Sheet of plywood as finished floor? DIY parquet?

[Zennifer]

I'm sort of tossing around a few ideas for a floor to replace the vey worn carpet in my 1979 13' scamp

Number one is a painted floor, with some sort of design, either medallion in the center or full time like effect. Thinking of possibly using a sheet of 1/4" plywood? Does that even sound feasible?

Idea 2 is to cut triangles out of 1/4" plywood and basically nail or glue them into place to make a homemade, no tongue and groove floor. Thoughts?

[Borrego Dave]

Think I'd paint the floor and find a carpet runner with a pattern you like before trying to do a puzzle on the floor.

[Zennifer]

No carpet!!! . I have a big aversion to carpet...probably because half of our camping is on a beach.

But, you think that a sheet of plywood properly attached would work? Could I just put it right over the existing carpet, I wonder?

[Jack L]

Wood flooring is made from harder wood. Plywood is usually soft fir or pine which will wear quickly. A few coats of good varnish would help some but you would not have a long lasting finish. Nailing or gluing would make later floor replacement harder. I want to do a new floor and have been looking at some very reasonable flooring at a nearby Habitat for Humanity store. I think the free floating plank flooring is the way to go but I'm sensing your creative instincts are kicking in. Also pay attention to the weight you are adding. I would love a ceramic tile floor but do not want the weight. Best of luck with your project.

[Jon in AZ]

I assume you've considered and ruled out the more conventional choices such as sheet vinyl, Allure vinyl strips, laminate…? And eco-friendly options such as linoleum, cork,…? Nice thing about a 13'er is the small square footage allows you to experiment with pricier materials. Personally, I'd look for something that can be installed as a floating floor, no glue.

I'm not keen on the parquet floor option, having grown up with wood floors. They'd require some ongoing maintenance, they'd be subject to warping in the extremes of temperature and humidity in a travel trailer, and, if you glued it down, it'd be a bear to re-do down the road.

But what the hay… if you really want to give it a whirl, I say go for it! You could even stain the pieces several different shades and create a mosaic. The only person you have to please is yourself.

[Jon in AZ]

Originally Posted by Zennifer

No carpet!!! . I have a big aversion to carpet...probably because half of our camping is on a beach.

We also camp at the beach often. We have a large 3'x3' rug that covers most of the center floor, and I LOVE it!!! I can pick it up and shake it outside once or twice a day in less time than it takes to sweep a hard floor, and between shakings, it doesn't feel gritty underfoot.

Originally Posted by Zennifer

But, you think that a sheet of plywood properly attached would work? Could I just put it right over the existing carpet, I wonder?

I think I'd take up the carpet. How old is it? What's living in it? If it's foam-backed (which I suspect), the 1/4" plywood you mentioned would probably flex too much.

[Uncle Cereal]

I have used Traffic Master vinyl flooring in my basement and in my business: TrafficMASTER Flooring and TrafficMASTER Allure Flooring .

They imitate all kinds of finish, even ceramic! Being 100% vinyl, it's durable and easy to install. And the pieces stick to each other but not to the floor...

[redbarron55]

I lucked into a couple of rolls of 1/4" cork underlayment and I used that to cover the 3/4" fiberglassed plywood. Over this I installed a vinyl plank fake wood floor. It looks good and has a little more insulation and cushion.
We also have some carpet runners down the middle that can be pulled out and the dirt shaken out.
Our hope is that a small broom will sweep the dirt out and the runners provide a little more comfort.

[Hazel in Sk]

Our Trillium is getting new flooring in the spring. We've been thinking about it for a couple of years and the time has come. What is going down is a chunk of leftover stuff from re doing the house floors. It is like linoleum in a weathered wood plank pattern. Guaranteed for ten years which should last our our camping days which are only years of six months!

[bpfick]

I had saved some left over oak colored pergo type flooring in the basement. When I re-did the floor in the 2002 Scamp, there was plenty to do it. Not enough left over for another room in the house, but plenty for the Scamp.

