Is Polyflor Camaro Any Good? Why We Rate This Luxury Vinyl Flooring For Your Home
- Charlie Mac
- Sep 12
- 8 min read
“The details are not the details, they make the design.” — Charles Eames
If you love the look of oak or stone, want something that shrugs off splashes and everyday knocks, and do not fancy the upkeep of real timber or stone, Polyflor’s Camaro range is a strong contender. In this guide, we explain what Camaro is, where it excels, a few limits to be aware of, and how to get the best result in your home. We back up key points with reputable sources and plain-English advice, so you can choose with confidence.
What is Polyflor Camaro
Camaro is a luxury vinyl tile, LVT, collection designed for homes and light commercial spaces. It comes in two main formats:
Camaro PUR, glue-down, a flexible vinyl tile or plank that is adhered to a prepared subfloor. Typical spec is 2.0 mm overall thickness with a 0.3 mm wear layer, suitable for heavy domestic use and light commercial areas. The surface has a polyurethane reinforcement, PUR, that makes cleaning simpler.
Camaro Rigid Core, click-together SPC, a thicker interlocking board, usually around 5 to 6 mm overall with a 0.3 mm wear layer and a built-in acoustic underlay. Rigid Core is designed for quicker fitting over certain existing floors and can reduce impact sound by up to 18 dB.
Both lines offer realistic wood, parquet, and stone effects, and both are intended for residential and light commercial interiors, class 23 and 31 respectively under EN/ISO classification.
Why we rate Camaro for busy UK homes
1) Looks that elevate a room, without the faff
The design team behind Camaro has focused on modern British interiors, so you get natural-looking grains and stone patterns across practical plank and tile sizes. It is an easy way to bring warmth or texture, while keeping cleaning simple. Polyflor lists multiple plank and tile formats across wood, herringbone and stone. polyflor.com
Visual tip, consider a herringbone in small spaces to add movement, or keep it calm with wide straight-laid planks in open plan living.
2) Performance that fits family life
The 0.3 mm wear layer is the sensible sweet spot for homes with children and pets. It resists daily scuffs and minor scratches, while the PUR surface helps with stain resistance and easy maintenance. For most UK households, that is the balance of durability and value you want.
3) Quieter rooms, kinder on neighbours
If you live in a flat, sound matters. Camaro Rigid Core’s integrated acoustic backing is designed to cut impact noise by up to 18 dB, which can help with footfall sound in hallways and kitchens. It also removes the need for a separate underlay in many cases.
4) Water resistance where you need it
Vinyl is water resistant, so splashes from sinks and baths are not a drama when the floor is installed correctly. That is why Camaro is often chosen for kitchens, utilities and bathrooms. For areas with strong sun or large temperature swings, see the notes on adhesive choice and acclimatisation below.
5) Underfloor heating friendly
Camaro can be used with most underfloor heating systems, subject to following installation guidance and temperature limits, commonly 27°C maximum floor surface temperature. Always follow the manufacturer’s fitting and heating-up schedules.
6) Low emissions and better air quality credentials
Polyflor highlights low VOC emissions across the Camaro range, and the brand’s sustainability credentials include work on plasticisers and recycling. Many UK retailers list Indoor Air Comfort Gold for Camaro Rigid Core, which is a recognised very-low VOC certification. For the general sustainability picture and plasticiser policy, see Polyflor’s own credentials page.
7) Sensible warranty and UK support
Camaro is typically backed by a 10-year guarantee for domestic use, which is in line with expectations at this level. You will also find widespread UK stock and support, which keeps projects moving.
Where Camaro shines, and where it does not
Best fit rooms
Kitchens and living spaces, for warmth and easy cleaning
Hallways, for resilience against daily traffic
Bedrooms, quiet and warmer underfoot than tile
Bathrooms and utilities, water resistance with correct sealing and trims
Be realistic about limits
Heavy commercial areas, think bars or supermarkets, need higher wear layers or specialist floors. Camaro is rated for light commercial only. For tougher duty, consider commercial-grade LVT or safety flooring.
Sun rooms and conservatories can run hot. Use high-temperature adhesives for glue-down, follow expansion guidance for click systems, and respect temperature limits.
