Luxury vinyl and porcelain tile are two of today’s most-specified types of flooring, especially in hospitality and leisure applications. But did you know that Karndean Designflooring LVT offers porcelain visuals in more design options, saves time and cost, and is easier to install and maintain when compared to porcelain tile?
Design Flexibility
Our product portfolio spans more than 200 colors and three luxury vinyl constructions (gluedown, loose lay and rigid core) and is available in a variety of specifications. Our individual planks and tiles can be laid straight, at an angle, or in an array of other patterns. Few types of flooring offer the level of personalization found with Karndean Designflooring.
Installation
No matter which format of Karndean LVT you specify, it will be faster and easier to install than porcelain tile. Turn jobs faster with Karndean Designflooring, as the installation of our products requires less tools and makes less of a mess than porcelain tile – saving time and labor costs. If you wish to incorporate some design elements, be aware that the density of porcelain tile makes the product difficult to cut, and even more difficult to achieve a precise cut; but all formats of our LVT can be easily scored and snapped using a utility knife. For projects on a tighter timeline, turn to our loose lay and rigid core floating floor ranges. Unlike unglazed porcelain tile, our products do not need to be sealed.
Washburn LM27, Textum WP331; both shown with 3mm DS10 Chalk design strips
Maintenance and Repair
Regardless of the install setting, porcelain tile requires more maintenance than most businesses have time to accommodate. Porcelain is vulnerable to chips and seasonal cracks, and its porous grout is susceptible to water, mold and mildew. With Karndean, you can create a grouted look using design strips (smaller pieces of LVT) in between planks or tiles without worrying about staining or discoloration commonly seen in real grout.
Karndean LVT is also much easier to repair than porcelain tile. Should a gluedown or loose lay plank or tile get damaged, it can be individually replaced; but replacing porcelain tile is a messy and time-consuming process that involves chipping away pieces of the damaged tile and surrounding grout, mixing thinset mortar, and grouting a new tile.
Cost Savings
See how much you can save by specifying any one of our three LVT constructions instead of porcelain tile on upcoming projects. For more information about the advantages of Karndean Designflooring over porcelain tile, contact us and we'll put you in touch with a Commercial Business Manager in your area.
| Gluedown | Loose Lay | Rigid Core | Porcelain | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Job Size | 400 sq.ft. | |||
| Cost/sq.ft. | ||||
| Flooring Material | $2.90 | $3.42 | $3.75 | $2.00 |
| Grout | $0.00 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $0.50 |
| Adhesive/Thinset | $0.16 |
$0.16 |
$0.00 | $0.50 |
|
Subfloor Prep (backer board, labor) |
$1.00 | $1.00 | $0.00 | $2.50 |
| Installation | $1.00 | $1.00 | $1.50 | $2.00 |
| Cost/sq.ft. | $5.06 | $5.58 | $5.25 | $7.50 |
| Grand Total | $2,024.00 | $2,232.00 | $2,100.00 | $3,000.00 |
| SAVINGS | $976.00 | $768.00 | $900.00 | |