[Zennifer]

Yes, it's more about being unique and pleasing myself than anything else. Though I am cheap. Cork is actually another other option i am strongly considering...especially since it is warmish to bare feet.

We might be gifted the remainder of a stash of Brazilian cherry 3/8" engineered floating floor from my FIL's airstream redo a number of years back and might use it as its held up beautifully under high use in that trailer...but I'm not quite sure I want the look of strip wood floor, either.

I've also toyed with those commercial type flooring tiles cut into mosaics type patterns. Just coalescing ideas into a cohesive "design plan" so the small space looks like it was meant to be��

[Zennifer]

I couldnMAYBE come around to a fee standing carpet. kids and sand and dog and mud and carpet....

[Glenn Baglo]

Maybe bring in some Buddhist monks when you have enough sand on the floor.

[CampyTime]

My Scamp 13 came with the factory carpet. It is what it is. I would prefer a vinyl one piece floor myself. No seams, just broom and sweep away grit. Although I keep an entrance mat at door, I am frequently using a whisk Broom on sand, dirt and dog hair. When I get home, I take out my handheld Shark and vacuum away. I would think a one piece vinyl would provide for no seams and a lot less work, but possibly chilly under foot? This is really a preference thing. Jon's idea of a free floating floor is good too. If you don't like it, no glue to remove. But you do have seams. If it's not installed "tight" enough they can separate. This is what's going on in my mud room at home (installed by a friend if mine). Your choice, but I'd prefer no carpet if I had a choice. This is how trailer came to me, sos I lives with it.


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[Jon in AZ]

The Allure vinyl strips also make a floating floor. The strips overlap and adhere to each other, not the subfloor. When I replace the factory carpet in mine, that's probably what I'll use. I like JD's idea of cork underlayment.

For now the carpet isn't bad- at least it was clean and odor-free when I acquired my trailer (still is, actually), and the large throw rug makes it fairly low maintenance.

[Captleemo]

Awhile back somebody posted some pics of a interlocking foam tiles with a wood grain finish. Really nice looking stuff. Robot Check

[EKollmar]

Hi Guys,
Just finished a total gut reno of my 1978 1300 Boler and within 2 hours of completion, hit the road from Victoria, BC to San Diego where I am now. Having renovated and flipped 16 houses to date, I am no expert but like a great finish where form and function meet. I removed the rotted plywood floor and put in a 3/4" marine grade plywood that has better water resistance and strength, then covered it with a seamless fiberglass linoleum that has a wood plank pattern to match the new butcherblock countertop. Please stay away from all thoughts of having seams of any sort. The previous owners of mine used Allure stick-together vinyl and it failed and caused the rot condition underneath the did not dry out. I also caulked all edges so I could have a bath in there if I wanted. Add a small designer area rug u could shake out and you're done. As someone said earlier, cost is insignificant with the small areas involved.

[Glenn Baglo]

If you read the instructions for Allure ( who would do that? ) you will find that it is not to be used where there are great fluctuations in temperature / humidity etc. It is not intended for use in RVs or summer cabins.

I used it in my kitchen where there are some awkward jogs in the floor plan. Despite meticulous planning in where to start and end, I ended up with short, small pieces that didn't have the adhesive tabs.
If you have a large, rectangular room at home, go for it, but plan well.

[Darnelle]

I like the way you think Zennifer! I, too, like one-of-a-kind items and will take the time to make it happen. A mosaic floor in a camper may not hold up well, however, with the variety of temperatures and movement inherent in something pulled down a road. You could paint your design on most any hard surface. Even vinyl flooring is paintable with the right prep and products. A good paint store should be able to provide correct advice. Whatever you decide, please post photos!

[Zennifer]

I will! I'm in the gathering stage. the ideas bouncing stage, if you will I want something different than the strip flooring or checkerboard look I see a lot...just have to find it in my head and usable, smart materials!

(We are on our second fixer upper house...I'll spend the time for unique and just what I want)