Easy Interior Improvement: Replace Your RV's Carpeting
04-11-2018
Author: in RV Repairs / Maintenance / Upgrades
Very little takes more of a beating in your RV than the flooring. Gravel and mud is often tracked in—especially in homes with pets—and floors require frequent sweeping, mopping, vacuuming, and steaming. The more you use them, the more you likely clean them, and the faster they wear out. Carpets begin to fray, edges come loose, and tiles develop cracks from items that fall on them, sometimes while traveling. At some point, you may consider replacing it. Here are a few of the supplies you may need for replacing your carpet.
If you plan to replace part—or all—of the living space flooring with tiles or some other non-carpet option, check out "Easy Interior Improvement: Replace Your RV's Tile Flooring."
Measure the Space
Before anything else, take your tape measure and carefully measure the space where you plan to replace the current flooring with carpet. If you have a slide-out or two, take that space into consideration, as well. Also make sure to measure around each of the cabinets and jot down all these measurements to ascertain the total square footage of floor space and determine how much carpeting is needed.
Choose Your Carpet
At your carpet wholesale warehouse or home-improvement store, purchase carpet in a color and pattern you like. If you have window treatments or upholstery that you want to match, it's a good idea to bring pictures to compare with samples. You should use your measurements to choose a large roll of carpeting at whatever length you require. However, it might be easier and less expensive to buy a large carpet remnant in a style you like. This would provide the amount you need without leaving you with a ton of excess that you'll have to either store or dispose of. You can usually buy the carpet pad at the same location.
Remove Furnishings
Begin by removing any pieces of furniture that you can. Although these aren't terribly easy to remove, they aren't complicated. Most tables, sofas, and chairs are bolted to the floor. You may need help for heavier pieces, especially if you're planning to take them out of the RV. Appliances and cabinets are more permanently affixed. Oftentimes, the flooring ends at these items, so unless you're planning to gut the area and replace them all, it's easiest to just remove the flooring around them.
Remove the Old Flooring
To keep from getting chemicals, mold, and tiny carpet particles in your eyes and lungs, wear protective eye gear and a face mask or respirator. Use a carpet knife to loosen the edges of the existing carpet, linoleum, or tile. Begin at one corner and start pulling it up. Then pull up whatever backing or carpet pad is still attached. You may need to use a scraper to remove the remainder. Sometimes, the adhesive used leaves a rough surface. If necessary, use an adhesive remover to get rid of every last bit. Use a detergent like Dawn dish soap and water to clean the floor. Allow adequate time to dry—probably overnight—before moving to the next step.
Install the Carpet Pad and Lay Your New Carpet
Add a layer of your tack strip to the floor's edges. This helps keep the carpet pad secure. Start at one corner and tap the pad in place over the strip. Then roll the pad to cover the space, affixing as you go.
Once this is in place, add another layer of your tack strip and repeat the process with the carpet. Use a knee kicker tool to stretch the carpet into place. These can often be rented at home-improvement stores like Lowes or Home Depot. Then, trim it to size with a carpet or utility knife.
Carpeting Your Slide-Out
Whether or not the majority of your interior is carpeted, many RVs have the slide-outs carpeted. This is likely to make the raised part of the space a little less obvious and perhaps easier to clean. Regardless of the reason for carpeting the slide-out, it does require a slightly different approach. Since this part of the room is mechanized, it needs to be able to open and close without any hindrance from the flooring.
Begin this part by slightly opening your slide-out so its floor is slightly raised. Most of the steps are the same as carpeting the flat parts of the floor: remove the existing carpet and carpet pad, lay the tack strip and install the pad and carpet. After stretching the carpet, though, you want to apply a bit of carpet glue or flooring adhesive to the edge of the slide-out. This holds the carpet in place and keeps it from interfering with the function of the slide-out.
In Conclusion
Changing the flooring in your RV really updates the appearance and, although it's more involved than other renovations, it makes a great project for a handy DIYer. If you want to change the appearance of the flooring without as much effort and expense, you can buy runners and area rugs. These protect the floor underneath while sprucing up the interior. Like bedding and throw pillows, they allow you to easily change the look as often as you want with minimal work.
