how to repair rotted rv floor

Stick Self Adhesive Vinyl Tiles After the epoxy you add on the wood dries up, you should stick self-adhesive vinyl tiles/ pieces to complete the job. If you follow e instructions above, you will probably spend less than $300 to repair your rotted, rotting, or water-damaged RV floor.

Full Answer

How to replace rotted wood flooring in an RV?

How to Replace Rotted Wood Flooring in an RV. 1 Discover the full extent of the damage. Determining this will probably involve pulling up the existing flooring (linoleum, carpet, etc) so you can get ... 2 Remove the areas that are badly damaged. 3 Dry out the wood framing. 4 Add or replace the wood frame. 5 Replace flooring.

How do you repair rotten wood floors?

Luckily, removing and repairing the rotten wood floors is as simple as cutting it out and laying down new material. Remove all cabinets or benches that may be sitting on top of rotten wood. For an ideal fix, it's important to replace rotten wood underneath furniture so that the pieces won't sag down and cause more damage.

How long should I Let my RV floor dry before replacing?

After removing the badly damaged parts of your RV flooring, you are supposed to let the exposed wood frame of the RV to dry out. If you do not do this, the rot could spread in the wood frame and “infect” the new flooring and you will be forced to repair the new flooring sooner rather than later. Five days are enough to dry out your wood framing.

What to do if your RV subfloor is damaged?

So, the bad news is you’ve got major damage to your RV subfloor. Here’s what you need to do. Determining this will probably involve pulling up the existing flooring (linoleum, carpet, etc) so you can get to the sub-floor below. Once you expose the wood paneling, you can assess how much and how bad the damage is.

How do you fix an RV rotten floor?

6:5910:23RV REMODEL - Water Damage Floor Repair - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipThe top off and cutting it off and then banging it through and I'm gonna replace them with some niceMoreThe top off and cutting it off and then banging it through and I'm gonna replace them with some nice stainless steel love carriage bolts. Now the last thing I did was to take a grinder.

How do you fix a water damaged RV floor?

1:2711:09RV Floor Water Damage Repair | Part One - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipIt's just staples hold it in for real because i got a staple a little that's a little nailer it's aMoreIt's just staples hold it in for real because i got a staple a little that's a little nailer it's a small i mean they're smaller. Okay all of them stayed in the wall.

How do you repair a soft camper floor?

8:2412:15Soft floor repaired in RV - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipPressure tree of plywood the right thickness of course that we can put in there. I have cleaned upMorePressure tree of plywood the right thickness of course that we can put in there. I have cleaned up the edges. Of our cutout already and i have cut the piece of plywood already so we're going to lay.

What can I use for an RV subfloor?

Several grades of plywood and OSB structural panels are recommended for specific RV applications. APA RATED SHEATHING Exposure 1 is particularly well suited for subflooring and wall and roof sheathing. APA RATED SHEATHING Exterior fulfills the same function under high moisture conditions.

Can you Epoxy an RV floor?

Once everything is nice and dry, you are supposed to use epoxy to seal the subfloor wood and make it waterproof. Professionals frequently use epoxy resin combined with a hardener to seal the subfloor surfaces and strengthen the remaining but exposed parts of the floor.

How much does it cost to replace a RV floor?

If you want to replace your RV flooring, you could spend between $600 to $6,000 for the job. There are plenty of flooring options for you to consider. Some are cheaper, knocking the total project price down to less than $1k.

What kind of plywood do you use for camper floors?

Marine grade plywood is a good choice for trailer floors because it can withstand the wet and humid conditions often present in trailers.

How do you fix water damaged subfloor?

How to Fix a Water-Damaged Subfloor: Your 8-Step DIY GuideStart by Stopping the Water. ... Expose the Subflooring. ... Make Your Mark. ... Carefully Cut Subflooring. ... Remove Damaged Materials. ... Speed Up the Drying Process. ... Reinforce Floor Joists. ... Install Your New Subflooring.

Why is my camper floor spongy?

The leading cause of a soft spot on your RV floor is water damage. Perhaps it's rain leaking into the RV, but sometimes it's your sinks and showers. Runoff from doing dishes and showering can cause soft spots in front of sinks and showers.

How thick is the plywood on an RV floor?

It is 5/8" ply.

What is the best flooring to put in a RV?

Vinyl flooringVinyl flooring is often the best choice for most RV lifestyles. It's available in many colors, looks, and styles, and it can come in planks, squares, or sheets. Vinyl can be the easiest to install, with glue down, peel and stick, or click lock floating styles.

How do I install a new subfloor in my RV?

1:102:54RV Renovation// Water Damage Subfloor Repair - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipSo once you get the plywood off you can examine the floor below. And or the frame below and see howMoreSo once you get the plywood off you can examine the floor below. And or the frame below and see how much of that. Needs to be replaced.

How do you repair RV vinyl flooring?

0:572:04Linoleum and RV Vinyl Floor Repair | We Can Fix That! - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipMaybe a nail polish spill water damage heavy items getting dragged on it and scratching the floor orMoreMaybe a nail polish spill water damage heavy items getting dragged on it and scratching the floor or sharp objects dropped on it CCI can fix all types and colors of vinyl flooring.

How do you fix a hole in an RV floor?

4:5710:56FIXING THE HOLE : RV Checklist episode 27 - Water Damaged Floor ...YouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipHere a couple sheets of this stuff here one of them is 3/4 inch one of them is 1/4 inch that equalsMoreHere a couple sheets of this stuff here one of them is 3/4 inch one of them is 1/4 inch that equals the actual depth of what I'm filling in here is the hole that I'm gonna be filling.

How do you replace the floor in an RV?

0:565:28How To Install New RV Flooring - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipThe first step of the pre installation. Process was to determine where we wanted the new flooring.MoreThe first step of the pre installation. Process was to determine where we wanted the new flooring. And then remove the existing flooring. Which in this case includes carpet and vinyl.

How do you replace an RV subfloor?

0:392:54RV Renovation// Water Damage Subfloor Repair - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipYou want to take a circular saw set it to just the depth of the plywood. You don't want to go anyMoreYou want to take a circular saw set it to just the depth of the plywood. You don't want to go any deeper than that and just cut a hole in it because.

What type of flooring is best for an RV?

It is durable, easy to clean, and water-resistant. Given the purpose of an RV, these are must-haves in a replacement flooring. Linoleum is traditionally a more affordable option and is relatively easy to install, but it may suffer water damage. The carpet can get stained but gives the RV a homier feeling. Hardwood flooring is an option, but it requires more maintenance and is heavy, which is not desirable for an RV.

What to do if water damage to wood framing?

If the water badly damaged your wood framing and drying it out won’t cut it, you’ll need to add or replace the wood framing. This is an important step because the framing provides structural support. If you don’t need to replace it, you can also add some epoxy to prevent mold from growing.

How long does it take for wood to dry out before installing new flooring?

Dry out the wood framing. After you have cut out and removed all the damaged wood, you need to wait up to a week to allow the wood framing to dry out completely. You need to ensure this is totally dry before installing the new wood flooring or you risk more rotting and structural damage.

When cutting out damaged wood, is it important to cut out all the rotted wood?

Boondocking Etiquette. When cutting out the damaged area, it is important to cut out all the rotted wood. You may also need to cut some good wood to ensure you have an exposed section of wood framing to screw the new floorboard into.

What happens if you leak a floor?

If a leak went on for many months and your floor has turned to mush, you have major damage.

Can you cut off a finger in an RV?

An RV floor repair becomes a lot more expensive and involved if you cut off a finger. Be smart, careful, and cautious with your tools so you don’t get hurt. If in doubt… consider hiring a professional: Hiring a professional to do an RV floor repair will cost more, but this ensures the job is done right.

Is minor damage easier to repair than major damage?

Unsurprisingly minor damage is easier and less expensive to repair than major damage. When determining the extent of your damage, make sure you find the entire damaged area. You don’t want to miss out on a section only to have to redo everything again with another RV floor repair.

Is it dangerous to have a guest fall through the bathroom floor?

