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New Vinyl Plank Floors
These are pictures of our new vinyl planking floors.  The planks are a waterproof click and lock floor,  8.5 mm thick with a 20mil wear surface and a cork backing.  The planks were installed with a water proof glue designed for use with a cork backing.  We left the carpet in the entry way and the original vinyl under the toilet.  The installers were able to bevel a space for the generator carriage bolts under the dinette table. 

On a recent trip, Margee's bare feet told her the floors are warmer than the original vinyl.  We weighed the LD before this same trip which included full fuel, 1/3 full fresh water, an empty gray tank, and a charged black tank, two (2) people, and the usual supplies for a 3-4 day trip.  The LD weighed 12,780# with the new floors, which is about 40# more than a year ago.  We're very pleased with the results.
Re: New Vinyl Plank Floors
Reply #1 –
Wow, love how that looks! Did you do it yourself or who did it? How long did it take, and was it affordable to get it done? I wish they came from the factory like that!
Nov 2023, 2012 31’ IB, white/green swoops & swirles, 2009 Mini Cooper, racing green convertible, toad 🐸

We ordered white/gray  2018 27' mid bath 1/3/18 and we are hoping for a July 16th 2019 delivery, sold, and tried a Lithium Travato, wish  I would have kept the Lazy Daze 27’
Re: New Vinyl Plank Floors
Reply #2 –
Quote from: TigerRE  - 
Did you do it yourself or who did it? How long did it take, and was it affordable to get it done?

This type of installation far exceeded my skills.  Margee and I did some preparation work which included removing the carpet and staples from the back wall, under the dinette table, and from the lounge.  Then we removed both lounge benches and the dinette table.  I'd guess it took us about 3 hours working together.  We removed the carpet from the lounge legs, sanded and stained them.  We installed non-skid rubber material under the 4 legs of the lounges.  This took a couple of hours of work.

The installation took two (2) installers, who have a total of 40 years experience, 7 hours working together.  We stayed off the floors for 24 hours and them Margee and I re-installed the lounge benches and the dinette table.  Then we spent several more hours detailing the interior because the process created dust.  As mentioned elsewhere, we spent parts of 3 days cleaning and air drying all the upholstery with Woolite Upholstery Cleaner.

I visited with more than 6 companies from local floor companies to RV installers.  RV interior renovation companies are by far the most expensive.  We went with a local floor company with good reviews.  A well know RV installer outside Houston wanted $17 a linear foot plus the cost of supplies and the materials.  Another well know Installer near Fort Worth charged an Internet friend of mine in Oklahoma $7000 for laminate flooring in a 36' Class A.  At the end of the day, the final cost will depend on the quality of floor material, the type of installation (glued floor vs floating floor), the amount of preparation work and of course the labor costs.  New flooring under the toilet is an additional expense when done by RV installers.  Local floor companies would install the new planks, but someone else would have to remove and reinstall the toilet.  Our toilet pedestal has a front lip, which I felt would be an problem for our 8.5 mm planks.  So we left it alone for now.

In addition to all the decisions one has to make regarding materials and installer, the most difficult problem was trying to determine the best installation method (glued floors vs floating floors).  There is simply no consensus among installers or owners as to the best installation method.  Lots of heated pro's and con's for both methods even among experienced RV installers.  Hope this information is helpful.

Re: New Vinyl Plank Floors
Reply #3 –
Ed & Margee--

Beautiful!  I'd been wondering whether I'd want something blond to go with the cabinetry & tannish carpeting in the cab & entry--the upholstery is generally tannish, but has a gray mottle to it as well.  The vinyl in the kitchen/bathroom is a slate gray that looks like tile.  I really like your gray planking; it really opens up the space.  Well done!

Lynne
Lynne
LDy Lulubelle, Green '05 31' TB
Lilly, the 4-Legged Alarm
Re: New Vinyl Plank Floors
Reply #4 –
Beautifully done, Ed and Margee.

TinaP
2006 MB "Wild Thing"
Slightly jealous of that new flooring
2006 MB
 
Re: New Vinyl Plank Floors
Reply #6 –
Quote from: Ed & Margee  - 
Thank you Tina.  So today, despite being sick for the 3rd day, I went to our LD in storage and just sat around with a diet coke and enjoyed our new floors.  I left feeling better.  I know ... I'm a bubble off-center.
Ed, some lay the flooring crosswise; some lengthwise. Don't think I've seen a diagonalwise (except in our house). How did you arrive at the lengthwise decision?

Chris
Formerly: 2002 30' IB
Re: New Vinyl Plank Floors
Reply #7 –
Quote from: Chris Horst  - 
Ed, some lay the flooring crosswise; some lengthwise. Don't think I've seen a diagonal wise (except in our house). How did you arrive at the lengthwise decision?

Chris, that was the easiest decision step for me during this long process of study and fussing about what to do.  Margee said there is only one direction and it was lengthwise.  Done!
Re: New Vinyl Plank Floors
Reply #8 –
Quote from: Ed & Margee  - 
Chris, that was the easiest decision step for me during this long process of study and fussing about what to do.  Margee said there is only one direction and it was lengthwise.  Done!
I should have guessed that.  ;)

Chris
Formerly: 2002 30' IB
Re: New Vinyl Plank Floors
Reply #9 –
RE: "Margee said...and it was...Done!"

Boy--if she could clone you (or bottle her secret) she could make a fortune!   ;)

Lynne
Lynne
LDy Lulubelle, Green '05 31' TB
Lilly, the 4-Legged Alarm
Re: New Vinyl Plank Floors
Reply #10 –
Ed-

When I installed new flooring in our house ten years ago I laid up two unopened boxes of material. I figured I may need uncut material for damage repair or modifications, and I could not be sure that the manufacturer would have supplies available when I wanted them. I've since thinned out my material stash considerably, but the two boxes remain.

Mark
Former owner, 31-foot gas Class A
Former owner, 1997-8 mid-bath
Re: New Vinyl Plank Floors
Reply #11 –
We have thought sbout doing the same - looks great! Question - With less carpet to absorb sound, does it seem louder rolling down down the road?
Pete
1994 RB
Re: New Vinyl Plank Floors
Reply #12 –
Quote from: Peter Weisel  - 
Question - With less carpet to absorb sound, does it seem louder rolling down down the road?

Our LD has always been a quiet driver with "nary" any aggravating squeaks or rattles.  (DW hunts down those rattles with a vengence.)  In addition, we only had carpet under the dinette and in the lounge which didn't seem to make much difference to us regarding noise and such.  Our new floors have a cork backing and they seem to keep the cold out better than a single sheet of OEM vinyl and perhaps there is less road noise.   

I breath better without carpet and I clean much better without carpet, which are at least two (2) intended benefits of the new floors.  The lounge carpet was 8 years old and had seen it's fair share of "nasty" and despite repeated cleanings, it wasn't a place to smell the roses.  Once we removed the carpet and cleaned the upholstery, the house smells really fresh even after it's been closed up for awhile.  And a fresh smelling house was something we had hoped would be one of the results of this project.

So hope this information is helpful.