How To Install Vinyl Post
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It'south a breeze to install luxury vinyl plank in our van. Nosotros had leftover LVP from installing it in our home, and we knew it was a durable option. Still looks great in the van, and is like shooting fish in a barrel to make clean.
Our vinyl floor was manufactured by Shaw. Nosotros bought it from a local flooring distributor in Southern California.
We had EXACTLY the right amount to consummate the front of the van. Although a continuous floor is prissy, we decided we were okay with a cream mat flooring for the back garage portion of the van.
BalanceFoam Interlocking Foam Tiles
Vinyl went in our living area, and we used foam flooring in the garage area of our van. Looks aren't as important there and so information technology's all about functionality and cost. It was easy to install, cheap, and lightweight. It's pretty like shooting fish in a barrel to wipe or vacuum. If nosotros had rugged sharp gear information technology might exist prone to fierce, but it's just fine for our bouldering mats.
Planning the Flooring Layout
To start, nosotros needed to plan out the plank layout. The nice thing about working in the van is that in that location is not all that much surface area to plan around! We only laid our planks out side by side to sympathize where the planks would begin and end relative to the cabinets that we had already installed.
Annotation : Not all flooring installs will desire to occur prior to the cabinet build. In our case, information technology made sense to work effectually some of our cabinets since we are working with a floating floor that needs expansion gaps to expand / contract with changes in temperature.
Connecting the Planks
Click lock LVP planks have a tongue and groove type installation. This ways they lock into each other like a puzzle, creating a tight seal that keeps out moisture and keeps the planks from separating from one another. Our particular product is thin, and did non require much force to click together two pieces. At that place are thicker LVP products that do install more similar a typical laminate floor, requiring a lilliputian hammering to get the planks to engage.
Here's a video that gives general installation advice for floating LVP flooring:
Providing Flooring Expansion Gaps
One concern we run into voiced a lot is whether vinyl planks will separate at the seams. Since they are loose lay, we can run across how this might be a worry. Yet, that has not been the case for us. We did non install the flooring nether our cabinets, partially due to the limited material we had on mitt. Secondly, loose lay LVP needs room to expand and contract with changes in temperature. Past leaving some expansion gaps at the edges, you eliminate this concern:
Cut the LVP
Another perk to LVP flooring is that the tools you lot will demand are ones you almost likely already have on hand. There are unlike thickness options, and ours was the thinnest in that location is at about 1/16" tiptop. Nosotros but needed a box cutter to score the plank on the top, then snapped it for a make clean suspension. On some slightly smaller or more intricate cuts, we used needle nose pliers.
Our Garage Flooring Install
Nosotros only had enough LVP for the front "living" space of the van, and were okay with transitioning to a different floor type in the garage. Three factors we kept in heed for the garage portion of floor were: cost, durability, and cushion. We knew we might exist crawling effectually nether there on our knees, so why non choose something comfy? With all this in mind, we decided to give tile gym flooring a shot! Then far we really dear information technology. We get the impression that it'southward pretty dang durable and THICK! It's also easy to install, with a straight border and blade existence all you need to slice through the foam. Nosotros did not glue down, which gives flexibility for futurity replacements should they be needed, but this could be an choice if desired.
All this said, our main garage inhabitants are bouldering crash pads, which don't have sharp edges, and then it may not be an option for everyone. Always continue your own lifestyle in mind when making van build decisions. We've seen other van builders use industrial way rubber floor for their garage space.
Finishing the Van Floor Edges
Nosotros finished the edges with aluminum angle. The aluminum was screwed down through the floor into joists. Nosotros added the trim after installing our cabinets and vinyl plank floor (in that gild). Yep, we had to ensure there were joists installed on the edges of the flooring. This ensured stability at the edges, and fabric for screwing in this aluminum angle.
Since we did this function of the build afterward our cabinet install, nosotros had to notch the aluminum to work around the cabinet. We did this using an Since nosotros did this part of the build after our cabinet install, nosotros had to notch the aluminum to piece of work effectually the cabinet. We did this using an angle grinder. Nosotros also used the bending grinder to cutting the pieces to length. We also used the angle grinder to cutting the pieces to length.
We sincerely hope this information is helpful on your build journey!
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3 Comments
Source: https://vanconverts.com/how-to-install-vinyl-plank-flooring-in-a-camper-van/
Posted by: fordquatere.blogspot.com
My sister and her husband honey camping. Yet, now that they have a child camping in a tent is a little trickier. So, they want to gear up upward an old trailer this wintertime and upcoming spring. I liked that yous explained that they will want to consider the thickness of the vinyl flooring they use on the floor of the trailer.
I'chiliad considering using genuine reclaimed erstwhile-world teak wood (more sustainable) from a US supplier for my camper van flooring since teak is hard, strong and tin can handle moisture well (used on gunkhole decks) and since information technology is and so warm and beautiful and less "plastic" looking than Vinyl or Laminate flooring planks. Whatever concerns nigh information technology?
Teak will be awesome! All the points yous mentioned are true. The downside that comes to mind is its weight – teak'due south density means its quite heavy, which will injure your gas mileage.