Introducing Karndean Van Gogh English Character Oak RKP8115, a stunning large plank design that captures the authentic beauty of characterful English oak with blonde and golden tones and distinctive natural variations that celebrate the honest, rustic character of traditional British timber. Inspired by the rich heritage of English oak—Britain's most iconic native timber prized for centuries in everything from Tudor beams to country house flooring—this design features warm blonde and golden tones with prominent character marks, natural knots, grain variation, and authentic imperfections that create floors full of personality, warmth, and traditional charm. The "character" designation is significant—unlike plain oak that features uniform grain, character oak celebrates the natural beauty of knots, mineral streaks, color variation, and unique markings that make each plank distinctive and full of story. The impressive 1420mm x 225mm (56" x 9") large plank format creates an expansive, premium appearance with fewer seams—perfect for country properties, traditional homes, and spaces where you want to maximize the visual impact of beautiful wide-plank flooring with authentic English character. Unlike traditional hardwood flooring that requires professional installation, extensive subfloor preparation, and ongoing maintenance, Van Gogh Rigid Core's innovative 5G click-lock system allows confident DIY installation without glue or nails. The pre-attached acoustic foam backing reduces noise transfer by up to 21dB, making it perfect for upstairs bedrooms and multi-story homes where conventional hardwood would create excessive noise. This design is also available in full-length gluedown plank format, giving you flexibility to create coordinated installations throughout your home in English character tones. As part of Van Gogh Rigid Core's mid-range collection, English Character Oak Large Plank combines the distinctive grain detail and authentic character marks of premium hardwood with traditional English styling, installation convenience, acoustic performance, and enhanced 6.5mm stability that make it perfect for country properties, period homes, traditional interiors, and DIY projects where you want authentic English oak character without professional fitting costs.
Key Features:
- Authentic English Character Oak Design with distinctive natural marks
- Large Plank Format for expansive, premium appearance
- Blonde and golden tones with warm natural character
- Character oak aesthetic—knots, grain variation, natural imperfections
- Distinctive English oak grain patterns with traditional country charm
- Large Plank Format: 1420mm x 225mm (56" x 9") for fewer seams and modern aesthetic
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DIY-Friendly 5G Click-Lock System - easy installation without glue or nails
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Pre-attached Acoustic Foam Backing - no separate underlay needed
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Reduces noise transfer by up to 21dB - perfect for upstairs rooms
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6.5mm thickness - enhanced stability and comfort
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Available in gluedown format - matching design for permanent installations
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Larger planks mean faster installation - fewer pieces to lay
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100% Waterproof construction - suitable for kitchens and bathrooms
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Enhanced Surface Protection (K-Guard+ with PU coating)
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0.55mm wear layer for superior durability
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Micro bevelled edges for authentic wood appearance
- Lifetime Residential / 15-Year Commercial Warranty
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Mid-range pricing - distinctive quality with DIY savings
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K-Core rigid PVC for dimensional stability
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Plank-to-plank variation for authentic character timber appearance
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Detailed character oak texture with realistic embossing
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Traditional English styling - perfect for country, period, and rustic interiors
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Warmer underfoot than real hardwood
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3.195m² box coverage - efficient coverage with large planks
Ideal For:
Residential Applications:
