THE CHALLENGE
AVE, a brand of Korman Communities, specializes in flexible living for renters and individuals needing temporary accommodations. They currently own and operate 13 state-of-the-art rental communities in Pennsylvania, New Jersey, California, and Texas. Karndean Designflooring has been a partner on AVE projects since 2016 after its Senior Vice President: Asset Paul DeFruscio encountered the vinyl product while visiting another construction site.
“Our general contractor was using Karndean on another project, and I was blown away by how much it resembled natural wood,” DeFruscio said.
Smoked Butternut was chosen to add contrast and warmth to the kitchens in Blue Bell.
Sector: Multi-Family
Client: AVE
Location: King of Prussia and Blue Bell, PA
Designer: Christina Salvitti, NCIDQ Interior Designer, Bernardon
Contacts: Paul DeFruscio, Senior Vice President: Asset, AVE; Lauren Brauer, Senior Regional Leasing Manager, AVE
Area: 158,000 ft2 to date
Product: Korlok Select collection, Smoked Butternut RKP8107 (Blue Bell) and Washed Velvet Ash RKP8102 (King of Prussia)
THE SOLUTION
In addition to a real wood aesthetic, AVE’s considerations were a quality product and minimizing noise between apartments. Karndean’s area Commercial Business Manager recommended the Korlok Select interlocking rigid core product range, as its pre-attached, acoustic-foam backing reduces noise transfer to units below by 22dB, exceeding AVE’s requirements.
“In a residential setting, there can be a lot of wear and tear to flooring through daily living, moving in and out, shoes and pets. Developers are always trying to minimize noise between units and this product had a higher IIC rating than competitors,” Christina Salvitti, NCIDQ Interior Designer, Bernardon noted.
Washed Velvet Ash was selected to help ground the taupe cabinetry with white backsplashes and countertops in the kitchens at King of Prussia.
Both AVE Blue Bell and AVE King of Prussia feature products from the Korlok Select range installed throughout the kitchen and living areas. The color selection complements the kitchen design.
The kitchens in Blue Bell boast crisp white cabinets with a marbled blacksplash and dark countertops. To add contrast and warmth to the space, Bernardon, AVE’s interior design team, chose Smoked Butternut RKP8107, a mid-tone plank that features a mix of straight and flowery grain.
“It had just the right amount of warmth to the grain to be universally appealing. The product really looks like hardwood. With a lot of vinyl flooring, you can tell right away because it has too much sheen or no definition in the texture,” Salvitti added.
The King of Prussia property features taupe cabinetry with white backsplashes and countertops, so Washed Velvet Ash RKP8102, a darker warm-tone plank with subtle detailing, was selected to help ground the space.
Washed Velvet Ash is a darker warm-tone plank with subtle detailing.
THE RESULTS
“The switch from all carpeting to Karndean in the living and kitchen areas has been amazing! It’s elevated our product and reduced our expenses,” DeFruscio says, noting a 33% annual savings.
According to Lauren Brauer, Senior Regional Leasing Manager at AVE King of Prussia and AVE Blue Bell, prospective residents typically ask a lot of question about flooring as they tour properties, but this isn’t the case at these two AVE properties.
Smoked Butternut is a mid-tone plank that features a mix of straight and flowery grain.
“Prospects will look at the Karndean vinyl plank floors and they’ll walk on them and simply say, ‘This is nice!’ They love that it’s a neutral that’s universally appealing,” Brauer says. “It’s just so durable and easy to maintain. There are never any scratches or marks when a new resident moves in, so I don’t get any complaints. It makes my job easier to lease our apartments and provide the high resident satisfaction.”
Korlok Select Product Specifications
| Standard | Rigid Core | |
| Size | ASTM F2421 | 56” x 9” |
| Thickness | ASTM F386 | F387 | 6.5 mm |
| Wear Layer | ASTM F410 | 20 mil (0.50 mm) |
| Commercial warranty* | 15 years | |
| Bevelled edge | Micro | |
| Slip resistance** | ASTM D2047 | Pass (Dry >0.80) |
| Acoustic impact noise reduction | ASTM E2179-09 ASTM E492-09 |
ΔIIC = 22 dB IIC = 68 dB*** |
Download the full Korlok Select rigid core technical data.
Explore the Korlok Select collection.
*Subject to terms
**Slip resistance is measured on ex-factory product. Slip resistance can be affected by surface contamination, use and how the product is maintained
*** (6” Concrete Slab w/Drop Ceiling)
