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vinyl flooring

Posted: October 6th, 2017, 9:37 pm
by chin_k
I see some of you had done the vinyl flooring. I got a leak on my first trip on the Chinook a few months ago, and I want to replace the carpet. I see these vinyl planks that snap together, and they are completely water proof. I want to know if they are too heavy for RV application. I also thinking about using the version that have adhesives along the edge, that they just stick together. The second type will help with keeping the plywood underneath them dry, while the first type probably will slowing leak the water down. Do I go with the adhesive type, or both are too heavy?

I installed new flooring in my house on several rooms already, and I usually lay them diagonally. For the RV, I am planning to lay them across from side to side. However, I see most people do it along the length of the coach. Is there any advantage of the orientation in term of utility, or it is just a personal preference?

Re: vinyl flooring

Posted: October 6th, 2017, 10:25 pm
by kdarling
I would think that having the grooves mostly going lengthwise, would help much more when sweeping dirt and dust towards the rear door :)

Re: vinyl flooring

Posted: October 7th, 2017, 7:26 am
by Colorider
I'm actually in the middle of ripping out the carpet and trying to decide the exact same thing. Side to side seems like it would be easier because you don't really have to trim many planks lengthwise, but I'm not convinced it would look as good. I'm interested to hear thoughts.

BTW, I'm using Allure Trafficmaster from home depot. Thinner and more flexible than most. I'm a little worried about adhesion though. My sub floor is 24 years old and has been soaked and dried many times. The grain is lifting a bit. I'm thinking I'll use a belt sander on it but I'm dreading the extra work.

Re: vinyl flooring

Posted: October 7th, 2017, 8:59 am
by Blue~Go
These thoughts are from one who hasn't done it yet, but since I'm *going* to, I've been reading, looking other jobs over, and I have done flooring in houses. So....

Anything that's planks or "tiles," in my opinion could potentially end up having issues. But a lot of that depends on usage. Say a large amount of water spills, it's possible it could seep in. But maybe you're not going to do that. I also wonder about it if you regularly travel between areas with huge temperature and humidity swings. (Allure etc. do say on the package to avoid this, but I also know people who have installed in RVs and been fine, so...?)

I also just put self-stick vinyl tiles into an RV (non-Chinook) for some friends. The tile was their choice. It came from Home Depot and was 18" square each tile. That RV had waferboard for the underfloor (we removed carpet), so I first put down a layer of 1/8" luaun (self-stick is hopeless over wafterboard). So far so good, but it's only been about three months. It did come out looking VERY nice and was really easy to install (with the usual pattern making, etc.).

Glenn did put laminate planks cross-wise in his Chinook (since sold). It probably was easier but he also liked the look. I prefer the lengthwise look myself. He did mention that after a year or so water seeped down into the cracks and there was a little buckling (maybe by the sink or the cat water bowl?). In his next camper van he went with sheet vinyl - all one piece.

I am most likely going to do my flooring this winter because I'll have a lot of walls and etc. out and thus won't have to cut a lot of fiddly shapes around the bottoms of things. So far I'm thinking Lonseal sheet vinyl, but.... I'll know for sure when I order it :mrgreen:

I think for ease you probably can't beat the foam "puzzle" tiles. Chinookers Journey even put them over the carpet for a couple of years (long-term temporary solution) and they were happy with it. I think member Scott also has it installed (over bare floor). Warm, super light, cushy.

As far as weight goes, well, it is important, and you wouldn't want to put in marble, but... I'm guessing that if you took the removed carpet and pad (and staples!) and weighted them it would not be feather-like (would love to know that figure). On the other hand, you wouldn't think self-stick tiles were *that* heavy, but just lift a box of ten :shock: Nope, not light!