English Character Oak Large Plank's impressive dimensions and authentic character make it exceptionally versatile for traditional British homes, while the rigid core construction solves the challenges of hardwood installation. Living rooms and family spaces in country properties benefit enormously from the larger plank format—the 56" x 9" dimensions create an expansive, premium appearance with fewer seams, while the blonde and golden tones with distinctive character marks create welcoming environments that feel warm, established, and full of traditional English charm. Perfect for country cottages, farmhouses, and rural properties where English oak represents authentic British heritage and countryside living. Ideal for period properties and heritage homes where character oak would have been original but genuine oak is too expensive or impractical—the distinctive knots and character marks respect architectural authenticity. Perfect for DIY renovations where you want the authentic look of wide-plank character oak without the expense of professional installation, which typically costs £30-50 per square meter. Upstairs bedrooms in country properties benefit from the acoustic backing that reduces noise transfer by up to 21dB—the warm, characterful tones create cozy, traditional sleeping spaces, while the acoustic foam prevents footfall noise from disturbing rooms below. The blonde and golden tones with natural character work beautifully in hallways and entrances of traditional homes, creating welcoming first impressions that immediately signal English country character and quality. In country kitchens and farmhouse dining rooms, the large character planks provide an authentic foundation that complements traditional furniture, country styling, and rustic accessories, while remaining 100% waterproof and easy to clean. Home offices and studies in traditional properties appreciate the established, traditional appearance—the character oak provides authentic English backdrops that feel warm and residential. Traditional family homes benefit from the honest, characterful appearance—the natural knots and variations create floors that feel lived-in and comfortable rather than perfect and precious. Barn conversions and agricultural buildings being converted to residential use can maintain rustic character with English oak. Open-plan country spaces benefit from character oak defining areas while maintaining cohesive traditional styling. Small traditional cottages are enhanced by the authentic character that respects cottage architecture. Rental properties in country locations benefit from the universal appeal of English character oak and the reversible click-lock installation. The rigid core construction handles uneven subfloors better than hardwood, accommodating minor imperfections without costly floor preparation—particularly valuable in older country properties.
Commercial Applications:
Van Gogh Rigid Core's 15-year commercial warranty makes English Character Oak Large Plank suitable for moderate traffic commercial environments where an authentic, traditional English appearance is important. Perfect for country pubs, village inns, and rural hospitality venues where the large character plank format creates authentic traditional atmosphere that customers expect in British countryside establishments. The blonde and golden tones with distinctive character marks provide warm, welcoming foundations. Country hotels, countryside bed and breakfasts, and rural guesthouses can achieve authentic English character oak aesthetics. Farm shops, countryside retail, and traditional British retailers appreciate the authentic backdrop that complements local products, British goods, and traditional merchandise. Country restaurants, tearooms, and traditional British dining establishments can achieve the authentic character aesthetics that align with traditional British hospitality. Estate agents and property offices in country towns and rural locations benefit from the traditional character. Visitor centers, heritage sites, and countryside attractions can use English Character Oak to match traditional British aesthetics. Garden centers and countryside retail benefit from the traditional character. Traditional British businesses including traditional butchers, bakers, craft shops, and artisan retailers can showcase English character. Country wedding venues and rural event spaces in traditional buildings appreciate the warm, characterful English oak. For quick turnaround projects, the click-lock installation means character oak patterns can be installed quickly—minimizing business downtime. Show homes in rural developments can use English Character Oak to create warm, traditional appeal that resonates with buyers seeking English countryside character.
With 35 SKUs across the Van Gogh Rigid Core collection including standard planks, large planks, herringbone, and stone designs, there's exceptional versatility for projects requiring distinctive design quality with DIY-friendly installation.
Technical Excellence:
English Character Oak Large Plank is constructed using Karndean's advanced rigid core technology, delivering superior performance through carefully engineered layers:
K-Guard+ Surface Protection: The topmost layer features Karndean's enhanced PU technology that provides a hygienic, durable finish exceptionally easy to clean. This protective coating resists everyday wear, spills, and scuffs while maintaining the beautiful English character oak appearance including the distinctive knots and character marks. Unlike real hardwood that requires regular refinishing, oiling, or varnishing, K-Guard+ keeps maintenance simple—just sweep and mop with Karndean Clean. The warm blonde and golden tones with natural character create welcoming traditional spaces while remaining practical to maintain.
