OT - Flooring Question

allisonandrews · Post by **allisonandrews** » Fri Jan 25, 2008 9:09 am

We want to rip out the carpet and pad in our mobile home. The home is about 10 years old, and the carpet has some sun bleaching and pet stains/odors. I want to replace it with something other than carpet and have been going over my options. While I'm at it, I'd also like to do the travel trailer. I figure that both have similar limitations.

Here are some of the qualifications I believe that it needs:
- lightweight
- ability to stand getting wet (spills, pet accidents)
- affordable
- DIY installation (option to do one room at a time)

I'd love tile, but the weight issue keeps it out of the running.

Hardwood isn't the most pet accident friendly (also pet nails can scratch, weighs a bunch, expensive, etc.)

Laminate is nice, but also not meant for moist environments as it can expand when wet.

Peel and stick tiles would be terrific... if they would stay stuck down, if there were no worry about getting them wet, and if the subfloor ends up being in great shape. No guarentees of any of that, so they are out.

Sheet vinyl sounds good, but once again, I don't know what shape the subfloors will be in. Also, we have an open concept floor plan, so there would be multiple seams. This is just not the best job for a first time DIYer if we want it to look okay.

That brings me to the resilient vinyl planks. So far, from what I have read about the Trafficmaster Allure (Home Depot option - I think Konecto is the same thing) has me smiling.
http://www.homedepot.com/webapp/wcs/sto ... -100593150
http://www6.homedepot.com/tv/hdtv_playe ... oID=000166

Here are some pics that I took from the HomeDepot site and merged together.

They are lightweight.
They are waterproof and are recommended for kitchen/bath/basement installation. (Yes, we have one of the idiot mobile homes with carpet in the bathroom. Yuck!)
Price starts out around $1.69/sq ft for the material itself. Best thing is that aside from some double-stick tape for the perimeter, there are no other installation materials needed which equal hidden costs (like underlayment, adhesive, grout, etc.). Tools needed can be as simple as a straight edge and razor knife. (But I've heard snips can make it easier, and also to rent a roller once you are done to go over the seams.)
It also looks like a DIY job, especially if you are putting it in a room without complex corners or molding. You don't have to put anything down over the subfloor because the material adheres only to itself.

I'm really considering this product. After watching the video and reading the instructions, I am confident we can install this ourselves. Therefore, we can do it a room at a time. Also, the price seems good, as peel and stick tile is about the only thing I see that would truly be cheaper. Also, the planks can be replaced if something were to gouge them - just buy an extra box to keep on hand.

So, any comments on this product?

yardbird · Post by **yardbird** » Fri Jan 25, 2008 10:03 am

It's still vinyl and it's thin. I only bring this up because you mention the subfloor condition being in question. Any imperfections in your subfloor WILL (note that I did not say "may") telegraph through the vinyl. Any dip, bump, hole, or sliver of wood, will eventually be seen in the surface of the vinyl. These imperfections will bug you for YEARS until you finally rip it out and do something else.
(Can you tell I've had some flooring experience?)

You still have options.

You can lift the carpeting and have a look at the subfloor. If it's in great shape, then the vinyl planks look like a really good option.
If it's not in good shape you can either repair it, replace it, or go over it with luan underlayment, patch the seams and nail holes and THEN go ahead with your vinyl planks.

Or... you can forget about the vinyl planks and if the subfloor is not great, but still STRUCTURALLY sound, you can use a thicker engineered product. I have laminate in my bathroom. The new laminates can take a SURPRISING amount of water. I've had no issues in 7 years of having laminate up there.

In my family room which is a concrete slab with imperfections, I went with a DIFFERENT engineered flooring. CORK! It actually wears very well. Snap together cork planks. I did the whole room by myself in a day and that's a room with 5 doorways, 3 alcoves, a closet and a stairway to trim around. My wife had a cork floor in her library (school library... lotta traffic) that was almost 50 years old when some idiot architect decided to glue carpeting onto it. The carpeting didn't last, and when they tore it up it naturally destroyed that beautiful cork floor beneath.

Probably more info than you were looking for... I sure do ramble on once I get going.

allisonandrews · Post by **allisonandrews** » Fri Jan 25, 2008 10:35 am

Thanks. I probably didn't phrase the stuff about the subfloor correctly. I have no reason to believe that it isn't in great shape in the main areas. I just think that it is particle board and not plywood. I know some flooring options really will not work over particle board and plywood must be added.

I like the idea of laminate, but think that the cost of product plus materials is probably going to be too much for us.

yardbird · Post by **yardbird** » Fri Jan 25, 2008 11:30 am

If it's particle board, sue the manufacturer or the home I don't think particle board is legal. Particle board is the stuff that looks like sawdust (and glue).

OSB (Oriented Strand Board) looks like big chips and flakes of wood... which it is. And that is ok and as long as it isn't structurally damaged, it should be fine.

Just remember if using any vinyl product, you'll want to fill the seams and nail (or screw) holes before laying the floor. EVERYTHING will telegraph through vinyl.

I really like the vinyl planks. I don't think those were available when I did my upstairs bathroom. It looks like a nice, easy to use product.

dieselgal · Post by **dieselgal** » Fri Jan 25, 2008 12:11 pm

That flooring sounds great to me and I plan on checking it out next time I am in Home Depot. I would be interested to see the product up close and see if they have a color I like.
I also live in an older mobile home and I know what you mean about the sub flooring. We haven't replaced any flooring because we were worried about that too. Our mobile is even older than yours but in great shape. I am just sick of the carpet and yes it use to be in the bathrooms too! I did peel and stick in the bathrooms and they did alright but the second bathroom is better than the first because we learned things as we went.
I want laminate myself and I want it in the kitchen but like you I have pets and a small pocket book.
If you try this and like it please let me know.

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