Hi, just had a Karndean Van Gogh gluedown tile fitted in the kitchen with 3mm wide design strips. The strips all are very slightly raised and running your finger against them you can feel a sharp edge. Is this normal? Fitted by an authorised fitter and all prep done as per manufacturer recommendations. The strips all appear to be slightly ‘u’ shaped so not sure if that’s where the problem lays. Shop confirmed the strips are the right size thickness for the tiles but don’t see there is a real problem. At the cost of the tiles we were expecting a smooth finish with no sharp edges. Any advice or thoughts welcome as our next step is probably to make a complaint directly to Karndean, although I know that’s a lengthy process.
What strips are they ? Can you post some pictures ? Do you have a spare pack of them left over ? For Van Gogh the strips should be 3mm depth
Added a couple of photos of the strips in place - these do make it look like they protrude a lot above, but in reality it’s about a 1mm. Other photo is of a strip end on. Strips are 3mm wide and 3mm deep. Thanks.
Not saying you supposed to but I've found they do have a slight lip when using a 3mm so swapped to 2.5mm
Thanks and yes I had wondered if as you say the micro bevel on the main tile with a straight edge on the strip is where the problem is coming from. I’ll go back to the shop and try the 2.5mm strip to test it, although guessing they’ll say it’s not recommended so voids the warranty etc.
Took another close up photo of the micro bevel on the 3 mm tile with 3mm design strip and now more obvious why I can feel the sharp edge. Don’t know why Karndean sell it like this. Hoping we may be able to change to a 2.5mm strip but waiting to see what the shop says.
Pretty sure Spacey (an admin on here) used to bevel his strips sometimes. Not what I'd want to be doing but I'd always fit a 2.5mm with the van gogh for this reason but sometimes karndean can get it wrong, maybe if you ask the shop to give you a few different batch 3mm depth strips just to compare
That’s great thanks and will do. Do you know if I leave them will the edges get ‘chipped’ or are they too hard wearing for that? Is dirt more likely to get trapped? I’m guessing lots of other people just live with this ‘issue’ as I know the VG range is very popular and 3mm strips are probably fitted a lot of times.
It is more of a dirty trap with a lip like that yes. Van gogh is a nice tile, especially their herringbone in the van gogh. With the 2.5mm depth strip it should be more bang on. Had similar issues with the opus range bit like I say even if they give you a totally different colour in the 3mm depth, just try it and compare, you never know
It’s always been a problem on a lot of LVT Karndean art select is 3mm and a full bevel taking it to 2.5mm edge. but a lot of LVT is 2.5mm which has a micro bevel taking it to 2.2mm. Project floors do a design strips at 2.2mm deep to match perfect. So imo karndean should be making some strips as 2.7mm deep for that tile. problem with the 2.5mm as it will a a fraction lower but I’d take that over the 3mm strips for your tile.
This is a issue you should take up with karndean. The shop have fitted the right products by the sound of it.
Thanks HC&F, yes that looks like the realistic option. As it will be difficult I'm assuming to remove all the old glue from such a small space, the 2.5mm strips may sit up a little higher and meet the micro bevel without a gap, which would then sort the issue. Merit - yes agreed and already put in a complaint to Karndean. Was a bit disappointed the shop don't highlight the issue on some tiles, but guess they need to make their sales so aren't going to highlight problems. You're right it's Karndean themselves who need to produce the right size strip for that bevel. Thanks all.
