Posted 2007-10-25 8:10 AM (#69953) Subject: why won't this work?
Regular
Posts: 78 Location: tn
we are wanting to keep the rubber mats that are in the d/r and put felt paper under them and the laminate wood flooring on top of the mats. why won't this work? i would like to know BEFORE my hubby does it, he said it will work, i 'm not for sure???? we have a 7' short wall silver star and the d/r-l/q will not have any water in it and only 3 boot box stoarge areas and a small fridge and micro-wave. we will mainly use the trailer for 1 day shows and maybe 3-4 overnight trips per year. will the rubber mats be ok under the wood flooring?
Posted 2007-10-25 8:43 AM (#69958 - in reply to #69953) Subject: RE: why won't this work?
Regular
Posts: 51 Location: Grundy Center, IA
In my opinion, it won't work well because there would be too much "give" with the rubber mats, resulting in the laminate flooring cracking and not adhering well.
Posted 2007-10-25 9:14 AM (#69962 - in reply to #69953) Subject: RE: why won't this work?
Expert
Posts: 1723 Location: michigan
I had that rough commerical type carpeting on the floor of my trailer. the previous owner made the DR into a small LQ,leaving the carpet intact. I didn't like it so we thought of tearing it up but it was very hard to do so I got the peel and stick floor tiles. Went right over the carpet. Been there two years. You try a small section and see what it might look and feel like before you do the whole thing.
Posted 2007-10-25 10:02 AM (#69966 - in reply to #69965) Subject: RE: why won't this work?
Expert
Posts: 2614
I would tell you what I'd do,but you don't have to do this,or follow anybody's advice if you don't want to.I think I'd quit asking everybody and go ahead and do it the way I wanted to.
I would ask professionals that sell and install laminate flooring WHY this won't or could work.Then you'd get the answer from people that do it all the time and know the reasons you are looking for,why it won't work,why can't we do it like this,ect ect.You see what I'm saying?Then if you want to go ahead and try it anyway,being advised that it won't work,(if you are) you don't have anybody to blame but yourself when you're back in the trailer tearing it up and replacing it.
Posted 2007-10-25 11:20 AM (#69981 - in reply to #69953) Subject: RE: why won't this work?
Regular
Posts: 87 Location: Lavaca, Alabama
For the record, I don't see why it would not work. I put 3/4" foam board insulation down in mine, then 1/4" mdf board, then I put snap together laminate in over that. Cheap laminate that I paid only $0.20 a square foot for and it is working fine. I didn't start out with rubber mats, but if the rubber mat is no more than one or two pieces and covers the whole floor, I don't see the problem. The foam board insulation and mdf in mine probably has the same firmness as thick rubber matting. Also, with snap together laminate, if it doesn't work out, you can unsnap the pieces, remove the matting and relay the floor.
Posted 2007-10-25 11:30 AM (#69982 - in reply to #69953) Subject: RE: why won't this work?
Veteran
Posts: 196 Location: WI
Ya I agree with bonnie. Ya'll have forgot the op's question - "why". I didn't see any good answers to that. I installed the laminate in my trailer over the industrial carpet (after a vapor barrier) and have had zero problems. I can't see a good reason why it won't work, unless the rubber has too much flex, or if the seams of the rubber floor run parallel with the seams in the laminate.
july - i would not use felt paper for fear that the laminate may stick to it, or it to the rubber matts. Just use visqueen (plastic sheeting) or nothing at all. Two great things about laminate - 1) it's cheap, and 2) it's easy to work with. Follow the instructions and leave the adequate gapping around the perimeter. If it goes to hell, replace it.
Why the aversion to removing the matts? And this may be a stupid question, but why are there mats in the DR anyway?
Posted 2007-10-25 11:43 AM (#69983 - in reply to #69953) Subject: RE: why won't this work?
Regular
Posts: 78 Location: tn
the trailer came with mats in the d/r, it is a 7'short wall with a big window and we are trying to figure it out. there are only 2 big mats and they are very firm, no give at all. i just thought they could/would serve the same purpose as the other underlayers(sp) thanks to all
Posted 2007-10-25 2:49 PM (#69995 - in reply to #69953) Subject: RE: why won't this work?
Veteran
Posts: 148 Location: columbia tn
i would try it if it were mine and if it does not work out unsnap them and lay a thin subfloor down and start over you havent lost anything but a little time the floor will go in fast... good luck
Posted 2007-10-25 4:55 PM (#70000 - in reply to #69953) Subject: RE: why won't this work?
Veteran
Posts: 214 Location: lyle,mn
Go to website ifloors.com they have 800# call them and ask. They sell Laminate flooring. We bought about 800sqft of laminate flooring for our house and they very helpful.
Posted 2007-10-25 5:52 PM (#70003 - in reply to #69953) Subject: RE: why won't this work?
Regular
Posts: 51 Location: Labelle, FL
I have a friend that's husband layed laminate over the carpet padding in her daughters bedroom. It has been fine. Home depot has a product that looks like wood but is stick and peel only to itself so in esence it is a floating vinyl floor. It is pretty cool and really fexible it also is water proof and since it does not stick to the floor itself and is flexible could work for what you are doing. I have the laminate flooring already but am thinking of going with this vinyl stuff instead it is also lighter than the laminate so decrease weight load.
Posted 2007-10-26 2:14 PM (#70037 - in reply to #69953) Subject: RE: why won't this work?
Veteran
Posts: 115
We recently installed laminate in much of our house and I think installing it over the mats sounds like it's worth at least trying. As another poster said - if it doesn't work just pull it up and go from there. The cost is going to be very minimal for an area that small. One thought though - you might want to do the vapor barrier between the floor and the mats. I know the rubber mats in my aisleway sweat when the humidity is high. However laminate floors are tougher than you might think. I ordered all sorts of samples before putting mine down and I took my favorites and soaked them for 24 hours in a bucket of water. The "good quality" ones hardly swelled at all and looked just fine after drying - it was amazing!
Posted 2007-10-26 7:20 PM (#70043 - in reply to #69953) Subject: RE: why won't this work?
Regular
Posts: 78 Location: tn
well we did it. the floor is now over the rubber mats and it looks great. i'll let everyone know in a few months on the updates. thanks for all your help.
why won't this work?
