Dizzy with Flooring Alternatives

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Dizzy with Flooring Alternatives

June 12, 2020, 04:43:07 pm

Its time to "re-floor". The linoleium flooring put in by previous owners has worn and the ACIO (Asthetic Chief Information Officer) in our coach says its time for an aesthetic update! And, those who know me will also know that I'm a wizard with numbers and finances but the only work I do on our coach is write the checks to those who know what they're doing.

We've been looking at the various varieties of LVT - luxury vinyl tile. In talking with Keith Davis at MOT he recommended:

1. Do not use interlocking products. He recommended a glue down product LVT (luxury vinyl tile or plank) (Armstrong or Mannington). This allows a damaged piece to be easily replaced whereas the interlocking product requires removing more pieces to replace damaged piece.
2. Remove existing flooring and repair subfloor as needed
3. Install 1/4" Luan on top of repaired subfloor
4. Glue down LVT

He thought about 110SF of material. Cost is the labor to do the work, not the material.

Thoughts?

Re: Dizzy with Flooring Alternatives

Reply #1 – June 12, 2020, 06:35:36 pm

We used Armstrong LVT - glued down with flexible grout between the tiles. Grout has held up perfectly - tile still looks like new.

I would use it again without hesitation.

What did you do to your coach today IV

What did you do to your coach today IV

Re: Dizzy with Flooring Alternatives

Reply #2 – June 12, 2020, 08:37:46 pm

We considered vinyl plank flooring. A bit softer than wood and much more so than tile. Cork got strong consideration too. Vinyl plank flooring like Armstrong Adura has very specific temperature limits. For our coach with the heat off waiting in the barn in December or other months in the winter is too cold and voids the warranty and according to Armstrong would likely cause a product failure. In the end we chose FLOR carpet tiles. For us they do not feel as cold as a hard surfaced flooring, it absorbs more sound, the coach is quieter. The options for colors and patterns are endless.

We used a 5 mm plywood underlayment stapled at 4" centers to help match the carpet height to the kitchen wood floor and the bathroom Ceramic tile. The underlayment needs to have an appropriate primer applied. The adhesive we used is applied with a roller and allowed to dry for about 30 minutes and then the tiles are set in place. It is semi-permanent. They hold very well but in the event a tile needs to be replaced it can be removed. There was almost odors, no VOC issues.

We sanded, stained and used four coats of a floor specific oil based polyurethane varnish.

Folks we know who have had a new floor installed, usually an engineered wood product have paid $4,000 to $6,000 for labor. I don't know anyone who has done an all tile installation. Wood flooring can run $1,500 to $2,000. All,of these prices depend on your choices. We did the work ourselves, less than 40 hours. Our FLOR carpet tiles were on the higher end of the price range in their catalog but it was on sale at 25% off. Our cost was about $1300 including spare tiles and the kitchen floor refinishing.

You might not want to tackle a project like this but it is one most of you can do.

Re: Dizzy with Flooring Alternatives

Reply #3 – June 12, 2020, 10:44:50 pm

I did lvt on a floating floor. Came out good. I have lvt in my home and it is a asy to replace when 1 gets damaged. If I was to do it again I would go with the glue down. Mostly because I had some damaged using the hammer and pry bar to install. But I did it myself for less than 1 coach buck. Wish I had a small table saw to do it. The brand i chose was quite good. Got it from a flooring store. Still need to trim it out.

Re: Dizzy with Flooring Alternatives

Reply #4 – June 12, 2020, 11:14:54 pm

I used Audra vinyl tile by Mannington. Used their glue directly on subfloor after filling a few bolt indentations. Two years old, warm, quiet, comfortable and has weathered 20 to 105 temps. It's a big project by the time you remove carpet, staples, cut, fit and figure out trim. We went from bathroom to front. Original carpet still in bedroom. Did not remove driver and copilot seats, but had couch out for redo.

Re: Dizzy with Flooring Alternatives

Reply #5 – June 12, 2020, 11:26:44 pm

We used mannington Audra as recommend by David flannigan at fot.. we liked it, fot did the install.. bought it in nac to save on shipping

Re: Dizzy with Flooring Alternatives

Reply #6 – June 13, 2020, 07:52:48 am

what is the cost from MOT?

Re: Dizzy with Flooring Alternatives

Reply #7 – June 13, 2020, 10:50:04 pm

Randy, you don't have a slide, so a floating floor would work for you if that is that way you wish to go. We did the new rubber flooring that clicks together in our coach and really like it. The flooring we purchased can and we did glue it down, since we have a slide and did not want any issues. It took me less than a week and I have approximately $650 in flooring. Pictures are posted on this forum. Very happy with the results and we use a swifter mop to keep flooring cleaned. Wife happy as we hated the carpet. If you are close to us, we could give you a tour. We are just north of Pocatello, Iowa in Blackfoot. Will be at Yellowstone on Monday for some time!

