When I took over purchasing for our mid-sized company back in 2022, one of the first things on my list was re-evaluating our flooring strategy. We have three offices—one open-plan, one with a lot of heavy traffic from lab coats, and one small historic building with uneven subfloors. My operations manager threw "Karndean" at me. My finance director asked for the bottom line.
It took me a while to figure out there isn't one "best" Karndean product. It depends entirely on what you’re dealing with. Here’s what I learned the hard way, broken down by the scenarios I actually encountered.
Scenario 1: High-Traffic Open Plan & Break Rooms
This is the most common request. You need something that looks professional under fluorescent lights, takes coffee spills, and doesn't show every scuff from rolling chairs and heel tips. People think expensive flooring handles this better. Actually, flooring that's designed for it handles it better. The causation runs the other way.
For this, I’d point you toward a glue-down LVT (like Karndean’s Knight Tile or Van Gogh collections). The reason: it’s fully adhered to the subfloor, so there’s no tenting, no seam peaking, and it doesn't slide under heavy desk pedestals. (I should add that glue-down is also the preferred choice for zones with underfloor heating, which we have in one wing.) Think of it this way: a click-lock floor in a 400-person office? Pass. Too much movement over time.
What to Watch For
- Installation cost: Glue-down is more labor-intensive than click-lock. The material might be cheaper, but the install isn't.
- Specs: Look for wear layer thickness. Karndean’s commercial-grade options start around 20 mil. The thicker the layer, the longer it resists scuffs.
- Warranty: Verify it covers commercial use, not just residential. I got burned on a vendor claim once (circa 2023).
Scenario 2: The Historic Building (Uneven Subfloors)
Our satellite office is in a converted factory. The concrete slab is what I’d politely call "character-rich." Leveling it would have cost as much as the new floor itself. Everyone told me I needed a glue-down for stability. I didn't listen. I ordered a cheap click-LVT from a different supplier. After 8 months, the planks were separating, and the locking system had failed in two places. I ate that mistake out of the department budget.
What I needed was Karndean’s Looselay product. This stuff is a game-changer for bad subfloors. It’s a heavy, flexible vinyl that literally weighs itself into place. You glue the perimeter, and the weight and friction hold the center. No click joint to snap. No glue to bubble. It hides subfloor imperfections better than any other type. For us, it has been rock-solid for 18 months now—even with the occasional forklift tire from the supply closet.
If you have a subfloor that's not perfectly smooth, even small dips, this is the route I wish I'd taken first.
Scenario 3: Small Private Offices & Huddle Rooms
For lower-traffic areas where you want a premium look (think: executive offices or conference rooms), you have more flexibility. The assumption is you need the most expensive product. The reality is you need the right aesthetic.
Karndean’s Art Select collection mimics very high-end wood species with better detail. I went with that for our VP’s office. It looks like hand-scraped oak but costs a fraction. (Put another way: it fooled our architect, which is the highest compliment.)
For these spaces, click-lock (Korlok) is perfectly fine. It’s faster to install, and if you ever need to cut a hole for a desk grommet or replace a single plank, it's easier than cutting glue-down. The one caveat: make sure the subfloor is flat—within 3/16 inch over 10 feet—or you’ll feel the seams. (Industry standard tolerance is 1/8 inch for glue-down, 3/16 for click.)
How to Decide Which Scenario You're In
The best way to sort this out is by answering three questions:
- What's your floor plan? Open plan = glue-down. Private rooms = click-lock or Looselay if subfloor is bad.
- What's your traffic level? High (300+ people daily) = commercial wear layer (20 mil+). Low/medium = residential spec is often fine.
- What's your subfloor like? Concrete with cracks or dips = Looselay. Flat wood subfloor = glue-down or click.
I still kick myself for not asking these questions three years ago. If I’d just talked to our distributor about subfloor conditions first, we’d have saved thousands. The vendor who lists their installation requirements upfront—even if the total looks higher—usually costs less in the end. It’s the hidden costs (like subfloor prep or pulling up a failed floor) that kill budgets.
One last piece of advice: just because a vendor says their product is "commercial grade" doesn't mean it’s right for your specific office. Verify the warranty, check the wear layer specs, and be very honest about your subfloor. Don't be me in 2023.
