FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Founded in 1973, Karndean Designflooring now one of the world’s most renowned and respected luxury flooring brands recognised an opportunity to make exceptional flooring accessible to even more people and launched Palio Express by Karndean - an easy fit range of flooring for avid DIYers. Express brings the perfect balance of quality, style and convenience together with the trusted reputation of Karndean and the additional reassurances of up to a 35 year guarantee. Learn more about us, 

Palio Express by Karndean is luxury vinyl flooring. Unlike typical vinyl, it doesn’t come in sheets or rolls, and it doesn’t need to be glued down.

We know you’re busy with life, so we supply easy-to-fit, robust pre-cut planks or tiles, in designs which look just like wood or stone. Our highly realistic designs are inspired by nature but unlike wood and stone, Palio Express flooring is quick to fit, just click or lay it in place. 

Luxury Vinyl Tile, also known as LVT, is a product looks like real wood or stone flooring with many practical benefits.  

LVT is made with a series of layers; the stability layer ensures the product lays flat and level, whilst still being flexible enough to cut with a knife. The HD photographic layer gives every Palio Express product a highly realistic design whilst the PVC wear layer protects the floor’s design from everyday wear and tear. Additionally, our enhanced K-guard+ surface treatment provides extra protection. 

Head to our what is LVT page to learn more 

We have rigid core and loose lay format flooring available, it will depend on your subfloor type as to which is most suitable for the area you are planning to install your flooring. Please see our flooring formats guide here. 

Each Palio Express by Karndean range has its own unique set of benefits, making them all perfect for non-specialist fitters and DIYers alike: 

• Korlok uses a 5G ‘drop and lock’ system which does not require adhesive. The rigid core construction makes it less pliable providing stability over uneven surfaces. This minimises or eliminates the need for subfloor preparation and allows installation to areas subject to wide temperature variation. The acoustic backing reduces impact noise transfer to rooms below by 21dB, and underlay is not required. 
• Palio Rigid uses a 2G click-locking system and doesn’t require adhesive. Palio Rigid also benefits from a rigid core construction, built-in underlay and reduces noise transfer to rooms below by 19dB. 
• Palio LooseLay has a friction grip backing which along with weight holds the product in place. In some situations, the use of tackifier is recommended (rooms larger than 16m2 ). The tackifier does not permanently bond the plank or tile to the subfloor, enabling planks and tiles to be easily swapped out post installation in the event of damage occurring. Also, any services located in the subfloor can be easily accessed.* 
  *For further information, please see our which format is right for me page 

Tackifier is a special dispersion adhesive for use as a slip-resistant coating on your subfloor prior to laying Palio LooseLay. It helps to provide extra grip where tight fitting isn’t possible, and it won’t permanently stick Palio LooseLay to your subfloor, so you can still uplift planks/tiles if required. For further advice on when to use Tackifier, please refer to our installation instructions. 

Yes, all of our flooring is waterproof. However, as with most smooth floor coverings, water and other liquids can make it slippery. It is always best to clean up spillages and dry the floor straight away. 

Absolutely, Palio Express by Karndean is designed for you to fit at home. You can choose from Korlok, Palio Rigid or Palio LooseLay: 

• Korlok has a 5G click-locking system which enables a simple ‘drop & lock’ installation. There is no adhesive required, which is ideal if you are looking to preserve the floor beneath. The robust rigid core construction enables installation on uneven subfloors. 
• Palio Rigid has a 2G click-locking angled fixing mechanism which does not require adhesive and its rigid core construction means it is suitable for uneven subfloors or preserving your existing floor. 
• Palio LooseLay has a friction grip backing to hold the product in place. A tackifier is often recommended for rooms larger than 16m2. Palio LooseLay individual planks and tiles can easily be swapped out post installation, in the event of damage. 

