Laminate verses carpet

[Mic Jones]

I have just finished my first attempt in my home installing laminate flooring. Looks good and serviceable. --- Then I read the instructions which indicated that it doesn't like too much moisture. This I thought might be the case as it is very fragile a material (cardboard?) with a hard surface.

I've seen a few photos where owners have used it in the cabin and it looks attractive.

How is it prevented from sliding and how are the edges finished?
Does any one have experience and opinion on using that or carpet?

 

[Justin_NSA]

I put one of the early generations of laminate in my kitchen and breakfast room and I hate it. I'm seriously thinking of replacing it with something different.
I don't think the laminate going in boats is the same thing. if it is it won't be long before it is ruined too.

 

[timebandit]

I just like the carpet cause I can just shake it out when sand gets in it and it feels good on bare feet.

 

[highdesertM26]

There are various brands of vinyl plank flooring that look like wood or laminate, but are made of vinyl so they are suitable for wet locations. I've been thinking about putting something like this in my 26S, but I'm not sure if I want the unfinished edges...seems like that may just trap dirt. Here's an example of the vinyl plank:

http://www.homedepot.com/webapp/wcs...-_-100594661-_-100609202-_-N&locStoreNum=3502

 

[Phyrexii]

There are various brands of vinyl plank flooring that look like wood or laminate, but are made of vinyl so they are suitable for wet locations. I've been thinking about putting something like this in my 26S, but I'm not sure if I want the unfinished edges...seems like that may just trap dirt. Here's an example of the vinyl plank:

http://www.homedepot.com/webapp/wcs...-_-100594661-_-100609202-_-N&locStoreNum=3502

I actually put that stuff down in my house, and it is really easy to do and it looks really nice. But, I'm not sure how it would do on a boat. It is a floating floor, so there is nothing holding it down, and you are supposed to leave a 1/4" around all the edges to allow it to expand. I would have to agree that on a boat, it probably would just trap dirt and water under it, and I think it would move around quite a bit underfoot.

 

[yukonbob]

I recently installed 3/4 inch ash hardwood in my M.(I put both hardwood and laminate down for a living). You can get either a box of hardwood or laminate for under $20 from almost any hardware store if you ask for discontinued or mismatched. You can still float the floor but I just put the no slip stuff under it. As for the hardwood buy a box and a tube of subfloor glue glue the T&G together so they'll cover the sq footage. When set run entire thing over a dado or router to make a couple channels in them then glue in some slats perpendicular to the way you've laid your floor. Let that set then cut out your floor template. As for the drop cut a piece of wood round for nosing stain glue and brad nail on. Done for under $50 a couple of hours. Don't use the carpet for your template though. It will fit but not well (i did this cause the whole thing only took me and hour not including watching the glue dry). As for the laminate for twenty bucks if you get two seasons out of it I'd say it's worth it, but it will get ruined.

 

[beamreach]

Like some others I did a room in my house and had some of the laminate left over. I like the stuff. It is, I believe, masonite and mine was made in Germany. Got it at Lowes. It is so hard it will dull a jigsaw blade in short order. I had enough left over to do my boat but was concerned about a possible moisture problem so I left a piece on the ground for a month in all types of weather. It survived fine so I put it in the boat where I had marine carpet before. The carpet was slow to dry and stunk. I floated a flexible foam sheet used in packaging and put the snap together floor on top of that. Nothing is glued. Swelling is minimal since the area is so small. It is thin enough that headroom is not compromised much. My boat is a '93 26s.

 

[Phyrexii]

FWIW, I received my latest issue of 'Sail' magazine (April 2011), and there happens to be an article dealing with replacing the cabin sole. The author used bamboo flooring.

 

[Mic Jones]

Thanks for the mine of info. Mike the photo of your floor appeals to me. Y/Bob wish you were closer to the Ok BC I could steal some of your trade secrets to make it look professional. Having a refit Mac means learning a lot of other trades. I think the carpet idea (a runner from Walmart) may have to do till I get time for a more permanent fix. I hadn't thought of using none slip under lay. Today I finished removing the carpet from our travel trailer and used up the left over laminate from the home fix. The manufacturer installed the carpet before the walls were erected on top of it, interesting, lots of swearing involved. Not unlike cussing POs alterations.
Mic

 

[FlbkRoxie]

I just put in a vinyl floor on my Macgregor 26s. Bought the vinyl laminate from Home Depot like the link above, Teak finish. Thought vinyl would be better than carpet, but will put down a small rug at the bottom of the stairs. It looks good and doesn't slip around, as I put it as close to the walls as possible, but did not use an underlay, thought it would dry faster without. Didn't finish the edges, they are just cut per directions. Vacuums or sweeps up nicely. Can just pick it up if need be. It looks good, was cheap, and my first mod., so am not too worried about it.

