Pros And Cons To Different RV Flooring Types

When you’re renovating your RV, your flooring can make all the difference. Picking the right kind of flooring can make your living area modern, sleek, cozy, and more. With the right flooring, your RV can feel more like home. But what kind of flooring should you get? With all the options out there, it can be difficult to know which kind works best for you. To help you out with this decision, we’ve gathered the big pros and cons of each kind of RV flooring.

Carpet

Carpet is a classic flooring choice, not only in RVs but in stationary homes as well. Soft and cozy, it adds a homey feel to your living area. Available in tons of different colors and styles, carpet is a classic for a reason. If you love camping in colder climates or seasons, carpet flooring provides a warm barrier between your feet and the hard floor underneath that makes getting out of bed and walking around your camper a little bit easier. It is also more friendly towards senior pets or passengers, as it has more traction compared to vinyl or hardwood floor. Relatively inexpensive to install and remove, this kind of flooring is often easier to deal with than other types.

One of the biggest disadvantages of carpet flooring is cleaning and maintenance. When you’re camping, you track in mud, sand, dirt, or other things into the camper, even if it’s only the entrance. Because of this fact, vacuuming becomes a daily routine. Even on the days where the carpet doesn’t look too bad, the dust and other items in the air can settle into your carpet. Just because you can’t see the dirt, doesn’t mean it’s not there. If you are a person who doesn’t mind the daily cleaning chore, then this might not be too bad. If you would rather not need to clean your carpets after every single trip (or more often if you take longer trips), then carpet might not be right for you. If you are on the line about whether or not you can keep up with this cleaning task, then you might want to consider investing in a small portable vacuum cleaner that makes cleaning a little bit easier.

Vinyl

Vinyl flooring is often used in kitchens and bathrooms due to its waterproof qualities. You might be more familiar with its other term Linoleum flooring. Whether used in the kitchen, bathroom, or general living area, the smooth surface has much to offer you for your flooring needs. Sold in cheap squares or sections, vinyl is best used for wet areas or areas that tend to get dirty faster, such as the kitchen, bathroom, or entryway. In an RV, you can use it for your entire floorplan, though, since the area can often be too small to use more than one kind of flooring. Easy to install, vinyl flooring is often seen as a quick way to switch up the appearance of your flooring. With the variety of colors, patterns, and prints available for vinyl flooring, you can find exactly the look that you’re searching for.

The biggest disadvantage of vinyl flooring is that it just doesn’t hold up to the rigor and constant use of RV life. Because it’s glued directly onto the subfloor underneath, it can warp due to the movement of the RV as you travel and use it. Not being very thick, vinyl can easily show the surface imperfections under them, such as parts that don’t sit as flush as they should or a raised edge. Without a leveler to compensate for any raised edges, the vinyl flooring will eventually show this. Even for smaller areas such as screw heads or exposed nail heads, they can puncture the vinyl and create problems in the future, both for the appearance of the flooring and for possible safety issues. Once they start warping and showing the imperfections, they can create gaps that are next to impossible to clean and can create a less than appealing look. In addition to the appearance issues, adhering the vinyl directly to the subfloor means there is no padding or cushioning underneath it. This lack of padding creates a harder floor that some people find less comfortable to walk on. Slippery as well, vinyl is not the best flooring for senior pets or passengers.

Laminate Planks

Laminate planks are a type of manufactured flooring that is a step up from the original design. It has all of the benefits of vinyl (though it should be noted that it is NOT vinyl) flooring with the added benefit of being able to be installed floating, which just means it doesn’t have to stick directly to the subfloor below. Instead, you can lay down some insulation beforehand, adding comfort to the laminate surface. This added insulation also helps to keep the floor a little bit warmer, which is something that can make all the difference in colder weather campouts. Easily cleaned and much more durable than other options, laminate planks can take more of the RV lifestyle, leaving you with attractive flooring that often mimics the look of hardwood flooring while providing you with a waterproof and durable RV floor.

The disadvantages of laminate planks, while they may not be as bad as normal vinyl flooring, are still important to consider. They still have the possibility of warping over time, however, it is substantially less likely. Because the flooring comes in planks, it might be more difficult to work through curved or smaller areas. Laminate planks are also more slippery than carpet and this can cause problems for anyone who has trouble walking or small children who may slip.

Nickel Pattern Coin Flooring

Coin RV flooring is often considered a more industrial flooring type and is used more often in trailers, industrial hallways, gyms, and similar areas. The small raised circles on the surface that give it its name create a tough surface with terrific traction. The added traction is great for creating a safer environment, which is just one reason why it’s so popular and well-known. Another reason is that it’s durable and waterproof and protects the underlying subfloor from water. In an industrial environment like a trailer or a high traffic area like a gym, having flooring that is durable, provides traction even when wet, and doesn’t require much maintenance is the best option. Nickel pattern RV flooring is also an economical flooring option and is easy to install. Easy to clean and maintain, coin flooring is definitely a great option for a lower-maintenance floor. One advantage that is often overlooked is the sound dampening properties of rubber flooring. While this might not sound like an immense advantage, by having flooring that cuts down on noise, you can create an environment that is calmer and quieter.

On the other hand, coin flooring might not fit the look you are going for. Because of its simple rubber texture, many people prefer it in trailers rather than in RVs or living spaces. It also isn’t as comfortable to walk on as carpet or vinyl is. The raised circles, while not super visible, are able to be felt if you walk on it. This lends the flooring to be better at outdoor, trailer, and industrial looks and applications.

Diamond Plate Pattern Flooring

Diamond plate pattern RV flooring has most of the advantages and disadvantages of coin flooring with the exception of a few. First, diamond pattern flooring is more popular with cargo trailers and RVs that are used for sports or hunting. Easy to clean and durable as well, diamond flooring also works great in wet conditions and dampens sound to create a more controlled environment. Just like coin flooring, the disadvantage is that is might not fit the look or feel of a space. Even though the flooring is efficient and safe, it might not be as comfortable as a person might like or might not fit the look they are going for.

Indoor/Outdoor Carpet

Indoor/outdoor carpet is mostly known for being used on decks, porches, and boats. While it isn’t as popular in the RV sector, it’s still an option for interior flooring. Unlike indoor-only carpet, it resists holding moisture and has a rubber back, which further protects the underlying floor from moisture. You can also leave it free-floating like a rug so that it’s easy to remove and clean. On the other hand, it just isn’t as nice to walk on. While it might feel alright for a few days, after it is worn down by constant use, it might not be as pleasant underfoot as indoor carpet is. In addition, it might just not hold up well to the constant use of RV life. With indoor/outdoor carpet, it has a tendency to become crushed by foot traffic, looking smaller and less attractive as time goes by.

With all the different choices for your RV, it’s important to think about what kind of look, feel, and application you are going for. Once you’ve made your decision, you’re onto the next stage of renovation.