Sometimes it can be ignored for a while, but it can get downright dangerous. Having a guest fall through your bathroom floor is not a pleasant thought. Replacing a bad spot in the floor is challenging, but not impossible for the do-it-yourselfer. It takes time and patience, and at times a bit of imagination.

Can you use floor leveling compound on sticks and bricks?

Depending on what you’ll use for replacement floor coverings, those nasty cracks need to be filled up. The floor-leveling compound sold at lumberyards works OK for sticks-and-bricks homes, but it’s a plaster-based substance that easily cracks with motion. Bounce your RV down the highway a few times and if your floor-leveling compound breaks up, you’ll have it ruining your new flooring. We were stumped for a while.

Can you use dimensional lumber to replace plywood?

You’ll need to create a new base of support for your replacement plywood. In some cases, you may be able to use suitably sized dimensional lumber to create new floor joists, but there will be areas where you can’t run and attach them to the existing joist system. Since you can’t have the new (and remaining good) plywood hanging in midair, a system of cleats to form that support is called for.

What to do if you have a not so stable floor in your RV?

Unless you’ve got a really good deal on your hands, it’s likely going to be more work to fix the floor than it’s worth.

How much does it cost to replace RV flooring?

It all depends on the extent of your damage, the quality of your materials, and how much of the project you do yourself.

What type of flooring is best for an RV?

Replacing your RV’s flooring can be a great opportunity to upgrade to a different material. But which type of flooring is best?

What is the best way to seal rotted wood?

To create a strong, waterproof bond, epoxy resin is combined with a hardener. This allows the epoxy to seal the area against water and to strengthen the rotted wood. It also discourages mold from growing on the surface of the wood.

How to thin epoxy?

The first thing that you will have to do is combine the hardener and the epoxy resin. After this is completed, you can start stirring in the thinning agent. For his repair, Doug thinned the epoxy by 50% using the xylene.

How many steps does it take to replace rotted wood in a travel trailer?

The information he got there, as well as other sites, led him to determine that he could replace the rotted wood flooring in his travel trailer in six steps.

What type of adhesive did Doug use to cover the subfloor?

Doug used vinyl pieces with self adhesive to cover the sub-floor. He also added it to the storage compartment. After the epoxy cured and the wood dried, he reinstalled the dinette and added reclaimed carpet to the area.

How to tell if a camper floor is rotting?

It is usually not very easy to tell if your camper’s floor is rotting or water-damaged if you bought a used camper or if the water damage happened while you were away. The easiest way to tell if your RV’s floor is rotting is to step on it.

What happens if you remove flooring from an RV?

After removing the badly damaged parts of your RV flooring, you are supposed to let the exposed wood frame of the RV to dry out. If you do not do this, the rot could spread in the wood frame and “infect” the new flooring and you will be forced to repair the new flooring sooner rather than later.

How to mix epoxy resin?

To mix these three, you should first combine the standard epoxy resin with the hardener. Once you have done this you should stir the mixture with a thinner such as xylene. The thinner will make your epoxy solution easier to apply with a spray and it can make a small epoxy resin to go a long way.

What is the best way to seal subfloor wood?

Once everything is nice and dry, you are supposed to use epoxy to seal the subfloor wood and make it waterproof. Professionals frequently use epoxy resin combined with a hardener to seal the subfloor surfaces and strengthen the remaining but exposed parts of the floor. This is what you are also supposed to do.

How to get rid of mold on wood floors?

And the best way to apply it is to use a sprayer. And when you get a sprayer, make sure you spray all the exposed parts of the flooring and the wood frame. Letting your wood frame and the floor to dry out will kill most of the mold, the spraying of Antifreeze or Borax solution is just meant to eliminate lingering mold.

What happens when you buy a used RV?

Or when the floor of their new or newish RV gets damaged. Water damage is probably the most common type of RV floor damage. When people buy used RVs with damaged floors or new RVs and something happens that damages their floors, they often repair the floors on their own. This is because it is usually quite expensive to repair an RV floor ...

What to do after epoxy dries?

After the epoxy you add on the wood dries up, you should stick self-adhesive vinyl tiles/ pieces to complete the job.