Van Conversion: Installing a Laminate Floor!
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- čas přidán 17. 07. 2017
- This week I attempt something new! It was a great learning experience, but I am glad its over. I went to my local home improvement store and picked up some laminate flooring and installed it in the van!
Thanks for watching!
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@justamanwithavan
This entire series of van build vids is probably one of my favorite out there :), thank you for sharing.
I used to install laminate floors professionally. One thing that I would suggest is not to nail a trim piece to the laminate because what happens is that it will eventually buckle if it has no room to expand in both directions during temperature variances. I would just use a carpenters glue to attach it to the laminate. You don't want the laminate to be attached in any way to the sub floor because that is what will cause the buckling. As for the trim around the wheel wells...I have no clue other than whatever flexible vinyl or rubber mouldings you can find. You can contact cement them in.
Eric Crawford absolutely agree. I put my own laminate floor down in my home. It needs to be able to expand - so I I fixed the quadrant to the walls to hide the edges but it allowed the laminate to move underneath.
I used 10mm Pergo with the 2mm backing installed. It's been in my van for 5 years. It's totally free floating. On High density foam rubber 5/8" thick...I can tell you. Do not screw it down. Unless they tell you too. They also make an edge molding for that. You just use silicone. And buy the one they tell you too use. It matters..You can bend it some what up to 1" on a 4 foot piece..Just don't get stupid bending it.
Great stuff.. I will use it again. My feet love me.
LOVE the laminate floor (including it's color!)
It looks fantastic! Excellent work you are doing.
Awesome job man. Looking forward to your videos.
Looking good! I wouldn't worry about around the wheel well, but if you are then a flexible polyurethane trim might work. I believe they make a peel and stick version, but otherwise just nail it to the subfloor. As for the trim caps on the flooring, I would do aluminum angle. Buy a 2 x 2 piece of angle and rip one side down to your desired width. Aluminum is soft enough to use regular woodworking tools like a table saw. If you can find say a 1 x 2 angle already made that'd be easier. Not sure if this matters at all, but I thought I'd mention it. Laminate flooring generally needs a 3/8" gap from the wall to allow for expansion, so you may run into problems screwing it down. I highly doubt it because there are very few boards to move, but in a house with a big floor this makes a big difference. Anyway I'm loving following along! We are about to convert the same van and this is very helpful:)
Beautiful job. Doesn't have to be 100% accurate. I am actually starting my laminate floor today. Just finished the sub-floor. Thanks for the video!
Ok, so you need expansion space around the outside edges of the floor.
Leave a 5mm space all around and insert cork strips, this will fill in any gaps & allow the floor to expans & contract without causing the floor to bulge.
Thats my plan in about 2 weeks on my van.
Great vid, thank you.
I know you like to point out the mistakes, but your end product looks really great. I really like the mix of the masonite, carpet-covered walls with the different wood - it just gives it a more interesting look.
Looks really nice !!
Thank you for this bro. You keep it real. Great job around those wheels wells. #scribevibe
Looks great ! ☮ 👍 ☕ ☺ ✌
Great info!
Great work! Can't wait to watch more of your videos!
Very nice!
I hope your laminate flooring works out for you. Everyone I spoke to told me to put vinyl plank in my van because they're waterproof and they expand less. With that in mind, i don't see any spacers used around the edge. The manufacture usually calls for anywhere between a 1/4" and 3/8" gap to allow expansion. If you don't your floor will buckle. If you didn't do so, you could try to scribe it out. If not best of luck to you , looks pretty!
They have flexible rubber molding that cuts and paints just like wood.
Some even has a fake wood grain look to it
We will know there is a gap, you will be driving down the street and hear "hey there goes the guy with a gap"..lol
They make an edge molding in different shapes for the flooring end caps...
I installed Pergo 5" Free Floating 10mm with 2mm Underlayment attached. With 15mm High Density rubber matte under it with thin reflectix under it. And nothing else. No plywood. Been 5 years of hard use. It still looks brand new. My feet love me. As there is no hard surface under my feet..And it stays cool and dry. As The High Density Rubber under it. Will not hold moisture. No dry rot to worry about or mold build up...I bet I can use that stuff on the walls and ceiling. If I used 6mm. As it bends pretty far...
Getting super excited for the upcoming videos. I love you're attention to detail and well shot videos. Are you thinking of adding solar to the van? If yes, I'm super interested in your opinion on necessary battery amp hours and solar panel wattage. There's a lot of resources online but not for this size van. Can't wait to see more!
Thanks for the good words! I do not plan on adding solar, yet! I will be making a video going over how I will have a secondary battery soon though!
Josh I need ur help on my build 2015 transit connect xlt 2.5 how much will charge me to help me pimped mine out..
It came out just gorgeous, ceiling and floor are both stunning with the perfect amount of contrast. can hardly wait to see it complete. I just tuned in. Is this a Sprinter Van?
Valerie Johnson thank you! No, it's a ford transit connect... I wish I had a sprinter haha
Have you had any problems with the flex or noise yet while driving?
I would have used adhesive backed vinyl planks on a subfloor of cork or rubber.
curious to see how the laminate floor held up to the moisture in the air, spills, and tracked in dirt/snow. Did is swell / expand? Love the look but I think I'm going to go for a lino if it doesn't off gas too much.
I suggest you cut a new piece and use a scribe. Card board is not that great with off camber curves. You can make a scribe with a stiff wire and bend it. Then tape a pencil to it. If you just want to hide it. use rubber molding in the gaps.... The floor can still move...
The reason why. Is you do not want to nail\glue the floor anywhere. It will expand and contract and split the floor or buckle it. If you do. Do he same for the door step. Just use L shaped trim and glue it to the side plywood or staple it. To hold the floor down. And you can bend trim around turns. It's time consuming but the look is worth it.
Still looks good.
nice job thanks
I would've just used a big sheet of vinyl flooring. It's available in a wood grain photo-finish that looks exactly like wood flooring...without any of the hassles.
Yeah and the easiest way to fit it is to order a cargo mat (if your van didnt come with one) and use it as a template. I just received my mat and placed it over 2 pieces of compressed styrofoam and cut around the mat. Worked perfectly! Had to trim the mat a bit here and there because my van came with those security panels behind the front seats. The mat wasn't cheap but looks good. This flooring in the video looks nice!
How did you secure your sub-floor to the metal? are the screws you used on the walls self taping? stainless? have any gotten lose or started to rust? Got the info on those screws? Are you happy with a floating floor on a van? why not glued down type right over sub floor?
Nice! whats your background, if you don't mind me asking? Not everyone has access to a sweet garage filled with all those tools and hardware!
My dad owns a garage door company. I grew up working for him so thankfully I have access to his shop when I need it!
Ahh, I see! So when you say "I have no experience laying a laminate floor" thats a bit of a stretch hehe, compared to say me, who only took shop 2 semesters in high school. Looking forwards to the next vid!
How did you do the carpet wall? How do you get it to stay?
Can I ask why you didn't take the platform out of the back before laying down the floor? Wouldn't that have given you about 8 more inches of height? you might have even been able to stand up in the van.
was watching to see how the floor will be fixed to the floor. didn't get there
How do you attach the laminate so it doesn't move around..
🤪🤞
To avoid rambling go to 2:20
Is the blue underlay
I keep staring at the gap
You so need a hightop.