 

[FlbkRoxie]

Oh, and just a tip if anyone plans on doing the vinyl laminate floor planks: try not to make any horizontal cuts alongside the long edge. If the wall is not perfectly straight just leave it. I cut one board at a slight angle to fit the wall and it messed up all the rest of the boards attached to it. Also, make sure you use the adhesive end for every cut, and it has to be butted to an end that has the adhesive removed. You may waste wood, but the floor will have an uneven top if you don't join the edges together properly. Hard to explain, but once you try it you will know what I mean. One box will do an entire floor, so don't try to skimp.

 

[highdesertM26]

FlbkRoxie - That looks great. I think I will try it!

 

[Mic Jones]

Oh, and just a tip if anyone plans on doing the vinyl laminate floor planks: try not to make any horizontal cuts alongside the long edge. If the wall is not perfectly straight just leave it. I cut one board at a slight angle to fit the wall and it messed up all the rest of the boards attached to it. Also, make sure you use the adhesive end for every cut, and it has to be butted to an end that has the adhesive removed. You may waste wood, but the floor will have an uneven top if you don't join the edges together properly. Hard to explain, but once you try it you will know what I mean. One box will do an entire floor, so don't try to skimp.

I must go and look at the Vinyl type. The floor you have is the look I would like in my 26D. Don't quite understand the adhesive ends. The type I've used in my home has the same locking attachment on the ends as the long sides. Re underlay I think I will use the non slip material used on trays, cupboards, under throw carpets and counter tops, similar to what beamreach did.
Thanks
Mic

 

[rgranger]

No to Carpet

Carpet is a bad idea unless you can remove it for washing. Carpet traps moisture, dirt and the remains of the pretzels your guest dropped on the floor. Then the funk starts to grow in the carpet and ...


I used truck bed liner for the floors of my boat. That or the floor sealer for garage floors (Lowes sells it) makes a good anti-skid that looks attractive and cleans up with a sponge.

 

[Mic Jones]

Carpet is a bad idea unless you can remove it for washing. Carpet traps moisture, dirt and the remains of the pretzels your guest dropped on the floor. Then the funk starts to grow in the carpet and ...


I used truck bed liner for the floors of my boat. That or the floor sealer for garage floors (Lowes sells it) makes a good anti-skid that looks attractive and cleans up with a sponge.

Today I slipped on the wet flooring in the houuse when the dog left more water on the floor than what she drank. (long beard) This added to my knowledge of laminates.

'ranger is the garage floor sealer clear or colored and anti slip?

 

[rgranger]

[quote='ranger is the garage floor sealer clear or colored and anti slip?[/quote]


I looked at the garage floor sealer but opted for the truck bed liner coating due to cost. In hind sight I think I would have gone with the garage sealer. It is more attractive. It is an epoxy made by Rustoleum and it comes with a grit you sprinkle on just before it cures completely. So yes, it is anti-skid.

So far the bed liner is working fine but it is black, and ..... ugly. It does provide a nice rubber like floor and I textured it by dragging the grooved side of the trowel before it cured.

 

[Mic Jones]

On a visit to Home Depot I learned the difference between Laminate and Vinyl. They told me not to use it around here unless my boat is stored inside and well above freezing. No chance we average -10 C to -30 C for several months The vinyl gets brittle but worse the glue shrinks and peals loosing all its grip. Has any one experienced this with Vinyl ?

Hum! back to the drawing board.

 

[chp]

I was going to also use the Allure vinyl flooring for my 26S, but I'm glad this thread came up. Did some research and it seems these cold Canadian winters will cause problems with the seams. Looks like engineered hardwood may work. Its a cross layed plywood with the hardwood surface. The plywood is very stable and it locks together like the laminate. Another advantage is it's only 1/2" thick. It,s a little pricy and seems you can only buy it by the box.

 

[Mic Jones]

Hi chp It was the Allure Vinyl I also checked out. For this year I'm settling on Walmart strip carpet with none slip underlay. Time to get in the water its still below zero at night, day time has nice breezes and some sunshine.

 

[Justin_NSA]

I looked at the garage floor sealer but opted for the truck bed liner coating due to cost. In hind sight I think I would have gone with the garage sealer. It is more attractive. It is an epoxy made by Rustoleum and it comes with a grit you sprinkle on just before it cures completely. So yes, it is anti-skid.

So far the bed liner is working fine but it is black, and ..... ugly. It does provide a nice rubber like floor and I textured it by dragging the grooved side of the trowel before it cured.

I'll bet it's hotter than hell in the summer! My PO painted on gray non-skid and I have to wear something on my feet in the dead of summer.