Flying Floating Flooring

[ThruTraffic]

Have any of you ever installed floating flooring in your RV and glued it in place?

No need for hundreds to pile on with the mfgr said this and that and no you can’t do it because the warranty is gone and yada yada yada. I know one isn’t “supposed“ to glue floating floors.

I’m asking in this context:

- Floating floors are designed to float because of expansion; the reason a 1/4” gap is left around the perimeter.
- BUT, is expansion really an issue in such a narrow installation like a motor home??? The widest part of my RV’s floor is about 6’.

I understand the necessity of considering expansion in a home with a large room. But what if one were simply doing a four foot wide hallway; which in most cases are around three to six feet wide. If one could glue a hall, one should be able to glue in an RV.

I don’t think the weather extreme argument holds or the manufacturer would warn against installing their products in vacation homes where inside is like outside when no one is in residence and then fired up the furnace/AC a few times a year.

I’ll add a line or two about why I’m asking: I’m concerned that the rollers on the slide out may push the flooring ahead of it, and the worst case scenario would be when they push the flooring till it stops against the far wall it could then push the flooring until it “accordions”. When a roller under load is given enough inertia to move it has to be forced to roll; it doesn’t want to by itself; it digs in like a kid being pushed towards the bathroom to brush their teeth, then it will roll. If the floor is glued this concern doesn’t exist.

[cummins2014]

Reisender wrote:

ThruTraffic wrote:
Have any of you ever installed floating flooring in your RV and glued it in place?

No need for hundreds to pile on with the mfgr said this and that and no you can’t do it because the warranty is gone and yada yada yada. I know one isn’t “supposed“ to glue floating floors.

I’m asking in this context:

- Floating floors are designed to float because of expansion; the reason a 1/4” gap is left around the perimeter.
- BUT, is expansion really an issue in such a narrow installation like a motor home??? The widest part of my RV’s floor is about 6’.

I understand the necessity of considering expansion in a home with a large room. But what if one were simply doing a four foot wide hallway; which in most cases are around three to six feet wide. If one could glue a hall, one should be able to glue in an RV.

I don’t think the weather extreme argument holds or the manufacturer would warn against installing their products in vacation homes where inside is like outside when no one is in residence and then fired up the furnace/AC a few times a year.

I’ll add a line or two about why I’m asking: I’m concerned that the rollers on the slide out may push the flooring ahead of it, and the worst case scenario would be when they push the flooring till it stops against the far wall it could then push the flooring until it “accordions”. When a roller under load is given enough inertia to move it has to be forced to roll; it doesn’t want to by itself; it digs in like a kid being pushed towards the bathroom to brush their teeth, then it will roll. If the floor is glued this concern doesn’t exist.

Yes...sort of. I mitigated the floaty thing by fastening the first board on one side. That was 10 years ago. This stuff is as tough as it comes. Dogs, wet feet, all season, (we were full time for years). Not sure if this is what you wanted to hear but its my contribution.

Side note, we installed the underfloor heating pads. Total of a few hundred watts but feet are always toasty in winter.

And yes we installed under couch lighting. Nice for movie nights etc. This is in our 2003 Revolution we have had since new. Looks as good now as it did then...at least inside. Paint job is kinda shot. Meh. Still runs great after 155K on the clock. Woohoo. 🙂

Could you elaborate on the install , is there slideouts involved, thickness of the material. How was the one side fastened down , nailed , glued ?

[Reisender]

ThruTraffic wrote:
Have any of you ever installed floating flooring in your RV and glued it in place?

No need for hundreds to pile on with the mfgr said this and that and no you can’t do it because the warranty is gone and yada yada yada. I know one isn’t “supposed“ to glue floating floors.

I’m asking in this context:

- Floating floors are designed to float because of expansion; the reason a 1/4” gap is left around the perimeter.
- BUT, is expansion really an issue in such a narrow installation like a motor home??? The widest part of my RV’s floor is about 6’.

I understand the necessity of considering expansion in a home with a large room. But what if one were simply doing a four foot wide hallway; which in most cases are around three to six feet wide. If one could glue a hall, one should be able to glue in an RV.

I don’t think the weather extreme argument holds or the manufacturer would warn against installing their products in vacation homes where inside is like outside when no one is in residence and then fired up the furnace/AC a few times a year.

I’ll add a line or two about why I’m asking: I’m concerned that the rollers on the slide out may push the flooring ahead of it, and the worst case scenario would be when they push the flooring till it stops against the far wall it could then push the flooring until it “accordions”. When a roller under load is given enough inertia to move it has to be forced to roll; it doesn’t want to by itself; it digs in like a kid being pushed towards the bathroom to brush their teeth, then it will roll. If the floor is glued this concern doesn’t exist.

Yes...sort of. I mitigated the floaty thing by fastening the first board on one side. That was 10 years ago. This stuff is as tough as it comes. Dogs, wet feet, all season, (we were full time for years). Not sure if this is what you wanted to hear but its my contribution.

Side note, we installed the underfloor heating pads. Total of a few hundred watts but feet are always toasty in winter.

And yes we installed under couch lighting. Nice for movie nights etc. This is in our 2003 Revolution we have had since new. Looks as good now as it did then...at least inside. Paint job is kinda shot. Meh. Still runs great after 155K on the clock. Woohoo. 🙂

[cummins2014]

Deb and Ed M wrote:
Some random thoughts: at least 15 years ago, I installed peel-and-stick "oak" vinyl planks in our (house) bathroom, I think they were made by Congoleum; and they have endured all these years and still look nice.

