How do you fix the floor on a pop-up camper?
In today’s article, we will answer the following question: How do you fix the floor on a pop-up camper? We will explain how you can easily fix or replace a damaged or rotten floor on a pop-up camper.
How do you fix the floor on a pop-up camper?
It is easy to fix the floor on a pop-up camper once you locate the damage. If you notice that the floor parts in your pop-up camper have become mushy or unstable, it could be an indication that the floorboards, or worse, the supporting floor joists, are rotting and need to be replaced.
Like most structural repairs, completing them when you first notice the problem will likely cost you less than if you let the problem go and let it get worse. Complete the repair as soon as possible after discovering that the pop-up camper floor is weakened.
Here’s how you fix the floor on a pop-up camper:
- Remove as much furniture and accessories as possible from inside the pop-up camper. This may require unscrewing cabinets or drawers from the walls and carrying them out. You want as much exposed floor space as possible.
- Remove the carpet from the inside of the pop-up camper. Start at a wall or corner and begin peeling off the carpet. If the wood subfloor is rotten, the adhesive that holds the carpet or vinyl flooring will often weaken, making it easier to remove.
- Remove the affected area from the floorboards with a crowbar or cut it out using a jigsaw. Inspect the joists under the subfloor. If they are solid, then they do not need to be repaired. If they feel soft or are black from moisture contamination, run two lengths of the same size lumber on either side of the affected joist.
Drill a hole through the three pieces of wood in a solid part of the floor joist. Insert a bolt through the holes and put a nut on the other side to hold the wood in place. Repeat this on the other end of the support lumber you are installing. It will firm up the floor beam and will give you a solid structure to screw the floorboards into.
- Cut a piece of plywood that is the same thickness as the wood that has been removed, positioning it in the match when removing the rotten floorboards. Use wood screws to secure the new floorboard in place.
- Replace the carpeted or vinyl flooring with new carpet or vinyl and reinstall drawers or cabinets that have been removed. Replace the furniture, and your pop-up camper is ready to be used again.
Here’s how you replace rotten pop-up camper floor
Like everything, the pop-up camper floor needs maintenance. One common issue with older or badly kept campers is the wooden floor in the RV, which can rot. Replacing is a good project and it will take time and effort.
- Pull up the laminate flooring on the pop-up camper floor using the iron bar and a hammer. You can put the lever below the edge of the tile and pull it up.
- Remove the rotten floor on the pop-up camper with the iron bar and a hammer. You are going to have to lift each individual nail by pushing the lever on the end of the nail and pulling it back. Remove all the flooring from the pop-up camper until one is left with the metal subfloor.
- Remove the insulation on the floor with your hands. Depending on the type of insulation, you may want to wear gloves so that your hands are not injured.
- Place the new insulation between the floor studs, filling in as many gaps as possible.
- Install the lumber by which each blade was obtained onto the studs and hammer it into place with the hammer and nails. Make sure none of the seams is on the plywood line and that they are staggered like a brick pattern.
- Measure for cards that are not standard size and cut the plywood to size using the circular saw and sawhorses. Mark the panel using the pencil, then place the wood on the easel to cut.
- Nail the remaining boards to the plant using the hammer and nails.
- Apply laminate flooring, remove the backing from each tile and glue it to the plywood. Make sure each tile is lined up edge to edge with the one next to it.
How can water damage your pop-up camper floor?
On prolonged contact with water, the wood fibres in the pop-up camper floor swell, which can damage the surface of your floor. If you use too much water to clean your camper floor, the strips may be damaged. And your floor will lose its elegance and authentic properties. Maintaining a varnished floor is essential to its preservation.
In all circumstances, it is recommended that you place a mat in front of your dishwasher and kitchen sink to protect the floor from damage from water, soap and all other liquids. Choose rugs that have a non-abrasive surface underneath. This will make them safe for your soil.
Immediately wipe up any water, liquid or detergent spills on your floor surface before it seeps under the planks of your wooden floor.
