Finally, the flooring!!!!

It has finally reached the point where the installation of something actually has that feel of progress!! The flooring was that turning point for us.

Before we installed the new flooring I went under and added a second layer of flooring under the main flooring. The main flooring was just fine. No damage anywhere but it just did not have that "SOLID" feel to us. Like most small trailers, you could feel the flexing as you walked over it. So, wanting to feel something a bit stronger we installed a second layer of plywood under the trailer. I screwed it into place from above actually lifting the new wood up into place. We now have a very sturdy feel to the floor. No saging or movement in any way.

Now we were ready for the vinyl flooring. Margie wanted something rustic that would match the new interior colours so off to the big box stores we went. She found the perfect product at the local Lowes Store. Price was real fair and we were fortunate to get our hands on it when we did as it was the last of the roll and I do not recall seeing it in stock since. WHEW!!! If that had been sold when we went for it I hate to imagine the time spent chasing another.

Now I laid awake for nights trying to think my way through this installation. For some reason I was thinking it would be a real tough job. I couldn't have been more wrong!!! Perhaps all that thinking made it easier? With all the interior item out of the way I laid down sheets of paper from a roll to develope a template. I would roll out a strip about 7" wide and then another, taping the next layer to the last. After about 20 minutes I had a perfect fit. I then laid out the vinyl flooring upside down. Placed the template upside down on the flooring, making sure that the run of the lines were as we wanted. Then traced it all out with a magic marker. Next I took a long metal rod and, with a razor box cutter trimmed the flooring around the edges.





The link below will take you to a photo of the template. For some reason, it just will not post on this site. All the others worked fine, but not this one. So... the link will have to do.

http://images.yuku.com/image/jpg/97636e265a364561cb1ba060e2150dd596202a9e_r.jpg

This would be the entire piece of flooring minus the actual piece that we used for the Cub. That part that is missing below would be what was used. We did get some use from the remaining parts.

Next, after a cold one, I spread out the flooring to confirm a good fit. Rolling back the rear 1/3 I spread the glue onto the wood. Letting it set up for 20 minutes I then rolled the flooring over the glue and, with a roller pressed everything into place. I followed this with the center 1/3 and then the last 1/3. In the end it took me about 2 hours or so to install the flooring. Remember, I had thought this would be a tough job but was I ever wrong??!!

For the first time I really had a feeling of accomplishment. Margie and I cracked open a few more cold ones and just sat there looking at our handy work. Were we ever proud.