TILED OR LAMINATE FLOORING - PROS AND CONS - RV-Dreams Community Forum

Someday · RV-Dreams Family Member

TILED OR LAMINATE FLOORING - PROS AND CONS

Neil and Connie · RV-Dreams Family Member

Hardwood flooring if you can get it. New Horizons has it as an option and the only carpet we have is on the large living room slide under the recliners.

Jo And Craig · RV-Dreams Family Member

To each his own... We have had wood floors in both of our rigs and I can't wait for the day I can have vinyl planks. Ask a number of the Class of 2014 on this forum who have visited us and they will tell you I fight to keep them from getting scratched. There's no way around it. A lot of campsites are rock and rocks get picked up in shoes with tread. Aside from asking all of your guests to remove their shoes, which I once did, there is no way around scratching wood floors. We have only been in this 5er a little over 2 months and my floors are already scratched. Wood floors are beautiful, I must say, but totally impractical. And, most of our flooring is covered by area rugs. A lot of vinyl flooring out there has a wood look. I would go with that... if it were me. Hands down! Also, wood floors can be scratched from moving the slides in and out. Something else to think about. Hope this helps.

Bill and Linda · RV-Dreams Family Member

Well, to our good and respected friends, Jo & Craig, "It depends." :)

We have "rough hewn" wood floors and we love 'em. Our previous rig had the laminate. OK, but we love the wood floors.

Now, here's the "it depends:"

We have Teflon "sliders" that go on the floor to protect them from the slides. Long 4" wide strips. Do they work? Yep! Work just fine. Would the floors scratch without them? Yep, they would - sometimes.

As to cleaning, scratching and dirt. We just have no issues. Easy to clean - sweep. Even with the rocks (small ones) from the Alaska trip, not an issue. If we get a "nick" - really haven't had any to speak of - we just use the furniture pencil, stick thing and all good. Couldn't do that with the laminate we had in the other rig and can't do that if you stain somehow the carpet.

We don't ask anyone to remove their shoes and we don't remove ours unless really muddy. Just us and just saying.

The fact the floors are not "slick" looking might make a difference. That is, the real wood has a lot of texture to it and that makes them shrug off the nicks as far as visibility.

Linda is very (I mean very) happy with the wood floors. I didn't think I would like them. Wrong. I'm happy as well. (Probably because Linda is happy? Probably.) Much easier to clean, and keep clean, than the vinyl or carpet by a long shot.

Anyway, "it depends" on the flooring material itself, IMO. These floor are real wood. Don't know if that make a big difference or not. Just don't know. Just sharing that. And it is absolutely true the slide "sliders" must be used to protect them "just in case."

Our report, FWIW

B & L

Jo And Craig · RV-Dreams Family Member

Good points, Bill, but it all depends on the type of wood.I don't believe the hand carved wood flooring is offered by most manufacturers. Also, the sliders don't work in our rig as they do in yours, unfortunately. They slide right along with everything else, serving no purpose whatsoever. Hope you and Linda are doing well!

The Restless Youngs · RV-Dreams Family Member

We have tile everywhere except our bedroom. We have a 2008 coach and can attribute two tiles being cracked because of the twists and turns. We have lost some grout in some areas and are in the process of doing a little re-grouting.

Bill and Linda · RV-Dreams Family Member

Jo And Craig wrote:
Good points, Bill, but it all depends on the type of wood.I don't believe the hand carved wood flooring is offered by most manufacturers. Also, the sliders don't work in our rig as they do in yours, unfortunately. They slide right along with everything else, serving no purpose whatsoever. Hope you and Linda are doing well!

Jo, I agree. It is likely the type, or perhaps, style of wood. I hesitate to say "the quality" but that may be a factor as well. I know our is heavy and that could be a reason, including cost, as to why most manufactures don't offer it. The fact your sliders don't stay put indicates, to me, the wood is "slick" and I agree that kind of wood may not be "right" for some rigs.

We're good. Looking forward to going to the Maritimes and over to Newfoundland this summer. Never taken the rig on an ocean going ferry. Been on a lot of little ones with the rig but nothing this big. Should be interesting.

Looking forward to a blog update sometime . . .

B & L

Howard · Host

In our fifth wheel, we replaced our laminate with Luxury Vinyl Tile (LVT). It looks "richer" and is durable and water resistant, but it retains flexibility. It also comes in a variety of styles that give it the look of either tile or wood planks. It's heavier than laminate, but lighter than tile (and warmer on the feet), and we all know weight is a consideration in our RVs. We considered using the LVT throughout, but ultimately determined to replace the carpeted areas with a commercial grade of carpet that doesn't show dirt or wear as much as the original carpet did. We chose to replace the carpet to provide additional insulation (both temperature and sound) and to give the furniture that isn't bolted down a less slick surface while traveling.

We have never had porcelain or ceramic tile in the RV. However, from what I've heard and read, some people have cracks while others have never had a problem - much depends on the quality of the chassis and suspension. Some have grout issues in that it is chipping or it was never properly "sealed" and the grout stains easily. Most importantly, from my perspective, would be the weight of tile and whether or not you have plenty of extra cargo carrying capacity to handle the additional weight.

I can imagine buying a motorhome with ceramic or porcelain tile (it certainly wouldn't be a deal breaker), but I'm not sure I would ever replace flooring with tile especially if it didn't have tile to begin with. I'm no expert, but I think tile would require a new subfloor which also adds to the weight and the cost of installation.

Bottom line, if I had a choice, I wouldn't go with tile, but I would likely go with LVT (in the look of my choice - tile, wood, etc.) as an upgrade from laminate.

Someday · RV-Dreams Family Member

Hey Guys, AWESOME FEEDBACK! Thank you and I'm sure beneficial to many reading. I like the sound of the LVT Howard, thanks for your experience and input in that regards. Appears, some have problems with tiles/grout and some don't, likewise wood/laminate scratching = good points on the gravel coming in on shoes etc. Just feeling that carpets over short time frames become rather "tacky" looking, and a dry/wet swiffering now and again takes minutes.

We are very easy going in choices, not "overly cosmetic" in regards to having the latest greatest or high end type finishes, but do like our home away from home to speak to look and feel "comfortable" to be in.

Wonderful input THANKS again.

PS: Howard, would you mind sharing a photo of your LVT if it's no trouble, likewise anyone else that cares to share the floors they like.

piggy · RV-Dreams Family Member

Ceramic tile should never be put on a surface that will move. It will eventually crack. The grout will eventually crack and some of the tiles. PK.

Neil and Connie · RV-Dreams Family Member

Jo And Craig wrote:
Good points, Bill, but it all depends on the type of wood.I don't believe the hand carved wood flooring is offered by most manufacturers. Also, the sliders don't work in our rig as they do in yours, unfortunately. They slide right along with everything else, serving no purpose whatsoever. Hope you and Linda are doing well!

Get some 1/4 inch thick foam weather stripping tape from Home Depot and stick on the bottom of the sliders…then they stay put on the floor when the slide comes over on top of them. We had the same problem originally but solved it with the tape.

Like Bill…we love our hardwood floors…easier to sweep/vacuum. True…they might get nicked but either the pencil thing or the can of Minwax stain I keep in the bin takes care of the color easily…and with the rough hewn texture of the hickory floor that New Horizon uses the nick part isn't noticeable anyway.