Palio Express by Karndean is moving ahead with its Karndean EvolveTM sustainability strategy after receiving approval of its near-term targets from the Science Based Targets initiative. Learn more here 

Palio Express by Karndean product ranges need to acclimatise to room temperature in the environment where they will be fitted. Remove material from packaging. Spread out and allow to acclimatise where the installation is to take place – temperature should be constant between 18°C - 26°C for a period of 48 hours prior to installation. This temperature should be maintained during installation and for a 48-hour period after installation.  

Palio Express by Karndean Korlok, Palio Rigid, and Palio LooseLay can be fitted in almost any room of the house, from the bathroom, kitchen, bedroom, living room or hallway. With regards to unheated rooms, conservatories, sunrooms, and areas where large variations in temperature occur, please refer to the individual installation guidelines for each product. 

Yes, all of our flooring is suitable for use with wet or dry underfloor heating up to 27°C. 

No. Palio Express by Karndean ranges are not suitable for outdoor use. 
 

Yes. All Palio Express by Karndean ranges are waterproof and can be used safely in bathrooms and kitchens. Contact with water will not cause any of the range to swell, crack or warp. 
 

No. The Palio Express by Karndean ranges are not designed for wet rooms. 
 

Palio Express by Karndean products will suffer surface char marks if embers or other extremely hot objects come into contact with them. 
 

For areas where large variations in temperature occur such as in front of patio doors/floor to ceiling windows please refer to the individual installation guides for each product range. 

Our flooring is quick and easy to install! However, you will need to consider which is the right flooring range for you as it will depend on the type of subfloor you are installing onto. Our ‘How To Fit’ pages can help guide you on choosing the best floor for your home and for the full and in-depth installation process, we recommend seeing our installations guides. 
 

Palio Express flooring is quick and easy to install, meaning you will need minimal tools to fit it. You’ll need a pencil, ruler/straight edge, tape measure, and a utility knife. For rigid core flooring formats, you will also need spacers.  

Additional tools which you may find useful are; a jigsaw, pull bar, hammer, rubber mallet, hand roller, drill and spade bit (for cutting around pipework).

The type of flooring you use will depend on your subfloor type. Learn more about subfloor types and which flooring is right for you here. 
 

Yes, if it is soundly fixed and solid. However, we recommend carpet, cushioned vinyl and laminate is removed. The choice of Palio Express by Karndean product will determine if any, or what subfloor preparation may be required. Please refer to our which format is right for me page. 

No, Palio Express flooring is not suitable for installation on stairs. 
 

No, our flooring is not suitable for installation on walls 
 

This will vary depending on the type of flooring you are fitting: 

• Rigid core: where possible undercut the door architrave and slot the planks or tiles into place.  
• Loose lay: In doorways/thresholds or where Palio LooseLay is not fitted tight to the edge of a room i.e. under kitchen units, you will need to apply a 10cm strip of tackifier using a paint tray and roller to the subfloor. For futher details on using tackifier, please see our step by step guides 

The direction of how you lay your floor is completely up to you, however depending on the type of flooring format, rigid core or loose lay, will define the type of laying patterns you are able to lay the floor in. Please see our laying patterns guide here 
 

We recommend shuffling your planks or tiles prior to installation so you have more colour variation prior to fitting which is easier to do at the stage of putting your floor in your room for acclimatisation. 

To acclimatise your floor, you will need to remove it from its packaging and leave it in the room you are installing it into for a minimum of 24 hours. Ensure the planks or tiles are laid flat or stacked upon each other. 

Palio Express is ideal for those who are new to or experienced with DIY, so we do not offer an installation service. However, you may wish to hire a local tradesperson to fit your flooring for you.  

If you have any concerns regarding how to fit your floor, please contact the us directly. Our friendly customer care team are also on hand on Live Chat (Mon – Fri 8:30am – 5:30pm) if you have any further queries following installation. 

Palio Express by Karndean flooring requires very little maintenance, but as durable and hardwearing as it is, your floor will benefit from regular cleaning using Karndean Clean or a pH neutral cleaner. For more information, see our Cleaning & Maintenance Guide. 

