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Replacing Flooring

Replacing the entire floor in our coach.  Removing the carpet and the wood flooring in the kitchen. The wood flooring is coming up in pieces.  The wood flooring is made up of many pieces that are finger jointed and a veneer oak on top. They had a piece of tin under the floor glued to the subfloor.  Everything was on the tin except a 2 inch area around the perimeter of the tin.  It's not too bad just time consuming.  The tin lifts up pretty easy.  I only have to worry about clean up around the edge.  Its great flooring isn't under the cabinets.  We will be replacing the entire floor with AquaGuard.  Will keep you posted on the progress.

AquaGuard Gogh Water-Resistant Laminate - 12mm - 100085521 | Floor and Decor
John & Carm Morales

"We travel not to go anywhere, but to just go.  We travel for travel's sake.  Our great desire is to move."

Re: Replacing Flooring

Reply #1
Great start.  We did the same project last year.  We installed a Drop n' Done flooring so if we ever want to change the flooring again, it will be easy.  Also structurally stable in colder weather. 

Looks great so far.

Matthew
Matthew 2001 U320 40'

Re: Replacing Flooring

Reply #2
Great project John!  Wish we could have waited to do ours until I could do it.  You will definitely breathe easier with the carpet out.  Looking forward to following your progress. 
George and Steph
1997 U270 36 Build 5081 "Honu"
1180w Solar 400A lithium all Victron house system
Motorcade 17670, SKP 128300, FMCA F459019
73 VW Camper, 79 VW Camper, 2363 Sunline, and an Arctic Fox 25P

Re: Replacing Flooring

Reply #3
John,
Is there a way to put heating under the new floor? One thing I think would be really nice on those cold mornings when we are plugged in is nice warm floors.
Len
Len and Deb Speiser
1999 U270 36'
2017 Jeep Wrangler Unlimited
You're either on the bus, or you're off the bus!--Ken Kesey
If you're lucky enough to live in a bus, you're lucky enough!

Re: Replacing Flooring

Reply #4
Len we have the aqua hot and our registers are down close to the floor and keep everything nice toasty.  But if you do ceramic tile they have the electric radiant floor heating that is embedded under the ceramic tiles that keep the floors nice and warm.

How to Install Electric Radiant Heating | This Old House
John & Carm Morales

"We travel not to go anywhere, but to just go.  We travel for travel's sake.  Our great desire is to move."

Re: Replacing Flooring

Reply #5
John,
I knew about the heating for ceramics and just wish our previous owner had installed it. Sure would be nice so you don't have to crank up the AH (or in our case propane heaters).
Len
Len and Deb Speiser
1999 U270 36'
2017 Jeep Wrangler Unlimited
You're either on the bus, or you're off the bus!--Ken Kesey
If you're lucky enough to live in a bus, you're lucky enough!

Re: Replacing Flooring

Reply #6
Front half of coach is completely stripped down to the subfloor. The metal under the floor was aluminum .  Pulled up rear easy.  Just minor clean up.  Tomorrow the back half.  I can't wait to remove the carpet from the toilet area.  Never understood why carpet would be installed in a toilet area.  Bad idea!
John & Carm Morales

"We travel not to go anywhere, but to just go.  We travel for travel's sake.  Our great desire is to move."

Re: Replacing Flooring

Reply #7
Did the same thing to ours a couple years ago right after we got it.  Wanted more kid and dog friendly flooring so laid tile.  Only had a couple hours after work to play with it so about 3-4 weeks start to finish.  Love the finished product and I'm sure you will too.  Have tile for around stove and sink backsplash...haven't the inclination to install it yet.  😒  Maybe when it warms up...
Can't seem to get my pic to copy
Mike and Mari
'98  36 270 WTFE
Build #5272
Club #17504

Re: Replacing Flooring

Reply #8
Mike, I will be tiling the back splash in the kitchen and bathroom also.  I hate the mirror backsplash in the bathroom.  I have nothing but time being retired and the weather in Florida is nice to work in.  We pass by you guys in Illinois when we go home in the summer.  We go to the Joliet area.  We stay at Woodsmoke Ranch in Seneca, Illinois.  Maybe we can drop by on the way home.  We love stopping in Springfield.  Have a great day!

