Remodeling Your RV Flooring
Choosing Wisely
There’s more to choosing what type of floor you want in your RV than just finding a pattern or design that you like. You should also remember that it’s gotta be something durable, flexible, lightweight and waterproof. Traffic is always moving through your RV — it’s built for life on the go! Make sure your choice is something that can withstand a lot of foot traffic and can take a beating.
Since your RV is made to move, something as rigid as wood is likely to crack or break while you’re in motion (not to mention how expensive it is!) A true wood product or ceramic tile is likely also heavy, meaning that it’s going to add bulk to your trailer, something that most campers fight with when they’re packing. Don’t waste these valuable pounds on heavy flooring! Save it for the things you’ll need to bring with you on your trip. Finally, choose something waterproof (or at least water-resistant). It’s nearly impossible to protect your floors from the elements, but you should do what you can to find something that’s as waterproof as possible to save yourself headaches later. You don’t want to spend all this time and money investing in a new floor just to redo it the next time Lassie has an accident.
Vinyl flooring is really popular among RVers because it’s easy to install, lightweight and relatively durable. Especially if you get some of the specialized manufactured types of vinyl, you can find products that are waterproof and water-resistant. Don’t skimp here! It’s well worth it to pay a little extra for these features.
Bye Bye Gross Laminate and Carpet
Now that you’ve made your decision, it’s time to get down to it! If you’re replacing laminate or vinyl, uninstalling is a breeze. Use a mini-crowbar and rubber mallet to peel away the old tiles. More often than not, they’re installed directly onto the subfloor, so there’s no danger of damaging anything underneath if you’re using only the force you need to peel up the old stuff.
Lifting old carpet is an entirely new ballgame folks. There are staples. Lots of staples. And carpet is installed before the walls, making them doubly hard to remove (but it can be done). For this job you’ll need a sharp utility knife and pliers. Cut away sections of the carpet in strips and pull the staples out as you go. It’s time consuming, but well worth the effort for that beautiful flooring you’ll be putting in later.
Hello Gorgeous
After all that hard work you’re ready to see the fruits of your labor. It’s time to start installing your new vinyl! Start on the longest wall and follow the instructions that come with your vinyl tiles. You’ll need a utility knife to trim pieces down for those awkward and tight-fitting spots. Take your time and make sure you get a good fit for each piece — we don’t want any gaps in this masterpiece! If you’ve got slideouts, check out how these RV DIYers tackled their project to make sure you get a nice, even finish when you’re done.
Peeling Tiles
Part of the natural wear of vinyl is that the tiles will eventually start to peel up a little, especially when they take a beating or are exposed to moisture. Never fear! One of the great aspects of using tiles is that you can peel them up one-by-one for patch jobs instead of having to lift the entire floor again. Gently use your crowbar to get the tile up, pop the new one in and you’re good to go. It’s that simple!
Re-doing your RV floors is something easy that you can do in a weekend, and it makes a dramatic effect on the way your RV looks and feels. So go ahead DIY warriors. Roll up those sleeves and get to work making your rig look and feel like your home away from home while you’re out enjoying your Good Life.