Let’s say things go well this year, we keep this coach and want to spruce it up a bit. What color carpet to replace the 12 year old carpet we have now? Stay with the original color or go with something darker, lighter?
The cost of a laminate floor can't be that much more than the carpet. Price the carpet, the laminate and consider only the difference. Is it more than a tank of gas, or going out to dinner a couple of times?
Go with laminate flooring and throw rugs. MUCH easier to keep clean on the road...had it in my Class C and we can't wait to tear out the current carpet in our 5th wheel.
My vote is "get rid of the carpet". We have ceramic tile and I love it. So much easier to keep clean. A friend of mine just had her motorhome carpet removed and peel and stick tile that looks like wood installed - looks wonderful.
If you are going with a laminate, I think, if it were me, I'd have it the same color as your cabinets, or even lighter as long as it is the same TONE. Dark colors always make a place seem smaller. Beware of the cardboard type laminate floors. If they get wet, they look awful, as the edges curl up. Real wood is very expensive though.
I like the new cushioned linoleum, as it doesn't have cracks for dirt to fall into. But with either you need lots of rubber backed area rugs, so that you don't slip, and it feels comfy underfoot. More to wash.
If you or your dogs slip on a slick floor, it can really hurt the joints, so my preference is low nap carpet, as it can be shampooed often, and is good insulation. Also the dust bunnies won't collect under the furniture, and a little lightweight Hoover Nanolite will be an easy way to keep it clean. You would be amazed at how much dog hair they suck up!
You could make a list of pros and cons. Happy Trails, Penny, TX. www.pennys-tuppence.blogspot.com
Hi Erik, I would also go with a laminate - check out the Allure brand at Home Depot - floating floor and they usually have samples that you can get free. Will probably do our new (to us)coach in time... Beautiful coach! Diane
Hi Erik! I saw you are now reading my blog...thanks! We have been on the road for 6 months and we love it! One of our stops between Delaware and Arizona was West Memphis and Graceland as well as Little Rock and the Hot Springs. Welcome to this great world of traveling...hope you can go full time soon! Loralie (www.wearereadytoroll.blogspot.com)
Here is what I suggest. Berber carpet with multiple neutral colors flecked in to hide things. Plastic runner on top of it in the main walkways (can get this from a home improvement store) and then area rugs on top of that to vacuum/wash as needed. The plastic runners are easy to wipe down. The area rugs can be vacuumed and washed when necessary. The carpet underneath everything provides sound/temperature insulation and is comfortable under foot. That is what we have and it works well for us. We do have some linoleum in the kitchen which is nice but little rocks or sand really stand out and need cleaned up right away before you step on them. It is also cold underfoot. We use area rugs over it so it is nicer to stand and walk on. Our camping is mostly in the mountains where it is cold at night even in the summer so I like the carpet. I have no scientific data that the carpet is better sound insulation but I intuitively thought being thicker it would provide better insulation. Plus when we change our house to all tile flooring I could really tell the difference in how the sound reverberates so thought it might be the same for an RV.
Personally, I would have the "beaufloor" throughout the entire coach. I love the look of the wood-like floor and it cleans up so nicely. Use nice rugs for warmth and decoration as they can be washed. I do like the looks of your coach-very nice!
If concur with the laminate flooring vote. I installed it in my bus conversion and it has seen the most abusive environment (assorted spilled fluids, washboard dirt roads) and has held up nicely. It is also easier for me to clean up pet hair. I use runner rugs down the middle. Shake them out occasionally and when they get really bad, the get laundered. I have gone the more extreme route of converting this old classic bus and living fulltime on it. I like your nice plush front chairs. I'm jealous.
We just made the same decision. We were all set to go with laminate (wood) - but ultimately decided on carpet again! Why?
Carpet is soft. Carpet is warm in winter, comfortable in summer. Though a hard surface is easier to clean, friends with (wood) laminate floors pointed out that you have to clean it more often for it to look good - all the dust and pet hair shows up!
We went with a tweed carpet about a shade darker than we had before. We both love it, especially how great it feels when walking around barefoot, which is what we often do inside. Especially great in the middle of the night when nature calls and it is COLD!
Before you decide, look at some rigs where laminate has been added when the carpet was taken up. Particularly, pay attention to the trim on the laminate, around the cabinetry and the stairs.
Tough making these decisions, isn't it? Good luck!
I watched your blog for updates when you had new carpet installed. I'm on the fence right now, I love how it turned out for you and considering you fulltime I do wonder how long the carpet will last.
18 comments:
I would do a laminate floor, don't like carpet. Too much trouble to keep clean.
I thought about expanding the wood floor and like the idea a lot but the cost... we'll have to see, thanks Teri!
I think darker would make it look much smaller. I'd stick with a lighter color flooring of whatever type you choose.
Love Di ♥
The cost of a laminate floor can't be that much more than the carpet. Price the carpet, the laminate and consider only the difference. Is it more than a tank of gas, or going out to dinner a couple of times?
Go with laminate flooring and throw rugs. MUCH easier to keep clean on the road...had it in my Class C and we can't wait to tear out the current carpet in our 5th wheel.
I would have to say go with flooring you can wash!..laminate or tile or lino!..nice looking roomy rig you have there!!!
My vote is "get rid of the carpet". We have ceramic tile and I love it. So much easier to keep clean. A friend of mine just had her motorhome carpet removed and peel and stick tile that looks like wood installed - looks wonderful.
If you are going with a laminate, I think, if it were me, I'd have it the same color as your cabinets, or even lighter as long as it is the same TONE. Dark colors always make a place seem smaller. Beware of the cardboard type laminate floors. If they get wet, they look awful, as the edges curl up. Real wood is very expensive though.
I like the new cushioned linoleum, as it doesn't have cracks for dirt to fall into. But with either you need lots of rubber backed area rugs, so that you don't slip, and it feels comfy underfoot. More to wash.
If you or your dogs slip on a slick floor, it can really hurt the joints, so my preference is low nap carpet, as it can be shampooed often, and is good insulation. Also the dust bunnies won't collect under the furniture, and a little lightweight Hoover Nanolite will be an easy way to keep it clean. You would be amazed at how much dog hair they suck up!
You could make a list of pros and cons.
Happy Trails, Penny, TX.
www.pennys-tuppence.blogspot.com
Hi Erik,
I would also go with a laminate - check out the Allure brand at Home Depot - floating floor and they usually have samples that you can get free. Will probably do our new (to us)coach in time...
Beautiful coach! Diane
Hi Erik! I saw you are now reading my blog...thanks! We have been on the road for 6 months and we love it! One of our stops between Delaware and Arizona was West Memphis and Graceland as well as Little Rock and the Hot Springs.
Welcome to this great world of traveling...hope you can go full time soon!
Loralie (www.wearereadytoroll.blogspot.com)
I like the idea of laminate as well, the Allure product at Home Depot looks good too!
The wife and I are going to go through all the options and thanks to all of you guys we have some good ideas to go with. :)
If we do put down a laminate floor area rugs will be used as well.
Here is what I suggest.
Berber carpet with multiple neutral colors flecked in to hide things. Plastic runner on top of it in the main walkways (can get this from a home improvement store) and then area rugs on top of that to vacuum/wash as needed. The plastic runners are easy to wipe down. The area rugs can be vacuumed and washed when necessary. The carpet underneath everything provides sound/temperature insulation and is comfortable under foot. That is what we have and it works well for us. We do have some linoleum in the kitchen which is nice but little rocks or sand really stand out and need cleaned up right away before you step on them. It is also cold underfoot. We use area rugs over it so it is nicer to stand and walk on. Our camping is mostly in the mountains where it is cold at night even in the summer so I like the carpet. I have no scientific data that the carpet is better sound insulation but I intuitively thought being thicker it would provide better insulation. Plus when we change our house to all tile flooring I could really tell the difference in how the sound reverberates so thought it might be the same for an RV.
Personally, I would have the "beaufloor" throughout the entire coach. I love the look of the wood-like floor and it cleans up so nicely. Use nice rugs for warmth and decoration as they can be washed.
I do like the looks of your coach-very nice!
If concur with the laminate flooring vote. I installed it in my bus conversion and it has seen the most abusive environment (assorted spilled fluids, washboard dirt roads) and has held up nicely. It is also easier for me to clean up pet hair. I use runner rugs down the middle. Shake them out occasionally and when they get really bad, the get laundered.
I have gone the more extreme route of converting this old classic bus and living fulltime on it. I like your nice plush front chairs. I'm jealous.
We just made the same decision. We were all set to go with laminate (wood) - but ultimately decided on carpet again! Why?
Carpet is soft. Carpet is warm in winter, comfortable in summer. Though a hard surface is easier to clean, friends with (wood) laminate floors pointed out that you have to clean it more often for it to look good - all the dust and pet hair shows up!
We went with a tweed carpet about a shade darker than we had before. We both love it, especially how great it feels when walking around barefoot, which is what we often do inside. Especially great in the middle of the night when nature calls and it is COLD!
Before you decide, look at some rigs where laminate has been added when the carpet was taken up. Particularly, pay attention to the trim on the laminate, around the cabinetry and the stairs.
Tough making these decisions, isn't it? Good luck!
Laurie and Odel,
I watched your blog for updates when you had new carpet installed. I'm on the fence right now, I love how it turned out for you and considering you fulltime I do wonder how long the carpet will last.
I love your rig, very very nice!
Laminate...with some rugs.
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