John M
John & Carm Morales

"We travel not to go anywhere, but to just go.  We travel for travel's sake.  Our great desire is to move."

Re: Replacing Flooring

Reply #9
Already replaced bathroom mirrors behind vanity with mosiac tile.  It was a must for the DW.  😉
Holler on your way through John
Mike and Mari
'98  36 270 WTFE
Build #5272
Club #17504

Re: Replacing Flooring

Reply #10
Question for anyone.  Would it be necessary to place the soundproof pad Foretravel uses in the bedroom throughout the entire coach under the engineered flooring.  The pad they use is very nice.  I was able to find it on the web.  I'm sure it will be costly.  Or should I just use the regular pad underneath.  The soundproof pad I found looks exactly like we have in our coach and it says it can be used under engineered flooring.  Thoughts anyone.

Serena™ Underlay - Soundproof your Floor with tested results.
John & Carm Morales

"We travel not to go anywhere, but to just go.  We travel for travel's sake.  Our great desire is to move."

Re: Replacing Flooring

Reply #11
Unless you make a transition from sound pad to bare floor, there will be a rise in elevation.
Does the new laminate have an mdf core?

Re: Replacing Flooring

Reply #12
There no transitions.  We will be using the Aqua Guard product in the entire coach.  The only so call transition will be at the entry steps.  I haven't got a price on the soundproof material yet, but I think it's going to be quite expensive.  Below is a picture of the product structure I will be using.

Aquaguard ® Laminate | Floor & Decor
John & Carm Morales

"We travel not to go anywhere, but to just go.  We travel for travel's sake.  Our great desire is to move."

Re: Replacing Flooring

Reply #13
John,
I would be inclined to replace the original sound mat around the bed and install a new mat throughout the area where you are putting in new floor.  Foretravel used good stuff but it can age out, become crumbly and take a compression set.  The stuff in your link looks good but it is amazing how expensive this stuff can be especially if it has the words "sound" or "acoustic" in the title.
John Fitzgerald
1991 U300 (SAI) Side Aisle Island Bed 40'
Detroit 6V92 with Allison Retarder
Meridian (Boise), Idaho

Re: Replacing Flooring

Reply #14
I don't think the sound mat is required.  We did not reinstall.  The only time it came into play was in the bedroom when you are driving.  Other than that, does road noise in the bedroom matter?  With the dense core you are looking at, I don't think you will notice a difference up front.  I know we could tell the difference.

Matthew
Matthew 2001 U320 40'

Re: Replacing Flooring

Reply #15
John,
The sound mat Foretravel used was a great product. The sound mat I found looks identical.  The more I think about it the more I think that I will not use it.  It will be very expensive.  I agree with Matt. 

Matt,
I agree there is enough density in the product I am using.  I will using the standard matt when installing the boards and it's not as thick as the sound proof matt. 

Everyone thanks for the input.  I will keep everyone posted on the progress with pictures.  So far everything is clean and ready to go.

John M.
John & Carm Morales

"We travel not to go anywhere, but to just go.  We travel for travel's sake.  Our great desire is to move."

Re: Replacing Flooring

Reply #16
Agree with Matt also, there is no sound coming up from the front flooring, just road noise.
96 U270 BUILD 4810
85 380SL
Drummonds TN.

Re: Replacing Flooring

Reply #17
It would be very expensive....

When FT replaced my carpet in the rear bedroom, instead of taking out the old sound deadening padding, we just added a new layer of padding over the original sound dreading material - really nice underfoot and the barium infused vinyl sound barrier still their from the origianal doing it's job (before they went to Barium, it was lead.....) David Flanagan at FT said unless the owner wanted otherwise, he was going to recommend that to all owners going forward to save $$$$ My rear carpet was $45 for a remnant at a local rug store (high quality, but you just need a small piece) 6 hours labor to pull up the old, and put in the new.  Sounds like a lot, but all the tiny bits in the front of the coach and the sides of the stairwells were redone at the same time - the small bits took up about 60% of the labor Was really money well spent
Tim Fiedler    2025 LTV Unity MBL on Order
2000 Chevy Tracker 2 Door Convertible 4WD Now lifted 4.5"
1985 Citroen 2CV6 Charleston
Murphy Rebel on wheels with 175HP Titan
Cessna P337
1980 48' Westport MY (!/4 Share)