So you can see what you think, here is a photo of a Chinook (the above-mentioned) with the crosswise laminate planks.
Floor finished fwd.jpg

Re: vinyl flooring

Posted: October 7th, 2017, 9:33 am
by chin_k
I have laminated in one of my rooms, and it certainly does not do well with water. As you hear, the water will seep down the gap, and expand the laminated, resulting in same issue as the MDF in the Chinook when it come to water. This is why I go with vinyl.

I have stick-together vinyl plank (Allure) from Home Depot in the bathrooms, and they seem to hold up pretty well with minor water spills. I never flood the entire room, so I don't know if they can hold a few inches of water, or how well it will hold up in RV environment with the heat and moisture.

In my Chinook, the carpet seem to be covering the entire coach area, except under the water heater. Yes, there are carpet under the shower/toilet.

Laying the planks lengthwise and make it easier for sweeping is a good point, however, if it does not come out if sweep across the plank, the dirty is not going to come out along the plank. I would use vacuum if there are fine dirty that does not come out with sweeping. One advantage with cross plank is that it will be easier for me to cut/lay, and I think it is less likely for the plank to bucket/shift (remember that they are just float on top of the sub floor) if they going across. I am just mostly concern with aesthetic, however. With due respect to Blue and others, but is there any lady on the board? :lol:

Re: vinyl flooring

Posted: October 7th, 2017, 2:39 pm
by retiredtim
Vinyl strips from Home Depot. They stick together and can be trimmed with razor knife. Going on my 3rd year with no problems even after dumping the dogs water bowl a few times.

Re: vinyl flooring

Posted: October 7th, 2017, 4:18 pm
by Blue~Go
Your 2000 is the same general era as mine (and I think this goes even further back anyway), but yes, what they do is lay carpet in the ENTIRE coach, and then put everything on top of it. Walls, appliances, furniture, etc.. Hence, carpet under the shower stall, carpet in the outside "tire" storage locker, carpet under the water tank (how perfect :D). There is no carpet under the water heater because it actually sits in a molded fiberglass "cradle" that in turn sits down into a cutout in the floor (so it hangs into the battery area a bit). Also, at least in the club lounge, the carpet (and 1-1/8" of the plywood floor) is removed in order to get the furnace to (just!) fit under the forward club chair box (there may be enough height under the dinette base that this wasn't done in that plan).

Tim, that looks really nice and it's good to know that the "non room temperature" of an RV hasn't made it buckle or shrink (as they warn).

Re: vinyl flooring

Posted: October 7th, 2017, 6:12 pm
by kdarling
My 94 was also totally carpeted. Even in the power cord compartment.

As for wood or vinyl, I did both. Wood planks in the rectangular living area, and easy to cut sheet vinyl tile in the rear kitchen/bath area. Best of both worlds.

Two portrait photos stuck together side by side:
image.jpeg

Re: vinyl flooring

Posted: October 9th, 2017, 1:54 pm
by Colorider
I finished with the carpet removal yesterday and discovered all sorts of fun waiting for me. Because of protruding bolt heads, less-than-stellar plywood, holes, seams, humps and other issues, I was forced to install a new subfloor on top of the old one. I used 3/8" particle board made for underlayment. I'm going to seal it with latex Kilz to keep water from puffing it up. Once sealed, my life will get much easier since I can then install just about any floor that I want.

As a side bonus (I'm not certain whether that is sarcasm or not), I'll be recovering my dinette benches. They were wrapped in mauve vinyl from the factory. I had to unscrew them from the interior of the vehicle and since I never want to remove and replace them again, now is the time.

Re: vinyl flooring

Posted: October 9th, 2017, 2:38 pm
by kdarling
Before laying down planks, it's also a good time to think about adding heated floors, which can really boost resale value, and of course comfort (with shore power).

Suppliers are often running sales on the few pieces needed (a heating mat or two, a thermostat, and maybe some special material to lay beside the mat(s) to level the floor).

Just search around for "underfloor heating mat", the kind that work beneath the kind of flooring you're using. Do not look at the bare wire types that are meant to be concreted in place.