Southbound Canucks: Well, I'm just floored! 😕

After 12 years, the carpet in the MH is long past its BBD. It is well worn and the under-padding is no longer padding. The laminate in the kitchen/hall shows signs of swelling due to water seepage. Time to get FLOORED.

This floor is done for.

Step 2 (Step 1 was deciding to get floored.) was choosing the flooring. It was almost bewildering. We has ideas of colour and pattern. We wanted a wood look that was light in colour and easy to maintain. Luxury vinyl planking was the obvious choice and we started looking in earnest in November past just in case we got ambitious for when we returned to Texas in the Spring. We had decided on a product from Lowes but while on the way we stopped at Home Depot (it is much closer). Ultimately we chose this product as it was more in line of what we wanted, it was cheaper, and it was closer.

Hey ! Only a buck 99 per square foot. US that is. Still a very good price.

Rip out the old carpet and remove the laminate. Sounds easy. Right? It is a messy sweaty dirty job. The old carpet backing has turned to powder and seeped through the under-padding. At first you think it is very fine sand, but it is mostly the dried out backing. Here is the carpet removed, showing the under-padding below.

The underpad

From a small area in front of the dinette, we gathered up about 2 cups of the backing.

The filth

Under the neath...
Under the old flooring is a particleboard subfloor.

And finally the carpet and laminate is gone. I did not mention how to get the laminate out. Note that when the MH was built, the floor went in first so the kitchen cabinets etc. are all mounted on top of the laminate and carpet. But I don't want to remove all the cabinets just to replace the floor. Then again the laminate needs to be cut close to the wall so the floor will go wall to wall. A special saw is needed to cut close to the wall and to be able to reach under the kitchen cabinet toe kick area. Amazingly, it is called a Toe Kick Saw and I bought one at Harbor Freight. It does the job perfectly.

The bare floor.


Driver foot area

The driver's foot area is a mix of metal plate, aluminum strips, and particle board. A new sub-floor is needed to even out all differing levels.

Dog house base is about quarter inch thick

The Bathroom

Initially, we included the bathroom in our project. Due to the complexity of the layout, the need to remove the toilet, etc., the laminate stays put.

Next step was to install a new 1/4 inch plywood sub-floor. Note that the chair and desk are shown on the driver's side. These had to be moved multiple times as it wasn't practical to move them out of the motorhome.

Good progress on the new sub-floor

Underlay

Over the sub-floor we install a cushioning underlay that adds noise abatement and insulation. We did not skimp on cost and bought the best that Home Depot had in stock.

Underlay

The new floor finally starts to appear. Here is the first row of planking ready to slide under the slideout.

The first row

First half is done. Only 90% more to go.

Cut out for the driver's seat

And now we wait. The floor is mostly complete except for the trim. The trim pieces were special ordered (HD does not stock the quarter round, etc.). It arrives in about a week.