Wood floor HELP!

[ffbedard]

I'm getting ready to install hardwood flooring in my 61' Bambi, and I'm not sure weather to use a glue down or floating floor. Can anybody give me the pros and cons of either?

Thanks,
Tony (LV Nevada)

[overlander64]

Greetings Tony!

Originally Posted by ffbedard

I'm getting ready to install hardwood flooring in my 61' Bambi, and I'm not sure weather to use a glue down or floating floor. Can anybody give me the pros and cons of either?

Thanks,
Tony (LV Nevada)

My Minuet 6.0 Metre has Armstrong Laminate flooring with Quiet Step underlayment, and it has been quite successful. It has now been in use for two years and still looks new. One of the reasons that the laminate was chosen was that it was about 10% lighter in weight than a true hardwood tongue-and-groove flooring. The only caution I would offer is to examine the weight of your coach to see if you have the capacity for handling the additional weight - - the laminate floors added just short of 100 pounds on my Minuet and I suspect that they would potentially add 65 to 75 pounds on your Bambi. I know that tire capacity can be of concern on the Bambis, especially those with the 13" wheel/tire combinations.

Good luck with your investigation!

Kevin

[87MH]

Originally Posted by ffbedard

..... I'm not sure weather to use a glue down or floating floor.......

Floating....for sure.

If you want to change it out, no glue to take up.

All AS's "flex", a glued floor may initiate a crack in a joint - not much of a problem for a "floating" floor.

The intricacies of the trailer floorplan require a certain amount of movement when putting in the floor, another reason to float it in.

The relativiely small width and length of trailers do not require much area for thermal expansion - just enough to put it in is really all that is required.

If you damage one panel (or need to access an area for repair) it can be done (ask Swebster if it is possible to damage "Pergo").


The primary downside of "floating" is (IMO) weight - the flooring and rubber underlayment are heavier than most "glued" floorings.

I have had "Pergo" installed in the 345 for well over a year and over 10,000 miles with no problems. Our requirements were such that we needed a "slick" easily cleanable floor as opposed to carpet. -- The one test I put all of the samples we looked at was the "fingernail imprint" - I figured that if my fingernail could not damage the finish, then the pup's feet wouldn't either.

There were a lot of samples that did not pass the "test".

[Ken J]

My vote is for floating - with the backing already on it - very easy to install

Ken

[ffbedard]

Thanks everyone, you've made my decision much easier!! I can't wait to get my new floor done!

Tony - Las Vegas, Nevada