0.55mm Wear Layer: This substantial 20 mil wear layer provides superior protection from everyday traffic and wear, making it suitable for both residential and commercial applications. Traditional hardwood shows scratches, dents, and wear in high-traffic areas, and character oak's natural knots can be vulnerable points. This enhanced wear layer ensures long-lasting performance even in busy family homes or commercial country venues.
High-definition Photographic Layer: This layer creates the strikingly realistic English character oak grain you see underfoot, capturing the distinctive oak grain patterns, prominent character marks, natural knots, color variation, blonde and golden tones, and authentic rustic character of genuine English oak with natural imperfections. The enhanced detail and realistic embossing work together to deliver a convincingly authentic appearance that rivals expensive wide-plank character hardwood installations.
K-Core Rigid Layer: The heart of the construction is Karndean's K-Core rigid PVC layer, which provides exceptional dimensional stability crucial for large plank formats. The rigid core prevents the planks from flexing, gapping, or warping—common problems with real hardwood, particularly in wider planks. This technology also supports the 5G click-lock mechanism that makes DIY installation of large character planks possible.
Pre-attached Acoustic Foam Backing: This integrated cushioning layer is particularly important for larger planks in upstairs installations. Traditional wide-plank hardwood is extremely noisy, creating loud footfall sounds that disturb other rooms, especially below. The acoustic foam provides significant noise reduction (up to 21dB), making large character planks practical for bedrooms and upper floors. It also enhances comfort underfoot, eliminates the need for separate underlay, and contributes to the warmer feel compared to real hardwood.
6.5mm Total Thickness: The substantial 6.5mm thickness provides superior stability essential for maintaining the dimensional integrity of large planks. This enhanced thickness also provides greater comfort and ability to handle minor subfloor imperfections that would be problematic with thinner products or real hardwood—particularly valuable in older country properties.
Installation & Maintenance:
DIY-Friendly Large Plank Installation: The 5G click-lock system makes professional-looking wide-plank character oak installations accessible to confident DIYers. Traditional wide-plank character hardwood requires skilled professional installation with specialized techniques costing £30-50 per square meter, and character oak often costs even more due to its distinctive appearance. This rigid core format simply clicks together, allowing you to create premium wide-plank English character floors yourself.
No Glue Required: As a floating floor system, the large planks simply click together without any adhesive. This makes installation cleaner, faster, and more forgiving than traditional hardwood installation.
No Underlay Needed: The pre-attached acoustic foam backing eliminates the need to purchase and install separate underlay—saving time, money, and ensuring consistent acoustic performance throughout.
Faster Coverage with Large Planks: The 56" x 9" dimensions mean you'll install fewer pieces to cover the same area compared to standard plank formats. This significantly speeds up installation—perfect for DIY projects where you want to complete rooms quickly while achieving authentic character aesthetics.
Fewer Seams, More Impact: Large character planks create a more expansive, premium appearance with fewer visible seams. This is particularly effective in country properties and open-plan spaces where you want to maximize the visual impact of wide-plank flooring with distinctive English character.
Straight Lay Installation: The most common pattern for large planks, running lengthwise creates clean, spacious feels that emphasize the generous plank dimensions and authentic character marks.
Diagonal Lay Option: Installing diagonally can make rooms appear larger and adds visual interest, though requires more cutting and waste.
Acoustic Benefits for Upstairs: The acoustic backing reduces noise transfer by up to 21dB, making wide-plank character oak aesthetics practical for upstairs bedrooms in country properties where conventional hardwood would be problematic.
Reversible Installation: Unlike permanent hardwood installations that cannot be removed without destruction, rigid core can be lifted and reinstalled if needed—perfect for rental properties.
Suitable for Uneven Subfloors: The rigid core construction can accommodate minor subfloor imperfections that would require expensive leveling for hardwood installation. A damp-proof membrane is required for concrete subfloors—particularly important in older country buildings.
Compatible with Underfloor Heating: Works perfectly with underfloor heating systems up to 27°C, providing gentle warmth that enhances the comfortable feel of the character tones.