Re: Dizzy with Flooring Alternatives

Reply #8 – June 14, 2020, 07:59:17 am

engineered wood??

Re: Dizzy with Flooring Alternatives

Reply #9 – June 14, 2020, 08:19:51 am

Quote from: erniee – June 14, 2020, 07:59:17 am

engineered wood??

I know you know the difference, however, I was not sure which post you referred to. Also I had an idea for the difference, not the definition.

Solid Wood vs. Engineered Wood Flooring: What's the Difference?

Re: Dizzy with Flooring Alternatives

Reply #10 – June 16, 2020, 05:13:02 pm

In the past, I was a flooring guy for a few years. In RV's and Van's I've done everything from ClickLock, to Tile, to Marmoleum etc. Presently in our coach I used a ClickLock in part of the floor, and will replace the tile with something at a later date.

Another option which I have not personally installed, but we had this in our Airstream Classic was a Luxury Woven Vinyl, This stuff is the bomb, mostly used in Yachts etc. Super durable, warm and cleans like no other, even dog hair is OK.

Infinity LWV (infinityLWV) on Pinterest

Check it out. Flooring – Infinity Woven Products, LLC

Re: Dizzy with Flooring Alternatives

Reply #11 – June 16, 2020, 06:43:30 pm

Engineered wood is what came in almost all FT (2005 and earlier) kitchen areas.

Re: Dizzy with Flooring Alternatives

Reply #12 – June 16, 2020, 09:06:21 pm

Nice to know Roger, so it should be able to be refinished once or twice.

Re: Dizzy with Flooring Alternatives

Reply #13 – June 16, 2020, 09:37:35 pm

I sanded - 80, 100, 120, 150 grits, stained and 4 coats of a floor specific matte finish poly. Sanded easier than I expected. It looks spectacular. Way better than what was there.
A New Floor, FLOR Carpet Tiles

Re: Dizzy with Flooring Alternatives

Reply #14 – June 17, 2020, 11:54:22 am

Quote from: OSIN – June 16, 2020, 05:13:02 pm

In the past, I was a flooring guy for a few years. In RV's and Van's I've done everything from ClickLock, to Tile, to Marmoleum etc. Presently in our coach I used a ClickLock in part of the floor, and will replace the tile with something at a later date.

Another option which I have not personally installed, but we had this in our Airstream Classic was a Luxury Woven Vinyl, This stuff is the bomb, mostly used in Yachts etc. Super durable, warm and cleans like no other, even dog hair is OK.

Infinity LWV (infinityLWV) on Pinterest

Check it out. Flooring – Infinity Woven Products, LLC

I was seriously considering this luxury woven vinyl for my Sprinter Van, but I just can't wrap my mind around caring for this flooring. I completely understand this application for a boat, when you can just use water to spray down the floor, which will get out any sand/dirt particles that may have worked their way into the weave of the material. And with a boat, it's mostly water that will be drug into the boat vs. dirt/sand. But in an RV or van, when you are camping in dirt and sand, and where water is scarce, how can you get it clean? How did it work in the Airstream? Is the weave tight enough that dirt and dust doesn't really get trapped in the weave?

Re: Dizzy with Flooring Alternatives

Reply #15 – June 17, 2020, 12:47:12 pm

We had FOT install a woven material on our steps and it has worn very well. Kinda pricey.

Re: Dizzy with Flooring Alternatives

Reply #16 – June 17, 2020, 02:58:43 pm

Quote from: tothetrail – June 17, 2020, 11:54:22 am

I was seriously considering this luxury woven vinyl for my Sprinter Van, but I just can't wrap my mind around caring for this flooring. I completely understand this application for a boat, when you can just use water to spray down the floor, which will get out any sand/dirt particles that may have worked their way into the weave of the material. And with a boat, it's mostly water that will be drug into the boat vs. dirt/sand. But in an RV or van, when you are camping in dirt and sand, and where water is scarce, how can you get it clean? How did it work in the Airstream? Is the weave tight enough that dirt and dust doesn't really get trapped in the weave?

Exactly what we thought, but this stuff is amazing nothing gets caught in the weave, and I even had oil on it, it cleaned up nicely. We boondocked in the desert, and had sand and mud on it, it's pretty bulletproof and had a bit of cushion. We also have a self build Camper Van, in which I installed Marmoleum, only because we found a remnant 2 miles away and we're on a quick timeline.

Re: Dizzy with Flooring Alternatives

Reply #17 – June 17, 2020, 03:00:08 pm

Quote from: John and Stacey – June 17, 2020, 12:47:12 pm

We had FOT install a woven material on our steps and it has worn very well. Kinda pricey.

great idea!, no more slippery corian

Re: Dizzy with Flooring Alternatives

Reply #18 – June 17, 2020, 03:54:14 pm

Like Roger, I refinished wood floor in kitchen area. Sanded with 150, put down one coat semi gloss eurathane full strength, sanded and put down three more light thinned coats. The thinner gave it a nice Matt finish. Very light sand between each thinned coats. Looks great and has proven very durable. I did not re-stain.

Re: Dizzy with Flooring Alternatives

Reply #19 – June 17, 2020, 05:44:40 pm

Quote from: OSIN – June 17, 2020, 02:58:43 pm

Exactly what we thought, but this stuff is amazing nothing gets caught in the weave, and I even had oil on it, it cleaned up nicely. We boondocked in the desert, and had sand and mud on it, it's pretty bulletproof and had a bit of cushion. We also have a self build Camper Van, in which I installed Marmoleum, only because we found a remnant 2 miles away and we're on a quick timeline.

Yes, Marmoleum was my first choice, but now you have me rethinking the woven vinyl. Thanks for all the info!

Re: Dizzy with Flooring Alternatives

Reply #20 – June 17, 2020, 06:01:26 pm

Quote from: John and Stacey – June 17, 2020, 12:47:12 pm

We had FOT install a woven material on our steps and it has worn very well. Kinda pricey.

We have the same product on our coach steps. It definitely has some texture to it. It is a non slip surface, easy to keep clean and shows little if any wear in the past 8 years.

Re: Dizzy with Flooring Alternatives

Reply #21 – June 21, 2020, 08:38:50 am

We were rather tired of the 16 year old carpeting in our coach and finally decided to replace it with cork. we did not want vinyl and we already have lots of wood in the coach. Once we decided to use cork the hard part was trying to go see it on display somewhere. Most flooring centers no longer stock or display it because it is not a fast seller, not sure why. We visited two flooring retailers and both Lowes and Home Depot. None of them even had a sample to offer. Finally the local Lumber Liquidators offered to send us a sample that was to arrive in 2 to 3 days. Welcome to the new normal. Their cork samples arrived two weeks later.
Most box stores had the cork floor on their web site and all offered to order it and have it shipped but still it appeared that no one had it in stock. Lowes had a US Floors interlocking plank product ( about 7/16" thick X 11"X 36") on their web site that looked nice so we called the three local Lowes and found that it was no longer in stock. I like Lowes because they honor us Veterans with a small discount but still most products that they offer are made in China. However the cork flooring we were looking for is made in Portugal cause that's where the Cork trees are. While on the phone with one of the Lowes I asked if they could do a product search for any store that might have the cork flooring. The Lowes associate I spoke to said that the larger Lowes stores may have it and sure enough we found it only 20 miles away in Mooresville NC. They had 30 boxes of it....
Long story short, we placed the recommended thin foam under layment down, placed and locked the plank as per the US Floors (Dalton GA) instruction. left the suggested expansion perimeter gap. I made little wooden L shaped trim pieces that dropped loosely into place around the perimeter just in case there was some major plank expansion in the future.
The hardest part is of course ripping out the carpet and removal of lots of carpet mini staples, removing the two chairs, followed by all the perimeter trim work. The thickness of the cork planks matched up nicely with the OEM dining room tile. I made wooden trim for around the steps and replaced the step treads with new rubber treads (made in Ohio) while I was at it. The US Floor label calls this product Conforto BJ39006. Indeed it is comfortable to walk on and the cost for the project including the step treads was under $500. Many hours of labor but there was really no place to go this spring.
The cork plank flooring covers approximately 22.9 sq ft per box. Four boxes (we bought 5 to be sure) covered the entrance back to the dining room tile with a couple planks leftover. I left carpet on the floor in the slide area. At some point in the future the bedroom carpet will be removed and replaced with the leftover cork.

Re: Dizzy with Flooring Alternatives

Reply #22 – June 21, 2020, 08:55:15 am

David,

Pictures please.

Thanks.

Re: Dizzy with Flooring Alternatives

Reply #23 – June 22, 2020, 01:25:56 pm

Randy,
We installed a composite flooring made by AquaGuard sold at Floor and Decor in Florida. Completely water proof. I didn't put any Luan down. Just placed the recommend padding. It is a floating floor. We removed the wood floor in the kitchen also. Placed the new flooring from on end to the other.
John M.

Aquaguard ® Laminate | Floor & Decor

Re: Dizzy with Flooring Alternatives

Reply #24 – June 22, 2020, 01:48:02 pm

John, that is the best way to make straight trim go around a round corner.
I made a set of curved corner trim pieces for another coach. Not too hard with the right tools.

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