Well since we are not going anywhere for about a month we desided to start the remodel. The PO had already bought fabric for recovering the chairs so those came out and we are taking them to be re-apolstered. Once those were out I said well hell might as well attack the carpet...
One thing I know for sure I would love to have the contract to supply Foretravel with carpet staples!! Wow...I've read threads on removing the wood floors in the kitchen, I guess I got a small taste of how that must be.
So we are planning on using the same overlapping floating floor we used in the bathroom. Now that the carpet is out I'm thinking of putting a layer of 1/4 plywood down. The floor is in pretty good shape but I'm worries about smoothness. Any suggestions from those that have already done this DIY?
I'll post some pics as I go..
Thanks
Jeff
Yep, Lots of staples, I helped a friend pull his carpet out, thought we would never get all the staples.
That is one nasty looking carpet, looks like your work is cut out for you.
Gary B
If you have voids or plys missing just fill those areas. No need to put in an overlay of plywood. Go to a carpet or Home Depot store and ask there for the correct filler to use. Someone posted this project on here recently and that is what he did.
Keith
Ernie Eckberg is a professional floor guy. He is a member of this forum and posts occasionally. He replaced the OEM carpet and wood in our coach with Mannington Adura vinyl tile. He filled any uneven spots with Durham's Water Putty. The result was a great looking smooth floor.
Keith...that's what I did when I re-modeled the bathroom. With such a big area and its opened up already that's why I was contemplating it. Still on the fence...
Thanks JD...I'll look into that
When I done mine, I just filled the area's that I damaged pulling up the wood that was in front of the sink in my 280. Got it at Lowes, but can't remember the name of the product but just put it on with a broad putty knife and let it dry. If you have high spots do a little sanding and you are ready to lay your flooring.
Looks good.
The filler is Durham's Water Putty. I have used it as well.
If this is a floating floor, be sure to leave the proper gap at the walls, suspend bolt down furniture on very slightly thicker plywood and also affix molding to the wall only. Then what looks good going down will not buckle!
Brett
In our choice of flooring one of the DW fav's was a floating floor. My main concern with that was just what you mentioned...mounting the dinette and chairs then seeing the floor buckle. It just seems that re-mounting on the furniture would not look as professional or too far over my head to get it done in a DIY with my abilities. I found a nice tight weave carpet that is used for business but DW is leaning toward the tile we used in the bathroom re-model if its not her floating (cherry) wood floor.
Jeff
Yes, to do a proper floating floor is a LOT of extra work.
BTW we have also done a coach (the 1993 U240) in Congoleum DuraCeramic. Excellent ceramic look-alike with 1/3 the weight and not subject to cracking.
Brett
The bamboo floor I put in our coach is fully floating. The couch is sitting on top of the floor but not attached to the flooring. The couch is secured to the wall and to the kitchen counter at the base which is firmly secured to the subfloor. The seat belts are through bolted to the steel framework that supports the subfloor. When I build the desk, it's going to be the same set up... secured to the wall and to the floor over the cable Chase but sitting on top of the floor in the salon. I used some magic slider type feet so that the floor can move a little bit underneath the furniture. As a side note, The space under our couch is used to store a guitar or two. I did a bit of testing and found the temperature to get over 100° when the propane furnace was running... definitely not a good thing where delicate musical instruments are concerned. So when I did the floor and had the couch out, I put some insulation around the ductwork which kept the rise in temperature under the couch down to just a few degrees.
Don
Hmm... this thread definitely deserves it's own topic. The DW wants to install cork flooring in our U225 this year and while we have a lot of experience doing floors in houses, the experience we (mostly she) has in an RV is just a tile floor in the bathroom.
I just assumed we'd fasten the strips to the subfloor and that would do it. Maybe someone can describe the various methods and advantages and pitfalls.
In one of the photos here it appears that the sofa isn't being removed (or, one presumes, the rug under the sofa). Is that common?
Craig
Don, Who plays the guitars? Wish I'd have know that when we saw you at Pio Pico, I've got a great Gibson Southern Jumbo that I bought new in '63
I don't want to hijack this thread, I always like watching other peoples remodel projects. But to answer the questions, the carpet you see you under the couch in the picture with the guitars Craig is just part of the old carpeting that I cut to use as a mat under the couch to protect the floor against scuffing as I slide the guitars in and out.
To answer your question Larry, I'm the guitarist and Tys sings and plays piano. 63' Gibson jumbo eh? Definitely from Gibson's glory days which go all the way back to the the early 20's... the quality of their acoustics seemed to go south in the early 70s through the 80s and made a come back in the late 90s when they started making their higher end custom acoustic guitars in Bozeman, Montana. I had a nice Gibson custom shop cut-away dreadnaught with Bubinga back and sides which I sadly had to sell in the downsizing process- along with several Taylors, a Martin D41DF, several Luthier made classical guitars etc.
Don
Howdy Craig, We installed Cork Flooring several years ago, and we have been very pleased with the product. One of our best upgrades, makes cleaning the coach a breeze.
Link: Flooring (http://www.foreforums.com/index.php?topic=16001.msg100549#msg100549)
Good luck, Dave A
Dave A: I remember when you posted that and it's one of the reasons the DW decided that cork would do the job for us, too. For all the same reasons (friction for walking while in motion, sound absorbing, insulating, etc.
Did you leave carpet under the sofa?
Craig
Good luck with the remodel Craig. You're sort of living my dream, to remodel/upgrade an older classic MH to my own standards. I love the looks of the 89 GV!
Howdy Craig, Yes, I did leave carpet under sofa. It's just too hard to remove sofa, with AH Heater, etc. The front panels remove, cut carpet 6" back from front of sofa, then let flooring extend under couch. With panels back in place, its all good.
Good Luck, Dave A
Hyjack away everybody...I love reading all the ideas. We are leaving the carpet under he couch too. I took out all the front bolts so I could cut the carpet about 3" behind the back couch wall. That way whatever floor we use I'll slide it under the couch for a seamless look. After much discussion today I think we are going to pick out some nice linoleum flooring. If we can't find a really nice product then I think the floating floor will win out. We also like the cork floorig however with 2 Great Danes I'm a little worried about damage.
I really like the insulation in the ductwork! Might have to tackle that while I'm working...maybe go back to playing he bass too!
Keep the good ideas flowing.....
Jeff
Well we desided to use the same Allure flooring (Harrison Slate) we used in the bathroom remodel. So far so good, hopefully with my work schedule I'll get it finished this week.
We took out the barrel chair and took it to get re-upholstered. The estimate was $1450.00!! I almost fell over, especially since we had the material! I looks the the DW will be getting the dust off her sewing machine.
Jeff
All back together today...very happy with the results, best of all the DW loves it.