I install vinyl flooring in 83 31' Airstream

[ww0o]

Carpet was old, fadded and dirty. Time for new, but what to choose. Wood too heavy, vinyl squares too much work, Carpet doesnt fit my doonedock mentality,too hard to keep clean, so roll vinyl seems like the best choice.

Removed old carpet being careful not to damage the shape of the carpet as it will be your pattern for cutting the vinyl. Removed all the staples from the floor boards, scraped glue from floor and cleaned up the floor really well. Inspection showed that the wood of the floor was in good condition and needed no repair.

Vinyl roll flooring was purchased in a piece the full length of the area to be covered. This way the pattern will run the long distance of the trailer. This is more costly but there is no seams, the pattern looks better and you will have enough for repairs if you ever need them.

Laid the vinyl face down on the driveway for cutting. Laid carpet from trailer onto vinyl. Using felt tip pen marked out carpet to vinyl. Used a carpet knife to cut out the vinyl leaving the vinyl on the large side so I could trim once into trailer.

Once it was cut out, with help the vinyl was rolled up and carried into the trailer. Carefully rolled out in the space. Starting at the large end and working to the back of the trailer the vinyl was smoothed out and aligned with the areas of the trailer.

once all the details were laid out and adjustment made to get a good fit, two sided tape was used on the edges of the vinyl to prevent movement of edges and hold the vinyl down, but still allow some movement at joints. Vinyl is foam backed material that is made to be taped only on edges and is flexable.

To finish off the install, 1/4 round was installed in most areas along the walls to cover any gaps.

I feel the install is worth the effort, the floor looks great I think and should give years of service.

Have photos but need to do a little work on them to get them to fit. soon post.

Steve

[Inland RV Center, In]

Originally Posted by ww0o

Carpet was old, fadded and dirty. Time for new, but what to choose. Wood too heavy, vinyl squares too much work, Carpet doesnt fit my doonedock mentality,too hard to keep clean, so roll vinyl seems like the best choice.

Removed old carpet being careful not to damage the shape of the carpet as it will be your pattern for cutting the vinyl. Removed all the staples from the floor boards, scraped glue from floor and cleaned up the floor really well. Inspection showed that the wood of the floor was in good condition and needed no repair.

Vinyl roll flooring was purchased in a piece the full length of the area to be covered. This way the pattern will run the long distance of the trailer. This is more costly but there is no seams, the pattern looks better and you will have enough for repairs if you ever need them.

Laid the vinyl face down on the driveway for cutting. Laid carpet from trailer onto vinyl. Using felt tip pen marked out carpet to vinyl. Used a carpet knife to cut out the vinyl leaving the vinyl on the large side so I could trim once into trailer.

Once it was cut out, with help the vinyl was rolled up and carried into the trailer. Carefully rolled out in the space. Starting at the large end and working to the back of the trailer the vinyl was smoothed out and aligned with the areas of the trailer.

once all the details were laid out and adjustment made to get a good fit, two sided tape was used on the edges of the vinyl to prevent movement of edges and hold the vinyl down, but still allow some movement at joints. Vinyl is foam backed material that is made to be taped only on edges and is flexable.

To finish off the install, 1/4 round was installed in most areas along the walls to cover any gaps.

I feel the install is worth the effort, the floor looks great I think and should give years of service.

Have photos but need to do a little work on them to get them to fit. soon post.

Steve

Steve.

Your one piece vinyl flooring, in time, will crack at the seams of the plywood, which is every 4 feet.

An Airstream is flexible, and the floor flexes with it. Accordingly, the plywood seams also move, causing the cracks to appear from side to side in the vinyl.

When vinyl flooring is used, it should be square blocks, whose seams match the floor seams, therefore negating any long term appearance damage.

Sorry, but that's the way it is with an Airstream or Argost trailer.

Andy

[Streamin 65]

Hello Steve. At one point in the not so distant past, Andy's thoughts of your floor cracking soon would have been right on. However, installation methods have changed dramatically in the last few years. Wasn't long ago sheet goods were installed with a big old bucket of sticky goo and a trowel. This method made the installation permanent and with a little movement in the subfloor, the sheet goods would self destruct. Today, the use of double sided tape at just the perimeter of the area (like you did) makes the install about one step from a complete floating floor which should be great for a trailer and handle the movement just fine. So rest easy, your installation should last for many years. --dave (who remodels stuff for a living and loves double sided tape!)