Palio Express flooring can be cleaned as soon as you have finished fitting, we recommend using Karndean cleaning products for routine maintenance. For further advice on cleaning your floor, see our Cleaning & Maintenance Guide. 

Your Palio Express flooring is quick and easy to clean due to the K-Guard+ PU protective surface treatment which has been incorporated into our floors. K-Guard+ offers outstanding slip, scuff and soiling resistance, resulting in an easier and more environmentally friendly regime for the cleaning and maintenance of your floor. Palio Express by Karndean is hardwearing and like any hard flooring, regular maintenance will enhance the beauty and durability of your new floor. Please see our Cleaning and Maintenance Guide for full cleaning instructions. 

Regularly sweeping with a broom will help keep your floor nice and tidy, and you don’t have to vaccum but for a deeper clean you can use Karndean Clean (or a pH neutral cleaner) which will help keep your floor looking its best.  To maintain the look and feel of your floor, make sure to use our Karndean Remove and Karndean Refresh cleaning process every 6 to 12 months. Please see our Cleaning and Maintenance Guide for full cleaning instructions. 

Our Karndean Clean floor cleaner contains soap rather than disinfectant. Using Karndean Clean on your floor helps to break up and safely remove any germs that are on the surface, in the same way as using soap for washing your hands. As always, a regular clean is recommended to maintain hygiene. Please see our Cleaning and Maintenance Guide for full cleaning instructions. 

We do not recommend using a steam cleaner or steam mop on your Palio Express by Karndean floor. To clean your floors with ease, we have developed K-Guard+ PU protective surface treatment which is incorporated in our flooring. K-Guard+ offers outstanding slip, scuff and soiling resistance resulting in an easier, more environmentally friendly regime for the cleaning and maintenance of your floor. For more information about how to care for your floor, please refer to our Cleaning and Maintenance Guide. 

Some cleaning products contain agents which can damage the floor. To qualify for our product guarantee, we recommend you use Karndean Clean. Take a look at our installation guides as well as our Cleaning and Maintenance guide  

Our cleaning product range are available to purchase online 

Spills should be cleaned up straight away. Please see our Cleaning and Maintenance Guide for full cleaning instructions. 

You can improve the appearance of light scratches by simply applying Karndean Remove, wiping off the residue with a mop and rinsing thoroughly with clean water. You can then apply Karndean Refresh. Please see our Cleaning and Maintenance Guide for full cleaning instructions. 

White spots may occur due to water being left on the surface of the floor for long periods. 

Removing the water and leaving to dry should resolve the issue. If not, simply apply Karndean Remove, wipe off the residue with a mop and rinse thoroughly with clean water. Please see our Cleaning and Maintenance Guide for full cleaning instructions. 

By putting felt pads under the feet of your furniture you can avoid table and chair legs scratching your floor. Our Floor Care Kit  includes everything you need to get started.  

As with any flooring, furniture and shoe soles rubbing on your floor can cause unsightly scuff marks. A simple solution to remove black scuff marks from your Palio Express by Karndean floor is to dilute a small amount of Karndean Remove in some water and use a damp cloth (or a non-abrasive nylon scouring pad for persistent marks) with the diluted solution. Please see our Cleaning and Maintenance Guide for full cleaning instructions. 

The length of your guarantee depends on the flooring range you have chosen to purchase:  
 

Palio LooseLay individual planks or tiles can be uplifted easily. You can then replace by installing a new plank/tile to this area, applying a gentle amount of heat to the plank/tile may aid with the removal from the tackifier, if tackifier has been used . 
With rigid core flooring (Korlok or Palio Rigid) it is best practice to repair any damaged areas by carefully removing your flooring back to the affected area – being mindful to not damage the click-locking mechanism. You can then replace the damaged plank/tile then refit the flooring as before.

It’s quick and easy to order a sample, simply go to the flooring you would like to order, and you can select the “order a sample” button.  

