Tile the floor first, or last?

[DanielB]

So the new floor is prepped and sanded and ready to go on a gutted trailer.
Floor will be commercial vinyl tile.
Tile the floor first, before anything else, or wait until last, when everything else is in.
Pros/Cons either way?

[Aage]

Pros: installs faster, cleaner look (no cuts around cabinets)

Cons: more likelihood of having tiles buckle with heat/cold extremes, higher cost for materials.

[DanielB]

Aage, why would there be more likeliyhood of buckling? because more would be closer to the edges of the trailer?

[gwchitty]

I think tiling first is how they put Airstreams together originally. So that's my vote. Just research it to be sure your method sticks well. We went with sheet marmoleum and it looks / feels retro with none of the tile gaps to collect dirt. Applied first, of course, with all the walls and furniture helping The glue hold it down.

As for buckling, maybe due to temperature extremes expanding and contracting the plywood at a different rate than the tile can tolerate?

[DanielB]

Yes.. the adhesive...
The plan is to keep it stripped, waxed, then buffed. I learned how to do that in the Navy.

[Aage]

Originally Posted by DanielB

Aage, why would there be more likeliyhood of buckling? because more would be closer to the edges of the trailer?

Because the parts caught under the furniture would be unable to move when they contract/expand.

[klattu]

Last...if you ever wish to change it, will be better if not under everything