Use rimmed rugs at each entrance door to catch water, salt, and snow. Beware of the calcium from the salt that cities use to melt snow during the winter season. It can be very damaging to your floor, because it directly attacks your varnish, drying it out and removing its protective properties.
Place plates of your waterproof plants under the pots to prevent accidental water spills that could harm your camper flooring. Indeed, prolonged exposure of your wooden floor with the pot of an unprotected plant could cause an entrenched ring. The only way to fix this situation will be to perform a floor repair.
How to prevent pop-up camper floor damage?
To prevent any damage to your pop-up camper floor you must clean and maintain it well. Since the main problem with pop-up camper floors is the being rotten, let’s see how we can prevent this issue.
Rotten camper floors are caused by high moisture and condensation in your pop-up. A humid pop-up camper is a pop-up camper with a hydrometric rate greater than 65%. The consequences of this humidity can be disastrous for your home-on-wheels but also for your health.
There are many causes of a damp pop-up camper. In addition, a humidity problem can appear in a place so its cause is remote.
- Insufficient ventilation: The main cause of a damp pop-up camper is poor ventilation. Today’s campers are in fact more and more insulated in order to avoid heat loss. However, this excess insulation must imperatively be accompanied by good ventilation of the entire pop-up camper.
- Water infiltration: A damp pop-up camper can be a sign of water infiltration that can occur on exterior walls, roofs, pipes, etc. They are due to:
- cracks in the exterior walls;
- roof leaks;
- leaking pipes;
- a sealing problem with window seals, etc.
- Accidental causes: Accidental causes can be the cause of exceptional water damage. Water damage can have several causes:
- slow leaks;
- problems with water pipes and evacuations;
- a construction defect;
- wear of seals;
- a flood.
The consequences of water damage can be disastrous: rotten floors, damaged beams, and so on.
To effectively and durably treat a damp pop-up camper, it is essential to call in a professional. Only a specialist can:
- detect all affected places;
- determine the cause;
- advise you on the appropriate solution(s).
There are many ways to fix dampness in a pop-up camper:
- installation of efficient ventilation;
- drainage of the land or in the pop-up camper;
- waterproof membrane around the foundations;
- drying up of the walls;
- surface treatments of the anti-humidity or water-repellent type coating; etc.
Determining which treatment is right for your humidity problems is a matter of specialists. Ask for a diagnosis before starting any work!
Final advice
To protect your pop-up camper, we invite you to follow the following tips:
- Avoid using a large amount of liquid for cleaning.
- Avoid installing wood floors in bathrooms.
- Never use a wet mop which can leave excess water.
- Never wash your camper floor with plenty of water.
- Never use cleaning products not recommended for the type of flooring you have!
Please feel free to share your thoughts and tips for keeping the pop-up camper floor clean and well-maintained!
FAQ on How do you fix the floor on a pop-up camper?
How to redo the floor of a camper?
To redo the floor of a camper use an easy-to-install material that cuts easily. The ideal is to opt for a lino, a vinyl floor or a PVC floor. This vinyl floor can be in the form of a roll or a quality adhesive plastic tile. There are very good products in DIY stores.
What type of flooring for a motorhome?
In motorhomes there are several types of flooring:
- PVC slats or tiles
- Laminate parquet floor
- Engineered parquet floor
- Solid parquet
- Seagrass
- Sisal floor
- Coconut fibre.
How to insulate the floor of a camper?
To insulate the floor of a camper you can add multi-layer insulation from the outside. You can also insulate through the floor by inserting a layer of multilayer insulation, available in DIY stores, between the carpets and the floor of the camper.
How to repair a camper that has water damage?
Here are the steps to follow to repair a camper that has water leak damage:
- Locate and repair the leak source;
- Remove damaged floors, ceilings and walls.
- Disinfect all surfaces.
- Air the camper until it is completely dry.
- Replace the damaged areas.
Other FAQs about Pop up campers that you may be interested in.
Why is a pop-up camper called a pup?
How do you lift a pop-up camper?
How long do pop-up trailers last?
