Fixing or repairing flooring

[Jonesy1178]

I recently purchased a 13' Cikira Classic Cruiser TT. Got a great deal but knew that some of the flooring has alot of water damage. Walking on the floor reveals a few large "soft" areas. I don't believe there are any joists for the flooring? From what I can see, there is the structural steel beneath the floor, some thick black plastic to protect the flooring from water coming up from the road, the actual wood flooring and the vinyl floor covering. My thoughts are (1) to take up the floor covering and use a dehumidifier to try to suck as much moisture out of the wood as I can (2) find some types of epoxy that I can soak into the existing wood flooring so that it will become more solid (3) cover this floor with plastic sheating (4) install 1/4" or 3/8" marine grade plywood on top and then add some type of flooring.

Has anyone done something like this? Is my thought process in the right direction? or is there another way I should attack this?

Many thanks in advance for any information or tips or help you can offer!

[jdc1]

downtheroad wrote:
Not good...who need this?

Suggestions: First, find out how the water got in. Locate the leak and fix it.
Next, the 'best' way to repair leak damage (soft, rotted sub-floor) is to cut out and remove the rotted wood and completely replace it.
I don't envy you. It can be a big job and there aren't really any short cuts.

Good luck with it.

Agreed.

[robertj2000]

Jonesy;

Are you still active here? I've got a 2006 Cikira with a rotten floor, too. How did your's turn out? What did you end up doing? What would you do differently?

Thank you,

Robert Johnson

[Jonesy1178]

Sorry I haven't replied here in a while, I am not receiving notices by email that tell me there has been a response? I will have to check my settings. Tomorrow I am taking out the linoleum so I can see what is below and maybe figure exactly what the damage is. The people who I picked up the trailer from were less than honest in their description of the trailer and its my own fault that I have to do all of this work, but like I said, I am retired and enjoy fixing things....this is just another challenge. I have found this epoxy (on line) called CPES. It is supposed to help halt the progress of mold and also help to bind the wood back together? Not sure how it works but it sounds like it might be worth a try? Anyone used it?

[DiskDoctr]

Be sure to check your walls and roof if the leak was high.

Watch when cutting the floor, as ductwork, water lines, propane lines, water and waste tanks, even electrical wiring may be present near where you are cutting.

Is the flooring wet and soft, or does it have black or rotted wood?

Be aware, it is also common to have soft spots in some campers over things like the water tanks and such- due to poor bracing.

[JSIMS]

We are also tackling a floor replacement project on a Cikira - sent a message your way, would like to share ideas! What a project....the floor on our used one is 100% saturated - unbelievable that it could get so completely soaked! Still working on figuring out where all that water came from...especially since supposedly the water system was never used!

[westend]

Have you inspected the floor so that you know how it is constructed? You may have a composite panel or there may be joists that support the floor sheathing. Very few late model TT's have just plywood supported by the steel frame.

[ksbowman]

Run wood floor joist perpendicular to the steel joist and you can install them on 16" centers. Simmons makes all kinds of different joist hangers or go to Lowes or Home depot and see what's available, then sheet metal screw them to you steel joist.

[Jonesy1178]

I have stopped the leak and am ready to tackle the flooring. I'm retired so have plenty of time, and I need something to "tinker" with during the long, cold, snowy winter here in southern Ontario! I am not sure about how to support new flooring if I cut out the bad sections? The metal framing on the underside of the trailer looks to be spaced at 2', maybe 2'6 intervals so there is very little to use for support.

[downtheroad]

Not good...who need this?

Suggestions: First, find out how the water got in. Locate the leak and fix it.
Next, the 'best' way to repair leak damage (soft, rotted sub-floor) is to cut out and remove the rotted wood and completely replace it.
I don't envy you. It can be a big job and there aren't really any short cuts.

Good luck with it.