Simple Maintenance: Just sweep and mop with Karndean Clean—no sanding, refinishing, oiling, or varnishing. The K-Guard+ surface treatment means you'll never face the costly refinishing that hardwood requires every few years. Character tones are forgiving and practical.
Individual Plank Replacement: If damage occurs, individual planks can be clicked out and replaced by DIYers without professional help—impossible with glued or nailed hardwood.
Expansion Gaps Required: Unlike gluedown formats, rigid core requires small expansion gaps (5-10mm) around the room perimeter to allow for natural movement. These gaps are easily concealed with scotia beading or skirting boards in coordinating natural wood or traditional finishes.
Can Install Over Existing Floors: Suitable for installation over most existing hard floors, making renovations quicker and avoiding the costly floor removal hardwood would require.
Design Inspiration:
English Character Oak Large Plank's generous dimensions and authentic character palette offer exceptional design versatility for traditional interiors:
Large Plank Advantages:
Enhanced Coverage and Traditional Character: The 56" x 9" large plank format in blonde and golden tones with distinctive character marks creates a more expansive, high-end appearance compared to standard planks. Fewer seams mean a cleaner, more sophisticated look that's particularly effective in country properties and traditional spaces where you want to create premium visual impact while maintaining authentic English countryside character.
Perfect for Country Spaces: The scale of large character planks suits country properties and traditional homes beautifully. Period cottages and farmhouses benefit from the proportions of wide planks in characterful tones—standard planks can look undersized in traditional spaces, but large English character planks maintain visual balance while providing warm, authentic, traditional character.
Faster DIY Installation: Larger planks mean fewer pieces to install, which significantly speeds up DIY projects. You'll cover more area with each piece, completing rooms faster while achieving professional-looking traditional results.
Character Aesthetic: Wide-plank flooring with character marks is associated with quality, traditional, country, and rustic interiors. The large format creates an authentic, established look that feels traditional and high-quality.
Traditional English & Country Styling:
English Country & Countryside: English Character Oak is perfect for traditional English country interiors. The blonde and golden tones with distinctive character marks represent authentic British countryside timber. Pair with traditional furniture, country fabrics, antiques, and English accessories for genuine English country charm.
Country Cottages & Farmhouses: The character oak aesthetic is ideal for country cottages and traditional farmhouses. The natural knots and variations create warm, lived-in character that suits rural properties. Perfect for creating comfortable, traditional countryside homes full of warmth and personality.
Period Properties & Heritage Homes: Ideal for Georgian, Victorian, Tudor, and traditional British properties where character oak would have been original. English Character Oak delivers authentic timber character that respects architectural heritage—the distinctive knots and character marks match the period aesthetic.
Rustic Traditional: The character marks and natural variations are perfect for rustic interiors. The honest, authentic appearance celebrates natural timber imperfections. Pair with exposed beams, traditional stone, and rustic materials for cohesive countryside character.
Traditional Family Homes: The warm, characterful tones are perfect for traditional family homes where floors need to feel welcoming and comfortable. The natural character marks create floors that age gracefully and don't show every mark—perfect for busy family living.
Country Pubs & Village Inns: The character oak aesthetic is perfect for traditional British pubs and country inns. The authentic appearance creates the warm, established atmosphere that customers expect in countryside hospitality.
Barn Conversions: Perfect for barn conversions and agricultural buildings being converted to residential use. English Character Oak maintains rustic countryside character while providing modern flooring practicality.
Traditional Transitional: The character oak bridges traditional English timber and contemporary country living. Use in homes that blend countryside charm with modern convenience—the character oak provides authentic traditional material while practical benefits suit contemporary lifestyles.
Warm Natural Neutral: Blonde and golden tones with natural character work as warm, versatile foundations. The characterful palette coordinates with traditional colors—reds, greens, creams, browns—providing a flexible backdrop for traditional décor that changes over years.
