Removing the old carpet - toilets & closets

[zoom240]

I'm removing the carpet in preparation to put Pergo down. I've seen several threads on this, but I have some questions on the details.

I have a 94 Excella (I bought it from John in Florida - you may know him). It's in excellent shape, but the original carpets need to go. I'm tearing them out and the game plan has been to cut the carpet at the edges of the cabinets & closets. That will leave carpet underneath everything - but it will get covered up by the Pergo. Is that how everyone else is doing it? Otherwise it's a tremendous amount of work & I'd just end up shimming everything.

What about the toilet area? For starters, I don't see how to remove it, but the carpet goes underneath the toilet too! Attaching a couple of pictures - one of the toilet area & the other of the edges around the cupboards.

Thanks in advance....

Dave

[j54mark]

Cutting out the carpet under the cabinets is probably the most popular way to do it, but it is still a pain. Use a very sharp knife and do a finger inventory from time to time.

The carpet under the toilet needs to go. Remove the toilet (check the archive, there are threads on this) so you can get the carpet up and put down vinyl. Almost any carpet shop will have a scrap they will sell cheap, or more likely just give to you.

You will love your new floor, once its down.

Good luck,

Mark

[zoom240]

Just knowing that others are cutting the carpet out too & that I have to remove the toilet is advice enough. Thanks Mark.

Dave

[87MH]

Originally Posted by zoom240

......others are cutting the carpet out too.....

On the 87 345 the carpet was installed as in a conventional house.

First, all the construction and cabinetry were finished, then tack strips were installed, and the carpet attached to the tack strips.

When I took the carpet out, I just pulled it free of the tack strips, and then removed the tack strips.

Anyone with a mid 80's trailer with a similar carpet story, or was the "household" installation (tack strip after finishing interior) only a Motor Home technique?

[robandzoe]

The carpet in my 34' Limited, rear queen, side bath, was done exactly the same way, tac strips and carpet hooked to it, with padding underneath. I'm going to put in cork, I think. I just need to order it. I have all the carpeting out. Should I put the floor cross the trailer or lengthwise?

Rob

[j54mark]

The carpet in my '85 also was installed with tack strip - but it did run underneath the galley cabinet. I believe the '90's units simply installed everything over the carpet. I could be wrong.

I put in my floor lengthwise, but would do it crossways if I had to do it over. On my coach, at least, it would have been far easier to make the various cuts around cabinetry at the ends of comparatively short planks, rather than along the length of long ones.

Mark

[robandzoe]

I'm thinking of doing it crossways in the living room area, and then lengthwise down the hallway. We'll see. I'm excited to get it in. Lowe's has 10% off got Military this weekend, so I'm headed there.

Rob

[zoom240]

I thought about doing it crossways as well, but I like the look of the clean lines going straight down the hallway. We'll see how it goes, I should get it done this weekend unless I get too distracted on other things.

Dave

[robandzoe]

When I remove the carpet in the bathroom, and put in Vinyl in there, will I need to use a spacer or something of the sort for the toilet to sit on. The vinyl will not be as think as the carpet and padding. Just inquiring before I get into it.

Thanks,

Rob

[markjoandall]

So what did John buy to replace the 28'? Has he been on the forums lately?

Mark

[thenewkid64]

Originally Posted by 87MH

Anyone with a mid 80's trailer with a similar carpet story, or was the "household" installation (tack strip after finishing interior) only a Motor Home technique?

In our 1970's vintage trailers it was done like a house too. I have re-carpeted 3 units and they all were using tack strips. I have not done an 80's vintage but at some point they figured out it was cost effective to carpet 100% of the floor and install everything, vs the labor to cut and kick carpet.

[smily]

On my fourth AS. Three trailers, 71, 79 and 83, carpet and tacked, (or stapled) around cabinets.

My 1990 LY MH was carpet first cabinets second, a real PITA!

But the MH looks great with Hardwood/Pergo.

I found Mohawk brand for .99 a sqaure foot. I did the whole 33 MH with pad for aound 125 dollars.

Then another 40-50 dollars on shoe molding and other trim pieces.

Smily

[j54mark]

Originally Posted by robandzoe

When I remove the carpet in the bathroom, and put in Vinyl in there, will I need to use a spacer or something of the sort for the toilet to sit on. The vinyl will not be as think as the carpet and padding. Just inquiring before I get into it.
Thanks,
Rob

The toilet is mounted to a flange, which should be flush with the floor. You should be able to just put down the vinyl and bolt it back down.

Mark

[zoom240]

Mark,

John told me he was going to move into a house & take care of his parents, who were getting on. He thought it would be a while before he got back into camping. He sold his truck & bought a Camry!

I got the Pergo in & did the trim around the edges. Getting ready to hit the road tomorrow with my boys. Guess I need to get the camera out and take some pictures. Looks good to me. If I had to do it over again, I'd float the floor - there are a few places where it looked level, but must have had a dip. The toilet went back in without any trouble. I guess it will take a few trips before I know whether I screwed up! The Pergo instructions said to silicone the edges which might get wet, so I did the area around the toilet, the shower and the sink. The silicone must be resiliant enough not to cause problems with the Pergo expansion. Time will tell.

Dave