Last year, we had Home Depot's "Life proof" vinyl planks installed in our condo - one of the things I noticed was that they didn't have to be "acclimatized" by sitting inside for a few days before installation. Implies to me that they don't shrink or expand as much as other flooring? The drawback is the thickness of each plank - they are at least 1/4" thick, which might interfere with a slideout.

Last thought: depending on whether the RV is a trailer or MH, there could be uneven heat sources (like exhaust pipes) under the floor. I saw a converted van, whose owner has installed vinyl "coin flooring" and it bubbled up where it was laid over the cat. converter.

I agree , 1/4" might be an issue , but as far as going over that 1/4" , I don't think in my case it would be an issues , there is actually a raised portion just as the slide goes over into the flooring, and that 1/4" would actually be below that slightly. As far as the slide out goes there is enough movement in them 1/4" raised up as it goes in, I wouldn't think its an issue. The rollers on a hard surface is the only issue, and those slickers can cure that. Although that laminate flooring is much tougher then that cheap linoleum they put in a lot of RV's

[Deb_and_Ed_M]

Some random thoughts: at least 15 years ago, I installed peel-and-stick "oak" vinyl planks in our (house) bathroom, I think they were made by Congoleum; and they have endured all these years and still look nice.

Last year, we had Home Depot's "Life proof" vinyl planks installed in our condo - one of the things I noticed was that they didn't have to be "acclimatized" by sitting inside for a few days before installation. Implies to me that they don't shrink or expand as much as other flooring? The drawback is the thickness of each plank - they are at least 1/4" thick, which might interfere with a slideout.

Last thought: depending on whether the RV is a trailer or MH, there could be uneven heat sources (like exhaust pipes) under the floor. I saw a converted van, whose owner has installed vinyl "coin flooring" and it bubbled up where it was laid over the cat. converter.

[aftermath]

Just sent you a PM.

[campigloo]

I think what he’s talking about is resilient tile. Super easy to install and looks good. Cut it with a utility knife. You don’t need expansion joints and water doesn’t phase it. You would still want to make accommodations for the slide rollers.

[JimK-NY]

magicbus wrote:

JimK-NY wrote:
...I can and have pulled the entire piece of carpeting out of the RV for cleaning. When it gets really dirty, I hose it off and even use a broom with soapy water.

And there is one of the best selling points for using a wood product or vinyl instead of carpet.

Dave

Not really. As I said I already have vinyl flooring. It is still in like new condition. Even so I prefer the carpeting. I like being able to get up in the middle of the night and not freeze my feet on a cold floor. I enjoy taking off the hiking shoes or boots at the end of the day and walking around in stocking feet.

A thorough cleaning is really easy. I just pull out the carpeting and shake it or use the old fashioned cleaning by hanging the carpet over a line and beating it. The ultimate is soapy water and a hose but I rarely do that since it will take a sunny day and a couple of hours of drying time.

[cummins2014]

aftermath wrote:
Here is my two cents. Just had my floor replaced in my trailer by a company that does this and who often work on Airstreams through our dealer. We went with an interlocking plank that is glued down. It gets above 100 degrees inside the trailer during the summer and close to or below zero in the winter. A floating floor will expand and contract and I believe would cause issues over time.

I do think that many of the horror stories you hear about are caused by people not knowing what product to use. Buy a cheap product that is meant to float and then glue it down is asking for trouble. I shouldn't use "cheap" because the product we went with was very reasonable. Talk to a professional installer who has done trailers and they will give you the information you need. Putting a floating floor in a house that only varies slightly in temperatures is not like doing one in a trailer.

Thats pretty helpful, I am considering pulling out the cheap linoleum in my fifth wheel that looks like planking , but not. I would like to put in some quality stuff the glues down. Could you give some brand names on that stuff you used .

[aftermath]

Here is my two cents. Just had my floor replaced in my trailer by a company that does this and who often work on Airstreams through our dealer. We went with an interlocking plank that is glued down. It gets above 100 degrees inside the trailer during the summer and close to or below zero in the winter. A floating floor will expand and contract and I believe would cause issues over time.

I do think that many of the horror stories you hear about are caused by people not knowing what product to use. Buy a cheap product that is meant to float and then glue it down is asking for trouble. I shouldn't use "cheap" because the product we went with was very reasonable. Talk to a professional installer who has done trailers and they will give you the information you need. Putting a floating floor in a house that only varies slightly in temperatures is not like doing one in a trailer.

[schlep1967]

For expansion of floating floors width is generally not the concern. Length is. If each piece will expand or contract say 1/16th inch (Hypothetical for explanation) per foot. A four foot wide floor would only change by 1/4 inch. A 20 foot long floor would expand 1 1/4 inch.

[Grey_Mountain]

cummins2014 wrote:

NJRVer wrote:
If you are worried about the slide scraping the floor try a few of those "slide slickers" that you put down to keep the bottom of the slide from dragging on the floor.

Lippert sells them for that purpose .

Just bought one from my RV place. $45.
GM

[cummins2014]

NJRVer wrote:
If you are worried about the slide scraping the floor try a few of those "slide slickers" that you put down to keep the bottom of the slide from dragging on the floor.

Lippert sells them for that purpose .

[NJRVer]

If you are worried about the slide scraping the floor try a few of those "slide slickers" that you put down to keep the bottom of the slide from dragging on the floor.

[campigloo]

If the weight of the rollers is a concern could you put a strip of flat aluminum there and paint to match the wood? It might not look TOO bad.