Universal Traditional Appeal: English character oak with distinctive natural marks has broad appeal among traditional homeowners—warm, welcoming, authentic, and perfect for country, period, and rustic British interiors.
Coordinate Across Formats:
Multi-Format Character Installations: Consider using English Character Oak large plank rigid core in main living areas and bedrooms (acoustic benefits, expansive character look), and the matching gluedown format in other spaces for coordinated traditional aesthetics.
Mix with Van Gogh Planks: Large character planks work beautifully as a foundation throughout main traditional areas, then coordinate with complementary Van Gogh Rigid Core designs. The warm character tones provide an authentic base that coordinates with natural stone and traditional materials.
Upstairs/Downstairs Strategy: Use RKP8115 large plank rigid core upstairs (acoustic benefits crucial for bedrooms with warm character) and matching gluedown format downstairs (permanent installation for high-traffic ground floor). This creates coordinated character aesthetics with installation formats optimized for each area.
Room-to-Room Flow: The traditional character palette and large plank format create seamless transitions between rooms in country properties, making spaces feel cohesive, connected, and consistently traditional with English character throughout.
Accessories & Finishing:
Complete your installation with Karndean scotia beading and skirting boards in coordinating natural wood, traditional oak, or warm finishes. Use transition strips at doorways to create professional joins. The expansion gaps required for rigid core are easily concealed with appropriate finishing accessories that complement the traditional English aesthetic.
Why Choose Van Gogh Rigid Core:
DIY-Friendly Wide-Plank Installation: Save hundreds of pounds on professional installation costs with the simple click-lock system. Traditional wide-plank hardwood installation costs £30-50/m² in fitting alone, and character oak often costs even more—eliminate these costs entirely by installing English character oak wide planks yourself.
Large Planks, Faster Installation: The 56" x 9" format means you'll install fewer pieces to cover the same area, significantly speeding up DIY projects. Complete rooms faster while achieving premium wide-plank aesthetics in authentic character tones.
Pre-attached Underlay: No separate underlay to buy or install—the acoustic foam backing is already integrated, saving time and money on large plank installations.
Acoustic Performance: Reduces noise transfer by up to 21dB, making wide-plank character oak aesthetics practical for upstairs bedrooms and multi-story homes where conventional hardwood would create excessive noise.
Quieter Than Hardwood: The acoustic backing creates a quiet walking surface compared to real hardwood that echoes and creates noise—particularly appreciated with large planks covering significant areas in country properties.
Warmer Than Real Wood: Unlike genuine hardwood that feels cold, rigid core vinyl remains comfortable and warm underfoot year-round—complementing the visual warmth of English character oak perfectly.
Authentic English Character Oak: Achieve the beautiful blonde and golden palette with distinctive character marks, natural knots, and authentic imperfections that create warm, welcoming, traditional English spaces—perfect for country properties, period homes, and traditional British interiors.
Mid-Range Excellence: Van Gogh Rigid Core delivers the same distinctive grain detail and character marks as premium hardwood but with installation convenience and DIY savings that make authentic English character accessible to more homeowners.
Authentic Character Oak Appearance: High-definition photographic layer and realistic embossing create convincingly authentic English character oak grain with natural knots and variations that rival expensive wide-plank character hardwood installations.
100% Waterproof Construction: Unlike real hardwood that suffers water damage, this large plank format is fully waterproof—suitable even for country kitchens where character oak creates warm traditional character.
Enhanced Wear Layer: The 0.55mm (20 mil) wear layer provides superior durability that surpasses traditional hardwood finishes. Character oak's natural knots can be vulnerable in hardwood, but this format maintains protection even at character marks.
6.5mm Thickness: Substantially thicker than gluedown formats, providing the enhanced stability essential for maintaining the dimensional integrity of large planks.
