Laminate Flooring Installation Getting ready to install our laminate flooring on

[Paul]

Getting ready to install our laminate flooring on the salon floor of the bus. Let us know if we have this right?

These are the steps I plan to use to install the floor

1       Will not be install a vapor Barrier, floor is 1 1/2  foam insulation board sandwich        between two  3/4 plywood for a total of three inches.

2   Next install underlayment padding

3   Laminate flooring to be installed at a 45 degree angle, not the way the    manufacture recommends to install it. they say to install parallel to the main light    source; if no exterior lighting source, install parallel to longest wall.

4   Board spacing, stager and 3/8" clearance for expansion around  perimeter    per manufacture installation instruction.

5   No instruction for mounting copilot seat. My plan is to put a flat washer spacer    under seat pedestal on bolts lifting it up to clear laminate with 3/8 clearance    around spacer.

6   When we get the couch in on the floor I can mark the bolt holes on floor , move    the couch out of the way.  Then use a hole saw to cut laminate 3/4 larger then the    spacer under couch to give 3/8 clearance around spacer. This would  lifting the    couch to clear laminate.


   This way  the floor would float under the copilot seat and couch.


   What do you think of this plan?

[Chopper Scott]

I did the laminate at an angle. It goes in fast until you get to obstacles and such. I didn't concern myself with adhering to the "floating principle" and just mounted the shotgun seat, couch and such directly through the flooring. I also filled various exposed gaps with a matching caulking. I haven't had any problems so far. Intsalling at an angle really looks better. Something I saw from some pics of the Orange Blossum Special!!

[JackConrad]

Paul,
   Sounds like you have it all figured out. Running it at a 45 degree angle is good. I got that suggestion from Ace. Running it lengthwise make it look like a bowling alley any slight imperfection in the joint lines really shows. Running it crosswise really chops it up and just flat does not look as good.  Although our floor is Australian Cypress and not laminate, you see the effect the 45 degree angle gives the finished floor.  Jack

[Ace]

Thanks Jack! I try and run all strip flooring and even sone square flooring on a 45. Just easier for me although it takes more material!

[Paul]

Chopper Scott said. Just mounted the shotgun seat, couch and such directly through the flooring. Has any one else done it this way with no problems?

Thanks Scott

Jack thanks for the suggestion from Ace it makes sense.


Thanks Ace I will keep your suggestion in mind for the rest of the bus.


The big question is how many mounted the seat, couch, cabinets and such without spacers under them.

[Ace]

I've never done that but from a professional viewpoint I think it would be safe to just bolt directly thru the flooring without any repercussions!