Laminate Flooring Advice

DRSMPS wrote:
During a recent power outage at the house, I went into the TT which is stored in my yard to retrieve some flashlights and lanterns. I had the battery out of the TT as it was stored for the winter so things were dark. I made the mistake of sliding a metal toolbox out of one of my storage compartments and it cut my linoleum floor tile just in front of my kitchen cupboards.

I can't see repairing the linoleum without it looking bad. Therefore this spring, I want to replace the flooring in the main section of the TT with wood laminate. I like the look, but am curious if you can offer any advise so I don't make a mistake installing the wrong product or installing it the wrong way.

My concerns are as follows:
-How much expansion room do I leave along the walls knowing that laminate expands with temperature / humidity? While in storage the TT can get very cold or very hot.
-Am I better to use the snap together laminate with a thin underlay or is the peel and stick adhesive type better in this type of application? I'm concerned that with the bouncing of the TT while going down the road that the snap together type may not hold up.

Thanks in advance for any advise you can provide.

Most Mfg's of laminate suggest a 1/4" to 3/8" expansion space around everything. My experience with different laminates tells me that 3/16" is adequate in all but the most humid areas. I installed 800 sq. ft. of laminate in Kaneohe, HI, this summer, 1/4 mi. from the beach. I used a 1/4" space.

In my Starcraft I used anywhere from 1/8" to 3/16" since I installed it and can watch for any deformities from expansion.

The better lock-edge laminates will not come apart. Since an RV sees a lot of temperature and humidity shifts, some of them sudden, gluing down isn't the best. You might develop a fail of the glue bond due to movement and the aforementioned changes in environment.

FWIW, I installed one of Lumber Liquidator's cheaper laminate products. Height considerations drove my choice. I'm a bit over 6'2" and my ceiling is 6'3". I used an 8mm product. Underneath the laminate I installed a good synthetic sub floor covering, even though the laminate has an attached back. I wanted the extra vapor barrier and minute gain in R value.
This is a project that needs attention to detail and some carpentry skills but I guess since you're posting in the DIY section, those are present.

Here's a picture of my floor: