Local Advice · 6 min read
Where to Buy Karndean Flooring in Crewe
Reviewed by Blake Williams, Operations Director
Grosvenor Flooring is a Karndean Retail Partner covering Crewe and the rest of South Cheshire. We sell the whole Karndean range, from the budget-friendly Knight Tile to the top-end Art Select. We fit it as well. You deal with one company for the floor, the preparation and the laying.
In this article
Every fitted job begins with Blake Williams, our Operations Director. Blake lives in Tarvin, about 35 minutes from Crewe. He comes to your house, measures up, checks the subfloor and gives you a written price that lists every part of the job.
Two Ways to Buy Karndean From Us
How you buy depends on the range.
Online at the listed price. Palio Essenza, Knight Tile Rigid Core and Van Gogh Rigid Core can be added to the basket on our website. Delivery is free anywhere in the UK, which suits confident DIYers or anyone who already has a fitter.
On a quote. Knight Tile, Van Gogh and Art Select are listed as request a quote. These are glue-down ranges that need a properly prepared base, so we price them once Blake has seen the rooms. Supply only is still possible if you prefer.
The Karndean Ranges at a Glance
Karndean gives a lifetime residential warranty on most of its ranges. Palio Essenza carries 20 years.
| Range | Fitting | Wear layer | Good for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Knight Tile | Glue-down | 0.3mm | Bedrooms, dining rooms, rentals |
| Palio Essenza | Glue-down | 0.3mm | Italian-inspired wood and stone looks on a budget |
| Van Gogh | Glue-down | 0.55mm | Kitchens, hallways, family living rooms |
| Art Select | Glue-down | 0.7mm | Busy open-plan spaces and statement patterns |
| Knight Tile Rigid Core | Click | 0.3mm | Quick installs over a sound existing floor |
| Van Gogh Rigid Core | Click | 0.55mm | Busier rooms where glue-down is not practical |
Matching Karndean to a Crewe House
A good Karndean choice starts with the room, not the brochure. In a railway terrace near the town centre the front room is often the quietest space in the house, so Knight Tile in a warm oak is plenty. The back kitchen and the hallway take the boots, the bikes and the dog, which is where Van Gogh’s thicker wear layer earns its keep.
The 1930s semis around Wistaston and Willaston tend to have bigger kitchens knocked through to a dining room. A single Van Gogh design run through both rooms makes the space feel larger. On the newer estates at Leighton, Coppenhall East and Basford, open-plan ground floors with underfloor heating are common. Art Select in a wide plank or a herringbone works beautifully there. Glue-down Karndean is also well suited to underfloor heating within its temperature limits.
If you rent out a house in Crewe, Knight Tile is hard to beat for value and is easy to keep clean between tenancies.
Rigid Core: Karndean Without the Glue
The two Rigid Core ranges click together and float over the existing floor instead of being bonded to it. That makes them forgiving of small dips and quicker to lay, which helps when you want a kitchen finished in a day. They are also the ranges you can buy straight from our website. The trade-off is a firmer feel underfoot than glue-down Karndean and fewer laying patterns.
Not sure which suits your house? Our glue-down vs click guide sets out the differences, or Blake can tell you on the visit.
Blake’s Visit and Your Quote
Blake measures each room, checks the base for level and moisture and asks how you use the space. Before joining the family business he qualified as an accountant at Baker Tilly. That is why the quote lists the Karndean, adhesive, preparation, fitting, door bars and removal of the old floor separately. There is no minimum job size. Contact us with your postcode to arrange a time.
Prices depend on the range, the size and shape of the rooms, the preparation and the laying pattern. A herringbone hall takes longer than straight planks in a square lounge. Our Karndean flooring prices guide explains how the ranges compare.
Getting Karndean Laid
On the day, a regular team of fitters we know and trust prepares the subfloor and lays the floor to Karndean’s installation guidance. Older timber floors in Crewe’s terraces usually get a plywood overlay. Uneven concrete in a post-war house gets a smoothing compound. Design strips, borders and patterns are all possible. Read more on our Karndean floor fitter page.
Looking After Karndean
Karndean is one of the easier floors to live with, which is part of its appeal in a busy family house. Sweep or vacuum to lift grit, then wipe over with a damp mop and a pH-neutral cleaner. Avoid steam mops, bleach and anything abrasive. Felt pads under chair legs stop scuffs in the kitchen. A good mat at the front and back doors does more than anything else to keep the surface looking new in a terrace where the hallway opens straight onto the street.
Because the colour runs through a printed design layer protected by the wear layer, small marks rarely show. A damaged plank can be lifted and replaced by a fitter rather than the whole floor being redone, which is worth knowing if you are flooring a rental.
See Karndean in Altrincham
Karndean is on display in our Altrincham showroom, under an hour up the M6 from Crewe. It is a 24/7 Smart Showroom, so you can request a door code online and call in at a time that suits you. Karndean samples are free to collect from the showroom but are not posted out. Amtico, Invictus and our own GF floors sit alongside, so you can compare brands in one visit.
Covering Crewe and South Cheshire
We fit Karndean throughout CW1 and CW2, from the town centre to Haslington, Shavington, Wistaston, Willaston, Leighton, Coppenhall and Gresty. We also cover Sandbach and the villages towards it.
Our sister guide to Karndean in Nantwich covers the market town and its villages. If you are weighing up brands, Amtico in Crewe is worth a read too. The flooring in Crewe page lists everything else we do in the town.
About the reviewer
Operations Director, Grosvenor Flooring
Blake runs our supply and fit service and carries out every home visit himself. He grew up in Chester and lives in Tarvin, so he knows Cheshire homes well.
More about Blake →Floor Finder
Not sure which floor to choose?
Answer a few quick questions about your room, who uses it and the look you like. Floor Finder picks the designs that suit you best, with prices per m² and a rough cost for your room.
Start Floor FinderFrequently Asked Questions
Can I buy Karndean online and have it delivered to Crewe?
Yes for Palio Essenza, Knight Tile Rigid Core and Van Gogh Rigid Core, which go in the basket with free UK delivery. Knight Tile, Van Gogh and Art Select are priced on a quote.
Which Karndean is best for a kitchen?
Van Gogh is the usual choice thanks to its 0.55mm wear layer. Art Select at 0.7mm suits the busiest kitchens and open-plan spaces.
Who fits Karndean in Crewe?
Grosvenor Flooring. After Blake’s survey and written quote, our regular team of fitters we know and trust prepares the base and lays the Karndean.
Is Karndean Rigid Core waterproof?
The planks themselves resist water well, which makes Rigid Core a good fit for kitchens and bathrooms. Spills should still be wiped up rather than left to sit at the joints.
Can Karndean go over underfloor heating?
Glue-down and Rigid Core Karndean both work over underfloor heating as long as the surface stays within Karndean’s limit. Blake checks the system type on his visit.
Where can I see Karndean near Crewe?
In our Altrincham showroom, open 24/7 by door code. Samples can be collected there for free.
Further Reading
GF by Associated Weavers
Premium-spec glue-down, fairly priced
0.55mm wear layerPlank & parquet25-year warranty
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