So here is my story and I am sticking to it. My 18 year old son who weighs 180 pounds was snoozing on the top bunk in our bunkroom and he rolled off of the bunk and landed headfirst on the floor. He had a black eye but no other injuries and I did not see any camper damage. A week later I walk back into the bunkhouse and my foot falls into a huge depression ( 1ftx1ftx4in deep) that I realize was made by his head hitting the floor. The floor has a hardwood "laminate" that is basically a vinyl that was rolled out over a thin plywood/foam core floor. The laminate is still taught over the damaged floor area hiding the damage. Now I am trying to figure out how to fix this damage. I can envision cutting the laminate and peeling it up to expose the floor damage but then what? What can I use to fill in this depression? Does any spray foam harden up so that it can be walked on? Any other ideas? I am guessing I am not the first person to have a repair like this...... then again, maybe I am.

When flooring is installed, like in a kitchen there is some type of leveling gunk (don't know what it's called) that they use to level the floor before putting the new sub layer and floor down. I would think that a home improvement store would carry this type of product just for that use.

Wow that is one hard head.Never had this problem, but I don't think expanding foam would hold up. You may be able to inject some bondo into the depression. It's self curing but you would need to drill at least a 1/4 in hole through the laminate to get a big enough syringe to flow the bondo. Might have to do it in a couple of layers to make sure it fills the cavity properly.

Just cut the flooring big enough to work on the area with a very very sharp knife and set it a side. either cut out the damage floor and replace or pour floor leveler in the damage ( assuming there isnt cracks and holes for the leveler to leak out of.Then just take the piece you cut and glue it back in. You will never see the cut if you do it carefullygoodluck

the bear II wrote:Wow that is one hard head.Never had this problem, but I don't think expanding foam would hold up. You may be able to inject some bondo into the depression. It's self curing but you would need to drill at least a 1/4 in hole through the laminate to get a big enough syringe to flow the bondo. Might have to do it in a couple of layers to make sure it fills the cavity properly.Bondo may be a thought. I don't see why I could not simply cut the laminate on 3 sides and make a flap that opens to the damaged floor area then glue the flap back down when the floor repair is complete.

You might want to get underneath and see how badly damaged the subflooring is. It's possible to cut out the bad part and replace it, or you could add another reinforcing piece. Sounds like his head hitting the floor was roughly the equivalent of dropping a bowling ball!

Falling out of the bunk bed and damaging the floor.

Mortimer_Brewst
Explorer II
Aug 17, 2013
Is there any way to get underneath to see what you are dealing with? 4 inches is a lot to fill. How well will the patch be supported? I'd worry about ending up with a soft spot at the site of the patch and ending up with the vinyl stretching or tearing. I would consider patching the sub-floor while the vinyl is still in good shape.
Crowe
Explorer
Aug 17, 2013
You might want to get underneath and see how badly damaged the subflooring is. It's possible to cut out the bad part and replace it, or you could add another reinforcing piece. Sounds like his head hitting the floor was roughly the equivalent of dropping a bowling ball!
garysol
Explorer
Aug 16, 2013
the bear II wrote:
Wow that is one hard head.

Never had this problem, but I don't think expanding foam would hold up. You may be able to inject some bondo into the depression. It's self curing but you would need to drill at least a 1/4 in hole through the laminate to get a big enough syringe to flow the bondo. Might have to do it in a couple of layers to make sure it fills the cavity properly.

Bondo may be a thought. I don't see why I could not simply cut the laminate on 3 sides and make a flap that opens to the damaged floor area then glue the flap back down when the floor repair is complete.
popupcamping
Explorer
Aug 16, 2013
Just cut the flooring big enough to work on the area with a very very sharp knife and set it a side. either cut out the damage floor and replace or pour floor leveler in the damage ( assuming there isnt cracks and holes for the leveler to leak out of.

Then just take the piece you cut and glue it back in. You will never see the cut if you do it carefully
goodluck
the_bear_II
Explorer
Aug 16, 2013
Wow that is one hard head.

Never had this problem, but I don't think expanding foam would hold up. You may be able to inject some bondo into the depression. It's self curing but you would need to drill at least a 1/4 in hole through the laminate to get a big enough syringe to flow the bondo. Might have to do it in a couple of layers to make sure it fills the cavity properly.
doxiemom11
Explorer II
Aug 16, 2013
When flooring is installed, like in a kitchen there is some type of leveling gunk (don't know what it's called) that they use to level the floor before putting the new sub layer and floor down. I would think that a home improvement store would carry this type of product just for that use.

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Falling out of the bunk bed and damaging the floor.

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