to a pale fawn shade!I admit the room does have two walls of sliding bi fold patio doors and a glass roof lantern, so a lot of light and sun!

SpanielCuddler Wed 12-Nov-25 21:40:55

Another vote for Karndean. We had Amtico in our through lounge in our last house.
Recently had Karndean in our hall and bathroom. It looks and feels fantastic.

GrannyIvy Wed 12-Nov-25 21:14:03

I have Amtico in my conservatory and karndean in kitchen and hallway and two bathrooms both been down years and very pleased with them. Definitely carpet in the bedrooms and lounge much more cosy

FranP Wed 12-Nov-25 20:45:50

We have Quickstep. It is great, resists doggy feet and DH shoes. Been down for 6 years in high traffic areas. It was sold as better quality than Karndean, and that does seem to be the case.

Only issue is not quite 100% waterproof, so need to be wary as to how much water is on your mop.

Lahlah65 Wed 12-Nov-25 20:42:10

It does sounds like you’ve been unlucky? DD2 has LVT planking in through living room - looking good after 6 years inspite of a rescue springer spaniel.
We need to replace carpet in spare bedrooms - badly damaged by moths unfortunately. We have engineered wood throughout loft conversion (bedroom and sitting area) , but surface started to show wear after about 5 years and quote for resurfacing was horrendous.
New parquet elsewhere - lovely but too expensive for spare rooms, so thinking about laminate…..

Warmglovesandsocks Wed 12-Nov-25 20:33:25

I would go for Flotex Industrial carpet. It’s hard wearing, easily cleaned and not too expensive.

GrammaH Wed 12-Nov-25 20:32:44

Another Amtico fan here, we've had it in our bathroom for over 20 years and it still looks great. However, it has to be carpet in the bedroom! We're lucky to live near Kidderminster, still a carpet making centre, with quite a few shops selling seconds and ends of rolls at knock down prices. We're just having the bedroom done now 😀

4allweknow Wed 12-Nov-25 17:05:41

My son has a lot of Amtico in the downstairs of his house. Hallway, toilet, utility, very busy and large kitche ln. Been down since moving in 6 years ago. Puppy labrador, now 5 years and 3 cats and the Amtico is still fantastic. Just wish I could afford it, but not in bedrooms, still prefer carpeting. I see a couple of floor covering stores with Amtico adverts on windows when in town. Possibly independents not big chains.

WithNobsOnIt Wed 12-Nov-25 15:12:07

Try Pergol. Scratch proof and very hard wearing..

Or vinyl.cusion floor. Excellent and soft to walk on.

There is a ton of stuff to choose from out there
.Sure you will get something sorted

Psalmody Wed 12-Nov-25 14:57:00

We chose bamboo flooring which has been amazing. We have two large dogs and lots of traffic on the floor and it is still looks great 9 years in.

Visgir1 Wed 12-Nov-25 14:42:02

I'm an Amtico fan too but bedrooms personally Carpet.

StoneofDestiny Wed 12-Nov-25 13:57:04

I’ve got amtico down in kitchen and bathrooms - as new after 10
Years. Carpet elsewhere

Calendargirl Wed 12-Nov-25 13:25:51

We have what I assume is ‘luxury vinyl’ in the bedrooms, bathroom, kitchen, dining room, porch.

Wooden flooring in hall and sitting room.

I suppose the former is glorified Lino. It’s easy to sweep, vacuum, wash, and not bad underfoot even in the winter,

I’m not a lover of carpet, and when we were re-doing our bedrooms, a couple of years ago, I thought of a friend who cared for her very elderly father. He had had an ‘accident’ on his bedroom carpet, and it took some sorting out. I felt then that a surface that would wash easily was sensible as we get older. Plus if we were unlucky enough to fall in the bathroom say, the vinyl is much more forgiving than hard tiles.

Oreo Wed 12-Nov-25 10:06:40

Karndean is brilliant but in the bedroom for me, only carpet will do.
No wool, you can get moths but a good man made alternative that’s soft and warm to the feet.

Franbern Wed 12-Nov-25 09:15:45

Madmeg, when I had my en-suite done last year I had special bathroom Amtico tiles in there, specially designed so they do not get slippy when wet, and are warm underfoot.

Had Amtico in my last house in the through lounge, designed to look like Partquet flooring. This room was a main thoroughfair and it looked as good as new when I sold the house after they had been down for 12 years.

In my flat I have Karndean flooring throughout (except my bedroom which is carpeted and the new floor in the en-suite).
Been down in hallway and Living/dining room for four years now and are lovely, so easy to keep clean and look as new.

Cabowich Wed 12-Nov-25 04:25:48

Madmeg, have you considered porcelain tiles for your bathroom? We've had Ca Pietra tiles laid and they are stunning, particularly if you like a bit of colour. They are definitely not slippy.

Madmeg Tue 11-Nov-25 22:31:10

I had Karndean in my new kitchen and breakfast room abt 8 years ago an despite a lot of footfall in there it looks as good as new. I have another Kardean design in my little study and that is also good as new.

The beautiful and expensive wool carpet in my hall is sadly not doing well. The colour was too light for such a through room and I'm thinking of replacing that with Karndean too.

What I really need is some new flooring in the main bathroom, which is currently carpet. I use the en-suite but DH uses the bathroom and is afraid it will be slippy when wet. I could do with some suggestions for there.

cornergran Tue 11-Nov-25 22:28:02

We have 3 year old Karndean in our kitchen and hall. No complaints. I’m not sure I’d like it in a bedroom though.

There are some excellent modern carpets which are stain resistant and easily cleaned. We recently successfully cleaned the contents of a glass of red wine from our pale living room carpet. Not a sign of a mark. Mr C survived! grin.

Cabbie21 Tue 11-Nov-25 22:16:32

I am very pleased with the Karndean flooring in my hall and garden room, but personally would not want it in a bedroom.

Skydancer Tue 11-Nov-25 22:10:02

Engineered oak. Expensive but hard wearing and classy. Looks good in any room.

Litterpicker Tue 11-Nov-25 21:37:21

I have Moduleo too - installed all through downstairs about 3 to 4 years ago. It is easy to clean and warm underfoot.

LOUISA1523 Tue 11-Nov-25 18:37:25

Amtico is just one brand of LVT ....there's loads of them...I've got moduleo...had it down 8 years ...looks as good as new