Karndean tiles won't butt up

Hi, new to the forum. Been fitting Opus SP212 Terra with a 5mm beige grout strip today, had a nightmare trying to get them butted up nice and tight, had the same problem a couple of weeks ago with da vinci LST 03 piazza limestone with a 5mm cotswold feature strip.
All the tiles are left with a dark line around the edge, in other words a gap.
I like like to leave my customers happy with their new floor and this customer is not happy
I do everything buy the the book so there is no comeback. Has anyone come across this or have i just had some bad batches?

 

It's a common problem with light coloured tiles and strip. I've seen myself trimming the underside of the tile to but it right up and even then there's a line.

 

Afraid to say that's Karndean for ya mate, its getting made on the cheap like alot of the others.
10 years ago it was great gear but gone downhill now.

 

You know I was thinking that myself how it's gone downhill but how do you tell the customer that you sold it too that lol. Thinking about packing it up, is it really worth the hassle?
Thanks for your replies.

 

hi russ i fit karndean most of the time and i find it a bit of a lottery, sometimes they butt up nice and tight, sometimes they dont! mind you amticos pretty much the same nowadays. if its the odd gap i find running the tip of a straight knife(side on) down the gap works wonders.

 

most of the polyflor ones are decent, project floors have a cracking range and fit lovelly

 

I find the island limestone range don't butt up well, it's the small square in the panel. fit some today had to put some corking to fill the gap when dry you don't see it.


Steve

 

Completely agree with that. Have tried all things and have always had the same problem

 

Apparently Karndean use a alternative factory that supplies/manufactures cheaper than before and hence the problems that you are experiencing do come/go with it.I got told this from a uk importer of Lvts.

 

It's just overpriced s##t, don't sell it anymore too many complaints, sticking with polyflor and project floors. Running chene and floor too yet to get a callback.

 

Hi Russ
You are not alone. I have been fitting Karndean for about 9 years now and I recently sent my son on the Karndean course to gain his NVQ. The NVQ assessor was also present during the training and the Limestone tile was mentioned as an issue with what they call black lining! My son was told that this can be corrected after installation and cleaning and drying of the floor by applying BAL coloured grout powder to the finished floor, brushing in and off and then wipe with a clean, damp cloth. I must say that I was amazed that they would teach this, but it is accepted by Karndean as an approved method. Beware though, it is not designed to correct fitters mistakes!

Hope this helps

 

telling fitters to bodge it :shock: when a customer pays for this kind of work they rightly expect it to be perfect.

 

I fitted a stack load of lighter coloured Amtico planks pre Christmas and had the same issues with the backing layer spreading further that the wear layer... but I'm amazed that people that dish out NVQ qualifications are advocating the use of an abrasive grout powder being smeared into the gaps of sub standard products. How is that not going to scratch the wear layer.

I know Karndean have always been quick to distance themselve from any blame when it comes down to shrinking tiles, delamination, etc. by forever blaming installation error but where are you now to defend yourselves when you clearly have manufacturing problems?

 

Mind you Amtico Spacia Contour is a lvt and you use grout on those.

 

Oh i see ,well just rubbing grout powder in IS a total bodge!
Amtico's is awet grout.

 

yeh, as above its a wet mix
Tho they discontinued the contour range last year
not a popular sellar according to amtico was the reason