Re: Replacing Flooring

Reply #18
Sorry to be late to the party.  I removed the sound supressing material from the front of ours when I laid tile.  Did this almost immediately after we got it so I really cannot give a sound comparison.  (Pun intended).  The noise level, to me, is almost nil.  Personally, I would not spend the $.  The wind noise from the mirror (I think) far drown out any road noise.  IMHO
Mike and Mari
'98  36 270 WTFE
Build #5272
Club #17504

Re: Replacing Flooring

Reply #19
Well we decided to remove all of the sound proof matting in the entire coach.  We installed the required padding for our flooring.  So far the installation is going smoothly.  We have laid the flooring in half of the coach.  We will keep you informed with the progress.
John & Carm Morales

"We travel not to go anywhere, but to just go.  We travel for travel's sake.  Our great desire is to move."

Re: Replacing Flooring

Reply #20
Looks great John!  👍
Mike and Mari
'98  36 270 WTFE
Build #5272
Club #17504

Re: Replacing Flooring

Reply #21
Looks good
What are you going to do at the entry?
FYI- I always start at the entry with the factory stair nose trim and work out from there

Re: Replacing Flooring

Reply #22
We are thinking of a rubber step nose that matches the current vinyl on the steps from Roppe Corp.  We also are looking at a metal step nose. That has been the challenge. Finding something I like and that has a smooth transition.

http://www.kofflersales.com/p/stair-nosing-by-roppe.asp?gclid=CjwKEAiArvTFBRCLq5-7-MSJ0jMSJABHBvp0p1cOk-5xdf0fYUeF4hh808EWgBuivh4Hw0bkSpUkFxoCjHjw_wcB
John & Carm Morales

"We travel not to go anywhere, but to just go.  We travel for travel's sake.  Our great desire is to move."

Re: Replacing Flooring

Reply #23
I agree with Ernie on start point-unless- you already have the trim and planned out your start allowing for the trim. It could be a bit tough getting a nice neat joint with step moulding after the fact.
IMHO
JohnH
Coachless, now use aircraft. 2003 Ford Travelair TC280 class C. Super shape. Just for 1 yr .
1994 Ford E350 ClassC,total renovation inside and out. Now sold.
2000 U295  36' Cummins 350 c/w Banks Stinger, Resonator upgrade,Solar, LED lites.Residential fridge with slide out pantry. Build 5674. Sold
ex 92 GV 022C ored Cummins. Sold
ex 95 GV240 cat 3116. Sold
2017 Mini cooper s & 2016 land Rover LR2 HSE  LUX.
jhaygarth@aol.com    SKP #130098
treat everyone as you would like to be.

Re: Replacing Flooring

Reply #24
Taking out the carpet up front and in the bedroom is VERY high on our " to do " list. Two of our friends who own Foretravels have installed Karndean Tile in their coaches. I have been in the building trades all my life and had not heard of this product, but we are very interested in using it for our remodel. Although I have installed my fair share of flooring,  I never have done so in a motorhome. Bet Erniee has a few under his belt!!

Will we have any concerns in the slide area?
Looks like I will have to deal with the face of the rise at the slide.
Are there any concerns in the cockpit area?? I will have to glue the tile here and in the stair well.
I assume I should remove the captains chairs, sofa.... should I remove the dining booth seats??

I am still not sure about the bedroom area, especially after reading this thread. We want to get rid of the carpeting, but it goes up on all three sides of the bed. I am not sure that I could install this "drop in" tile over soundproofing material. What is the material anyway? Where do you get it.? How can it be "expensive" when you are talking about only 34 sq. ft. ( 54 sq. ft. if you include the sides of the bed )??

We can't wait to get into this project, but any " heads up " would be much appreciated.


Glenn and Amy Beinfest
2001 36' U320
#5812
2014 Honda CRV

No Whining on the YACHT