Slip resistance, R ratings on retailer pages can be helpful but do not tell the whole story. In the UK, the HSE prefers the Pendulum Test with a target PTV of 36+ for low slip risk in many settings. Domestic bathrooms are seldom pendulum-tested, but it helps to understand how safety is measured. HSE
Glue-down versus Rigid Core, which should you choose
Glue-down, Camaro PUR
Pros, the best feel underfoot, excellent heat transfer with UFH, stable once bonded, great for intricate layouts like borders or parquet
Cons, needs careful subfloor preparation and adhesive work, longer install time
Rigid Core, click system
Pros, faster installation, useful over some existing floors, integrated underlay that reduces impact sound, easier plank replacement
Cons, needs expansion gaps and careful acclimatisation, less forgiving to uneven subfloors than people think, still needs good prep for a quality finish
Glue down LVT vs Rigid core (click) LVT — comparison chart
Feature | Glue down LVT | Rigid core (click) LVT |
How it installs | Fully bonded with adhesive | Floating click system, built in or separate underlay |
Subfloor tolerance | Needs a very smooth, well prepared subfloor | More forgiving of minor uneven areas |
Prep time | More prep, more time on subfloor smoothing | Usually quicker, less subfloor prep |
Underfoot feel | Softer, closer to traditional LVT feel | Slightly firmer, thicker board feel |
Acoustics | Quiet with the right adhesive, very solid | Quiet with quality underlay, can sound a little hollow if poorly installed |
Temperature changes | Excellent dimensional stability once bonded | Very stable, good in conservatories and rooms with wider temperature swings |
Water, bathrooms | Waterproof surface, relies on good bonding and sealing | Waterproof surface, click joints resist water ingress when installed correctly |
Heavy loads, rolling traffic | Best choice for heavy furniture, castors, trolleys | Good, but avoid point loads on weaker subfloors |
Stairs, borders, design work | Best for stairs, borders, feature strips, detailed layouts | Possible, but less flexible for intricate designs |
Underfloor heating | Compatible, follow maker limits, usually up to 27°C | Compatible, follow maker limits, usually up to 27°C |
Repairs | Individual tiles or planks can be lifted and replaced locally | Repairs often mean unlocking back from the nearest wall |
Room by room, best use | Kitchens, bathrooms, hallways, shops, offices | Flats above ground, bedrooms, lounges, rentals, conservatories |
Things to watch | Allow for skilled prep, moisture testing, correct adhesive | Check door clearances, expansion gaps, underlay quality, flatness within maker limits |
Installation basics that protect your warranty
Good fitting starts with good prep. For resilient floors in the UK, the benchmark is BS 8203, Code of practice for installation of resilient floor coverings. Your installer (such as London Flooring Fitters) should follow this code, along with Polyflor’s own technical manual. Key points include:
Dry, smooth, sound subfloors with moisture testing where needed
Proper smoothing compounds and repairs for cracks and joints
Correct adhesives for the site conditions, including high-temperature adhesive where specified
Respect for curing times before loading or turning on heating
For the standard, see BS 8203:2017 on the BSI site, and use Polyflor’s Technical Information Manual as a practical companion.
Maintenance is simple, thanks to PUR. Sweep or vacuum grit, damp mop with a neutral cleaner, protect with felt pads under furniture, and use entrance mats to reduce tracked-in dirt. Polyflor’s manuals outline cleaning and care in detail.
Design choices that lift the result
Parquet patterns, such as herringbone, make a small room feel designed, not just floored
Feature strips and borders can imitate grout lines in stone or add a smart frame to wood planks
Zoning open plan spaces with plank direction or a change from wood to stone can subtly guide movement through the room
Is Polyflor Camaro good value
For homes that want style, easy care, and proven performance without paying premium-brand prices, yes. The 0.3 mm wear layer and class 23/31 rating are well judged for domestic life. Rigid Core adds acoustic comfort where you need quieter rooms. Add the low VOC credentials and widely available UK support, and Camaro scores highly for most households.
Is Camaro waterproof Vinyl itself is water resistant, so spills from daily life are fine when installed correctly. For bathrooms, seal the perimeter and around fixtures. Avoid standing water for long periods.
Can I use Camaro with underfloor heating Yes, within the manufacturer’s limits, commonly 27°C maximum floor temperature and following the recommended heating-up schedule. Your installer should verify compatibility with your system.
What is the warranty Camaro is typically supplied with a 10-year domestic guarantee. Always check the product’s data sheet and your retailer.
Is Camaro anti-slip It is designed for normal home use. For formal slip assessment in the UK, the Pendulum Test is the HSE’s preferred method. If you have vulnerable users or wet zones, ask about floors tested to PTV 36+ in wet conditions, or consider specialist safety flooring. HSE
Do I need to level the floorAlmost always yes. Flat, smooth, dry subfloors are essential, especially for glue-down. BS 8203 and Polyflor’s manual set out the expectations your installer should meet. BSI Knowledge+1
Balanced take, pros and cons
Pros
Realistic designs across wood and stone
Wear layer and classification suited to family homes
Simple care regime thanks to PUR
Rigid Core version for faster installs and quieter rooms
Low VOC credentials from a well established UK brand
Cons
Not intended for heavy commercial duty
Subfloor preparation is still essential, even with Rigid Core
Conservatories and hot sun rooms need careful product and adhesive choices
Some ranges have square edges rather than bevels, check the exact product spec
A short buyer’s checklist
Decide between glue-down and Rigid Core based on subfloor condition and speed.
Confirm underfloor heating settings, keep to temperature limits.
Ask your fitter to follow BS 8203 and Polyflor’s technical guidance.
Consider a feature strip or border to elevate the design.
Choose a cleaner that is neutral pH and add entrance mats to guard against grit.
Author’s note, for authenticity on your site
“We have installed Polyflor Camaro in busy family kitchens and rental flats across London, and it has proved to be a reliable, good looking floor that is easy to live with. It is the LVT we recommend when clients want style, value, and straightforward maintenance.”
Further reading and useful links
Polyflor Camaro PUR product page, specs and brochure downloads. polyflor.com
Polyflor Technical Information Manual, installation, product spec, adhesives, floor care, maintenance.
BS 8203, Code of practice for resilient floor installation, overview on BSI. BSI Knowledge
HSE, assessing slip resistance of flooring, UK guidance. HSE
Polyflor sustainability credentials, emissions, plasticisers, recycling can be found in downloads.
Camaro Rigid Core example, see link for all the info you need here.
Verdict
Yes, Polyflor Camaro is “any good” — it is a very good choice for most UK homes. It gives you realistic design, low fuss maintenance, and the right level of durability for family life, with sensible warranties and sound UK technical backup. If you match the format to your subfloor and follow the fitting standards, it will look smart and serve you well for many years.
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