- Tape measure
- Protective gear (safety glasses, gloves, a face mask or respirator)
- Carpet knife or utility knife
- Scraper
- Carpet
- Carpet pad
- Carpet tack
- Carpet glue
If you plan to replace part—or all—of the living space flooring with tiles or some other non-carpet option, check out "Easy Interior Improvement: Replace Your RV's Tile Flooring."
Measure the Space
Before anything else, take your tape measure and carefully measure the space where you plan to replace the current flooring with carpet. If you have a slide-out or two, take that space into consideration, as well. Also make sure to measure around each of the cabinets and jot down all these measurements to ascertain the total square footage of floor space and determine how much carpeting is needed.
Related Read: Stepping Up Your RV Flooring
Choose Your Carpet
At your carpet wholesale warehouse or home-improvement store, purchase carpet in a color and pattern you like. If you have window treatments or upholstery that you want to match, it's a good idea to bring pictures to compare with samples. You should use your measurements to choose a large roll of carpeting at whatever length you require. However, it might be easier and less expensive to buy a large carpet remnant in a style you like. This would provide the amount you need without leaving you with a ton of excess that you'll have to either store or dispose of. You can usually buy the carpet pad at the same location.
Remove Furnishings
Begin by removing any pieces of furniture that you can. Although these aren't terribly easy to remove, they aren't complicated. Most tables, sofas, and chairs are bolted to the floor. You may need help for heavier pieces, especially if you're planning to take them out of the RV. Appliances and cabinets are more permanently affixed. Oftentimes, the flooring ends at these items, so unless you're planning to gut the area and replace them all, it's easiest to just remove the flooring around them.
Remove the Old Flooring
To keep from getting chemicals, mold, and tiny carpet particles in your eyes and lungs, wear protective eye gear and a face mask or respirator. Use a carpet knife to loosen the edges of the existing carpet, linoleum, or tile. Begin at one corner and start pulling it up. Then pull up whatever backing or carpet pad is still attached. You may need to use a scraper to remove the remainder. Sometimes, the adhesive used leaves a rough surface. If necessary, use an adhesive remover to get rid of every last bit. Use a detergent like Dawn dish soap and water to clean the floor. Allow adequate time to dry—probably overnight—before moving to the next step.
Install the Carpet Pad and Lay Your New Carpet
Add a layer of your tack strip to the floor's edges. This helps keep the carpet pad secure. Start at one corner and tap the pad in place over the strip. Then roll the pad to cover the space, affixing as you go.
Once this is in place, add another layer of your tack strip and repeat the process with the carpet. Use a knee kicker tool to stretch the carpet into place. These can often be rented at home-improvement stores like Lowes or Home Depot. Then, trim it to size with a carpet or utility knife.
Carpeting Your Slide-Out
Whether or not the majority of your interior is carpeted, many RVs have the slide-outs carpeted. This is likely to make the raised part of the space a little less obvious and perhaps easier to clean. Regardless of the reason for carpeting the slide-out, it does require a slightly different approach. Since this part of the room is mechanized, it needs to be able to open and close without any hindrance from the flooring.
Begin this part by slightly opening your slide-out so its floor is slightly raised. Most of the steps are the same as carpeting the flat parts of the floor: remove the existing carpet and carpet pad, lay the tack strip and install the pad and carpet. After stretching the carpet, though, you want to apply a bit of carpet glue or flooring adhesive to the edge of the slide-out. This holds the carpet in place and keeps it from interfering with the function of the slide-out.
Related Read: Keeping RV Floors Clean
In Conclusion
Changing the flooring in your RV really updates the appearance and, although it's more involved than other renovations, it makes a great project for a handy DIYer. If you want to change the appearance of the flooring without as much effort and expense, you can buy runners and area rugs. These protect the floor underneath while sprucing up the interior. Like bedding and throw pillows, they allow you to easily change the look as often as you want with minimal work.
Comment
No comments found! Be the first one to write a comment!
Author: Carrie Todd
