Fully waterproof. Warm underfoot.
The floor wood cannot be in a kitchen or bathroom.
Karndean and Amtico LVT — 100% waterproof, compatible with underfloor heating, and durable enough for kitchens, bathrooms and rental properties. Supplied and fitted with full-bed adhesive as standard.
Four rooms where LVT is the right choice.
Not every floor needs to be wood. In kitchens, bathrooms and rental properties, LVT outperforms every wood product — at a lower cost and with less maintenance.
Kitchens
Fully waterproof and resistant to the spills, splashes and foot traffic a working kitchen generates. Warm underfoot compared to ceramic tile, and quieter.
High trafficBathrooms
100% waterproof throughout — not just water-resistant. Safe for full wet zones where wood flooring cannot go. Compatible with heated bathroom floors.
Fully waterproofOpen-plan ground floors
Consistent appearance across multiple rooms without expansion joints or threshold breaks. Works where engineered wood can't — concrete slabs with variable moisture.
Continuous runRental properties
Durable, easy to clean, and robust enough to handle tenants and regular changeovers. Lower maintenance than wood and more resilient to furniture movement.
Landlord favouriteWaterproof, UFH-compatible, low maintenance.
Karndean and Amtico are not cheap vinyl. They are multi-layer products with realistic wood and stone surfaces — and the practical performance to match.
100% waterproof
Not water-resistant — fully waterproof. LVT does not swell, warp or stain from standing water, making it suitable for kitchens and bathrooms without exception.
Works over underfloor heating
LVT is one of the best-performing floor coverings over UFH — it conducts heat efficiently and handles the temperature cycling without movement.
Warm and quiet underfoot
The foam or cork backing absorbs sound and feels warmer underfoot than ceramic tile — a noticeable difference in a kitchen or bathroom used daily.
Realistic wood and stone looks
Karndean and Amtico LVT is visually indistinguishable from real wood or stone at normal viewing distance. The embossed surface texture adds to the realism.
Low maintenance
Sweep, mop and done. No oiling, no recoating, no specialist cleaning products. A practical choice for busy households and rental properties.
Glue-down stability
We use full-bed adhesive on all Karndean and Amtico installations — the method recommended by both manufacturers for the most stable, sound-free result.
LVT shows every subfloor imperfection. We level before we lay.
A creak in LVT is almost always a subfloor problem — a hollow, a high spot or an inadequate bond. We level to a tighter tolerance than most contractors, use manufacturer-specified adhesive and primer, and roll every tile after laying. The result is a floor with no hollows, no edge-lift and no movement underfoot.
Six steps from survey to a finished LVT floor.
Survey & subfloor assessment
LVT is unforgiving of subfloor imperfections — any lump, hollow or debris will telegraph through to the surface. We assess the subfloor with a straightedge before quoting and tell you exactly what preparation is needed.
Free visit, 45–60 minutesProduct specification
We advise on the right Karndean or Amtico product for the room and the look you want. Samples brought to the visit. Click-lock or glue-down chosen based on the subfloor type and the manufacturer specification.
Fixed quote within 3 working daysSubfloor preparation
LVT requires a flatter subfloor than most products — tolerance ±2mm per 2m for glue-down. We self-level, grind high spots and skim as required. Any debris, contamination or existing adhesive is removed before priming.
1 day typically, more for concrete grindingPriming & adhesive
Subfloor primed per manufacturer specification. Full-bed adhesive applied — not perimeter-only or dot-and-dab. A fully bonded LVT floor does not creak, flex or edge-lift.
Adhesive cure time before foot traffic: 24 hoursInstallation
Tiles or planks laid in the correct direction for the room and light source. Seams staggered per manufacturer requirements. Every tile checked for adhesion with a roller after laying.
1–2 days depending on areaFinishing & walk-through
Skirting and threshold bars fitted. Caulk lines run at junctions. Full walk-through before we leave — any hollow or lifted edge re-bonded before we sign off. 1-year fitting guarantee issued.
Guarantee covers workmanship, not surface wear4.7 stars from 386 verified reviews.
A selection of feedback from homeowners and landlords we have fitted LVT for across London.
“Karndean throughout the kitchen and into the hallway. The subfloor was concrete with some uneven areas — they levelled it properly before laying. No hollows, no creaks. It has been two years now and it still looks perfect.”
D.T.
Battersea, London
“We chose LVT for two bathrooms and the kitchen. They specified a product that goes over our UFH system and the installation was clean and precise. The detail at the thresholds and skirting is exactly right.”
L.M.
Hackney, East London
“Used them for two rental flats. The Amtico they specified has taken everything tenants have thrown at it. Practical recommendation, well fitted, and the 1-year guarantee gave us confidence. Will use again.”
G.C.
Wandsworth, London
Considering LVT for your kitchen, bathroom or rental property?
Free subfloor survey. Karndean and Amtico samples on the visit. Fixed-price quote within 3 working days.
LVT flooring questions, answered.
LVT stands for Luxury Vinyl Tile. It is a multi-layer product with a rigid core, a photographic wear layer (that mimics wood or stone in high detail), and a textured surface. Cheaper sheet vinyl is a single-layer product that is thinner, less durable and looks less realistic. Karndean and Amtico are the market-leading LVT brands in the UK — the quality difference compared to budget vinyl is significant.
Yes — fully waterproof, not just water-resistant. LVT does not absorb moisture, and the product itself will not swell or warp from water exposure. This makes it suitable for kitchens and full bathroom floors. The important caveat is that the subfloor preparation and adhesive must also be correct — a poorly bonded LVT floor can lift at the edges and allow water underneath.
Yes — and it is one of the best-performing floor coverings over UFH. LVT conducts heat efficiently and handles the temperature cycling without the movement risks associated with wood. We confirm the specific product is UFH-approved before specifying.
Sometimes. The existing tiles need to be fully bonded — no hollow, cracked or loose tiles — and the floor cannot be so high that it creates a problem at doorways or adjoining rooms. We check this at the survey and advise honestly on whether it is the right approach.
Karndean and Amtico are our preferred brands — they are the most specified LVT products in the UK residential market and carry full manufacturer warranties. We have trade accounts with both. We can also fit other LVT products you have sourced yourself.
Glue-down is the manufacturer-recommended method for Karndean and Amtico in most applications. A full-bed glue-down installation is more stable, quieter underfoot, and less likely to edge-lift or creak than click-lock. Click-lock has its place — floating installations over existing floors where adhesive is not appropriate — but we default to glue-down where the subfloor allows.
Individual tiles and planks can be replaced without disturbing the rest of the floor, which is one of the practical advantages of a tile/plank format over sheet vinyl. We recommend keeping a few spare tiles from the original batch for this reason — Amtico and Karndean both update their ranges, so an exact match is not always available years later.
Still have questions? Call 07405 739028 (Mon–Sat, 7am–7pm) or email info@corebuildgroup.co.uk
Want a wood or carpet option instead?
LVT Flooring across London and the South East.
Free survey and fixed-price quote at all locations. Not listed below? Call us — we cover more than we list here.
Don't see your area? Call 07405 739028 — we cover more locations than listed above.
Ready to fit LVT that won't creak, lift or fail?
Tell us the rooms, whether there is underfloor heating, and whether you are thinking Karndean or Amtico. Free survey, fixed-price quote in three working days, real start date.