SKIPCAROL
COSBY,TN
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Anyone lately pulled out their carpet and replaced with laminate? Just read an article in Motor Home mag and it seems like a viable option for me. Replacing carpet is expensive and it is hard to keep clean. We have one slide (kitchen/living room) and thought instead of going inder it, maybe just stop it at the slide. The slide is on a 2" platform that slides over the carpet when in.
Carol, Skip & Buddy the Mutt
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donn0128
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There has to be over 50 pages of posts on this topic. Lots of people have done it. Use the search function above for hours of reading.
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monkey44
Cape Cod, MA and JAX, Fla
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Well, search no farther - we did it in ours and love it. Would do it again in a hot second.
We used Dupont (Home Depot) with the mfgr attached pad, instead of pad and laminate separate. Easy to install as long as you're careful, and cut clean, and leave ends and edges clear for expansion, and have some carpentry skills and tools. Nice durable surface, easy to clean.
I used it in some of my building projects as well, with very good results in kitchens, LR, BDRM, Den ... etc. Only place I'd recommend NO, is bathrooms due to the wetness / moisture, although kitchens are fine as much less water there. MFGR says baths okay too, but I'd think that is not such a good idea - but that's just me, an opinion. (Was a licensed General Builder in California for 20 yrs)
If you want DIY install tips, PM me ... M44
Monkey44
Cape Cod Ma & JAX Fla
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Yaj
The Milky Way Galaxy (Hartford, WI)
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I used the Allure vinyl strips from Home Depot and am very happy with the results. The Allure is waterproof!
1996 HR Endeavor LE,Cummins 5.9 230hp, Allison 3060,
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1 DW, 2 kids.
2 dogs, 2 cats.
I wasn't thinking this far ahead!
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ronfisherman
SE Michigan
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I replaced my flooring with Home Depot Allure flooring. Here is a link to one of the many threads on the product.
Allure Flooring vs. Wood Laminate
Last post in thread has some links of mine and other Allure installs.
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Clay L
Sioux Falls, South Dakota
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Several years ago we removed all carpet and replaced it with laminate flooring. We used Armstrong's best grade of laminate. We picked it based on some tests that Consumer Reports did that showed it had better wear and scratch resistance than Pergo. Its 3/8 inch thick.
We were surprised to find that a Carpet Time store had much better prices on the best grade than Home Depot or Lowes had on the middle grade which is all they carried. The best grades were special order.
We did the installation of our flooring ourselves. We couldn't find an installer willing to do the job.
It took us about ten day’s altogether (we only worked about 4 hours a day though). It wasn't terribly difficult but did require a lot of cutting and trimming because of all of the corners. There were also some challenges at the front of the slides, around the stairs, and underneath the dinette.
Before we did the installation we did a test by removing a square of carpet and making sure the slides would ride over a piece of T molding, laminate and underlayment.
Some people try to cut the carpet back under the slide, but we cut the carpet in front of the slides leaving enough carpet to be stapled down. I was afraid the slides would catch the carpet when the slide went back out. A Tee molding covers it so it doesn't show.
If you do the job yourself I would recommend a few things to have:
1) table saw, 2) chop saw, 3) good saber saw, 4) Rotozip tool, 5) air slight head brad nailer, 6) air stapler, 7) utility knife and sharp hook blades. 5) A staple puller - looks like a flat blade screwdriver with a V cut into the bent end of the blade. 6) heat gun for a few places where the carpet was glued down (stairwell for example)
There were two grades of the foam underlayment available. We used the best grade - more expensive but thicker and provides a moisture barrier.
We also used a special waterproof joint glue in areas that are prone to getting wet - like in front of the sink, refrigerator, and around the stairwell. (This is used to glue the joints so spilled water can't get in the joints - not to glue the flooring to the subfloor).
We also used silicon caulk to fill the 1/4 gap at the edges in those areas.
The caulk and waterproof glue are both recommended in the instructions from Armstrong.
We vacuum and mop carefully before we bring the slides in to avoid leaving anything on the floor that might scratch it. In spite of that over the years we have had some minor scratching in three or four places. One fairly deep place at the very beginning was due to our cat batting a couple of paper clips under the slide while we were working on the project.
I stapled door sweep strips behind the base boards in front of the slides because of that.
Even with the scratches it looks much better that the carpet did after only a three or four years. In addition it is so much easier to keep clean.
Clay (WA5NMR), Lee (Wife), Katie (cat).
Full Timing in a 2004 Winnebago Sightseer 35N, Workhorse chassis, Honda Accord toad
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SKIPCAROL
COSBY,TN
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Thanks, ya'll. We've decided to use Armstrongs "Allure type" vinyl. Just like Allure and on sale at Lowes $1.00 sq ft. We did laminate in our stick house and its great but think this will be better and easier in the RV. Scarriest part is to pull out the carpet! No going back!
Finished the job! Took the carpet and vinyl flooring out ( it wasn't completely under the carpet in the front or back) and installed the flooring. Took almost 5 boxes @ $35 a box...$175. Then since our decor is "cabin" took some leftover laminate that we used in stick house...cut it into 11/4" strips and used it for molding. Looks pretty cool. Even DW says so. Only other expense was transition strip from carpet to flooring along the dog house. Left carpet at the front. $18. And 3 throw rugs @ $20 each. Beats CW estimate of $2500 to replace carpet!!!
* This post was
edited 02/15/12 06:19pm by SKIPCAROL *
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