Order our chip samples free of charge, up to a maximum of 6, or you can pay for a full-size plank or tile sample to be sent to you, up to a maximum of 3. Please see below for chip sample sizes:  

Korlok Plank chip = 149mm x 231mm (5.87” x 9.1”) 
Korlok Tile chip = 151mm x 151mm (5.95” x 5.95”) 
Palio Rigid chip = 152mm x 178mm (6” x 7”) 
Palio LooseLay Plank chip = 125mm x 175mm (5” x 6.9”) 
Palio LooseLay Tile chip = 152mm x 165mm (6” x 6.5”) 

Yes, chip samples and full-size samples can be ordered with other items. However, they will be delivered separately to your other items. 

Order our chip samples free of charge, up to a maximum of 6, or you can pay for a full-size plank or tile sample to be sent to you, up to a maximum of 3. Please see below for chip sample sizes: 

Korlok Plank chip = 149mm x 231mm (5.87” x 9.1”) 
Korlok Tile chip = 151mm x 151mm (5.95” x 5.95”) 
Palio Rigid chip = 152mm x 178mm (6” x 7”) 
Palio LooseLay Plank chip = 125mm x 175mm (5” x 6.9”) 
Palio LooseLay Tile chip = 152mm x 165mm (6” x 6.5”) 

We are careful to make sure our images are accurate in all printed literature and on our website but cannot always create a perfect representation of our products. For this reason, we strongly recommend you view a sample of any product you are considering before placing your order. All our products are inspired by things we have seen in the natural world. Just like variation in colour and detail is part of the beauty of nature, it is also a feature of some of our designs. This means that with some of our products you will see natural variation when your floor is laid. If in doubt, ask your stockist to show you a larger sample of the product. 

When we send any chip samples out we include a pre-paid, self-addressed label and encourage you to return the chip samples back to us in Evesham. Please reuse the plastic wallet they arrived in to return the chip samples. Unfortunately, we are unable to accept back or refund full-size samples. 

Ordering more of the same floor to fit an adjoining floor may mean you receive a different batch number. It is unlikely but there is a small risk the colour may vary due to being produced in a different batch. If you contact us via Live Chat, or via our Contact Us page, we can help ensure the batch is as close as possible for you. 

As much as we would love to take your order over the phone, unfortunately we are unable to at this time, however, you can always visit your local stockist, find your nearest stockist here, alternatively please speak to our team via Live Chat or Contact Us. 
 

Currently we do not offer a finance option for our flooring. 
 

We can accept payments via debit/credit card, Google Pay, Apple Pay and PayPal. 
 

Yes, our pricing on all products includes VAT. 

Palio Express flooring can be cleaned as soon as you have finished fitting, we recommend using Karndean cleaning products for routine maintenance. For further advice on cleaning your floor, see our Cleaning & Maintenance Guide. 

Scotia, also known as flooring trim, finishes the edge of your flooring. If you have ordered Korlok or Palio Rigid flooring, you will also need to purchase scotia to cover the expansion gap needed. 
 

No, Palio Express flooring does not require underlay as Korlok and Palio Rigid have a pre-attached underlay and Palio LooseLay uses friction grip backing.  
 

All of our flooring has noise reducing qualities. Korlok reduces noise transfer by 21dB, Palio Rigid by 19dB and Palio LooseLay by 13dB. 
 

Once your order has been placed, for UK mainland address it will take 3 working days to be delivered. You’ll receive an email to let you know once your order has been dispatched. 
Please see our Delivery page for full information 

While we hope you love your choice of flooring from us, we understand sometimes you may change your mind. If you would like to return your order, you have 14 days after receiving your delivery to request a return and receive a full refund.  

To make a return please log into your account, within the ‘My orders’ section, make a request using the ‘return order’ button next to the order you’d like to return.  

Our team will then get in touch and provide you with a returns form which you’ll need to print out at home, and attach to the outside of the boxes/items you are returning. 

Please note we are not obliged to accept any returns – whether partial or complete – after 14 days after ordering. However, we will always try our best to accept stock back where possible.

Ultimately, returns are only accepted at the discretion of a management level staff member.  

For full information on how to make a return, please see our Returns policy