Forum Discussion

2013K1600GT's avatar
2013K1600GT
Explorer
Sep 13, 2018

Newmar Canyon Star

My floor is starting to buckle due to some moisture. I am going to replace it myself. I was thinking of vinyl plank flooring but the installation instruction say "do not install in an RV."
Has anyone done this or know why they say not to install in an RV?

10 Replies

  • There are lots of vinyl flooring on the market and your description could apply to any number of products. Allure is a floating vinyl plank product that many have used - it's pretty easy to install, flexible, and looks good.
  • DrewE wrote:
    2013K1600GT wrote:
    Looks like the joint between the shower pan and shower wall is leaking. So before I go any further I will be recaulking the shower.


    If it's a rather typical two-piece plastic shower unit (with a floor pan and a separate thin wall), the joint between the two is not supposed to be caulked. The wall piece overlaps the floor pan sufficiently to prevent water from splashing up and out, or at least that's what is intended. Caulking it probably won't help, and the caulking will probably pull loose pretty quickly due to relative movement between the pieces (or, if it doesn't, cause something else to give way).

    If it's some other type of shower unit, then disregard what I wrote as quite possibly inapplicable.


    It was caulked before. I recaulked it a couple years ago. There are gaps between the walls and pan.
    So if caulking it won’t do any good what’s the fix?
  • 2013K1600GT wrote:
    Looks like the joint between the shower pan and shower wall is leaking. So before I go any further I will be recaulking the shower.


    If it's a rather typical two-piece plastic shower unit (with a floor pan and a separate thin wall), the joint between the two is not supposed to be caulked. The wall piece overlaps the floor pan sufficiently to prevent water from splashing up and out, or at least that's what is intended. Caulking it probably won't help, and the caulking will probably pull loose pretty quickly due to relative movement between the pieces (or, if it doesn't, cause something else to give way).

    If it's some other type of shower unit, then disregard what I wrote as quite possibly inapplicable.
  • Looks like the joint between the shower pan and shower wall is leaking. So before I go any further I will be recaulking the shower.
  • I am working on the moisture issue now. Obviously I must figure that out before replacing the floor. I will be checking out the shower pan in a few minutes.
  • 2gypsies wrote:
    Have you first solved the problem of the moisture?


    This one should be answered before anything else is done or any other work started.
  • 2013K1600GT wrote:
    My floor is starting to buckle due to some moisture. I am going to replace it myself. I was thinking of vinyl plank flooring but the installation instruction say "do not install in an RV."
    Has anyone done this or know why they say not to install in an RV?

    I think the reason is that vinyl expands and contracts a good bit with changes in temperature. This is why the direction say keep a 3/8 gap at all perimeters, so it could shift. The movement of the rig might cause it also. That being said, what I have in my new Jayco appears to be vinyl flooring, although it might be a wood composite. I'm sure some guys here have installed vinyl in their rigs and I haven't heard any bad things.
  • The instructions STATE to not install in an RV. Who cares what anybody on this or other forums say?????? Doug
  • Do a Google search and you will find lots of recommendations for vinyl plank flooring.