Laminate Flooring

[John Elliott]

Has anyone tried installing laminate flooring?  If so, I'd be interested in any "lessons learned".

[ben southgate]

I've done this a few times. My recent RV I install hardwood. Turned out beautifully! and wasn't to difficult, follow same principles as in a home, though in the RV there was already a vinyl floor so was no need for underlay.  Here's my recent RV (Hardwood)  and here's my older RV (Laminate)

This was my first Class C (Laminate)

Hope this helps!

Ben

[John Elliott]

Thanks for the input Ben.  It appears to me, anyway, that laying them lengthways rather than crossways produces a better look.

 

John.

[ben southgate]

Yes, I found that out after my first one. Makes the RV feel bigger/longer, reflects the light better!

[ben southgate]

Thanks for the comment!

[Jean Carpenter]

Just a question really,,,  I live in the Northeast.  Would cold weather affect laminate flooring?  I need to replace the linoleum that we currently have in our trailer.  Thanks

[ben southgate]

Good question, I live in Arizona, however if you leave enough room for expansion and contraction (as per instructions anyways) you shouldn't have a problem. Another thought is the viynl planks. If you go to Home Depot you can get them, and they look very much like wood or they even have some funky styles you can special order for only a couple of dollars more. They are worth the look!

 They fit very much like the laminates, by floating not sticking to the subfloor, so makes it a breeze to install. I have them in one of my bathrooms at home.

[Jean Carpenter]

Thanks Ben,   I saw the vinyl planks advertised, but haven't had a chance to check them out.  I will do that ASAP.

[Patti Glover]

I bought Allure Vinyl Flooring that is basically a floating floor.  It sticks to itself.  I kept hesitating to put it down in my '74 Ideal because it was a lot of money to mess up.  My husband and nephew were discussing the flooring and next thing you know, they are in the trailer putting it down.  It was WAY to hot and for some reason they made WAY to many cuts.  If the cuts aren't perfectly straight,  they will not align with each other. Don't use scissors for crimony sakes. The heat in the unit was soooo hot and of course when it cooled down, the vinyl shrank. I had to buy three more boxes of flooring @ $50. a box. That floor cost me about $350. the way they did it.  I have lloooooongggg separations all the way through the unit.  I am just sick, but I didn't tell them.  I can't stand to go in the trailer with the dirt in the cracks, which is what I tried to avoid.  pg

[Jean Carpenter]

Patti, that's why I plan to do it myself LOL.

[ben southgate]

Sorry to hear you had problems with this Product. I put it in my Bathroom at home and it was a breeze to install. I just scored the cuts with a razor and snapped them. All the cuts are on the ends covered by base moulding. I know Lowes sell a Vinyl Plank thats similar but you use an adhesive sticker to connect the planks together rather than the planks sticking to each other, also they are about $25 cheaper from memory. I just figured Home Depot had more choice in variety if you wanted to get funky with the floor.

[Pete Peterson]

I haven't done the motor home yet but when I do I will use Connecto (the spelling may not be correct).  It is a vinyl single board type flooring that has self adhesive (that can be adjusted if you make a mistake) strip to connect them.  You use a razor floor knife for cutting.  By off setting the patterns and joints it looks great.  Very easy to install, ours has been down for over two years and shows no signs of wear even in the hallway.  It is no wax, cleans easy...it is expensive but requires no glue and forgiving as far as installation and maintenance.  I think it would be great for sound deadening also because is flexible and has a nice thickness.  It requires an edge gap for expansion but that is easily hidden under mop or base molding.  If you do make too tight a fit it will create a "bubble or bulge" that is easy trim.  I believe it is Konnecto not connecto.  Good luck, Pete 

[Jean Carpenter]

Hmmm....I will look into that as well.