Rigid Core Technology: K-Core provides exceptional dimensional stability, preventing the gapping, warping, and cupping common with real hardwood, particularly in wider plank formats.
Lifetime Residential Warranty: Superior warranty coverage for your wide-plank investment—hardwood warranties are typically much shorter and may exclude character oak due to natural variations.
15-Year Commercial Warranty: Suitable for country pubs, rural hospitality venues, and traditional commercial spaces requiring authentic character aesthetics.
Perfect for Renovations: Can install over existing hard floors with minimal preparation—hardwood requires extensive subfloor preparation, leveling, and often complete floor removal costing hundreds of pounds.
Handles Uneven Subfloors: Rigid core construction accommodates minor imperfections that would require expensive leveling for hardwood installation—particularly valuable in older country properties with uneven floors.
Reversible Installation: Can be lifted and reinstalled if needed—impossible with glued or nailed hardwood that's permanently affixed and destroyed upon removal.
Quick Installation: Faster than traditional hardwood, meaning minimal disruption—large planks with click-lock can be DIY-installed in weekends rather than weeks.
Easy Maintenance: Simple sweep and mop—no sanding, refinishing, oiling, or varnishing. Traditional hardwood requires refinishing every 7-10 years at significant cost and disruption.
Hygienic: Won't harbor dust, dirt, or allergens in wood grain or character marks like real hardwood, and easier to keep pristine than natural wood.
Family-Friendly: Safe for children and pets, comfortable to play on, and easy to maintain even in busy households—hardwood scratches from pet claws. Character tones are forgiving and hide marks well, perfect for family living.
Individual Plank Replacement: Damaged planks can be clicked out and replaced without professional help—hardwood plank replacement requires skilled craftsmen and often doesn't match perfectly.
Underfloor Heating Compatible: Works with modern heating systems up to 27°C, providing gentle warmth that enhances the comfortable character.
Trusted Brand: Over 50 years of Karndean flooring expertise bringing wide-plank aesthetics in authentic English character tones with practical benefits.
Versatile Applications: Suitable for residential and commercial projects across all room types where wide-plank English character oak adds traditional British distinction.
Cost-Effective Wide Planks: Save on professional fitting (£30-50/m²), underlay, and ongoing maintenance costs compared to real wide-plank character hardwood.
Premium Traditional Appearance: Wide-plank character oak flooring is associated with high-end country properties, period homes, and quality traditional British interiors—now accessible with DIY convenience and mid-range pricing.
British Heritage Excellence: Character oak is quintessentially British—celebrating the honest beauty of English oak with natural knots and variations that have characterized British homes for centuries.
Warm & Characterful: Blonde and golden tones with distinctive natural marks create spaces that feel warm, welcoming, established, and full of traditional English charm—perfect for homes prioritizing authentic British character.
Available in Gluedown: Also available in gluedown format for areas where permanent installation is preferred, allowing coordinated character oak installations throughout homes.
Unique Design Heritage: Van Gogh Rigid Core shares the same inspiration and design quality as the celebrated Van Gogh Gluedown range, now in authentic English character styling.
Fewer Seams, More Impact: Large plank format creates a cleaner, more expansive appearance with fewer visible seams—perfect for creating premium, high-end traditional aesthetics in characterful English tones.
Modern Proportions: The 56" x 9" format suits traditional and country homes while maintaining visual balance that standard planks can't achieve, delivering authentic British character with contemporary convenience.
British Countryside Authenticity: The blonde and golden tones with distinctive character marks, natural knots, and authentic imperfections create spaces that feel warm, traditional, characterful, and quintessentially English—perfect for country properties and traditional British homes prioritizing authentic countryside charm.
English Character Oak RKP8115 Large Plank delivers authentic wide-plank character oak aesthetics in traditional English tones with revolutionary click-lock convenience—the perfect combination of premium appearance, British heritage styling, and modern practicality for today's country homes and traditional commercial spaces prioritizing authentic English countryside character.
