Now that you have concluded plans to give your tiny home that new look by changing your flooring, there are two key things that you must consider as you carry on with the task of this flooring installation project. First, ensure that you are replacing that old flooring with the latest flooring by providing that you find out the current flooring trends. Secondly, decide whether you are handling the project yourself or will contract professionals to handle the flooring installation for your tiny house on wheels.
Suppose you are going to do the installation yourself. In that case, you must determine the time to complete your small home flooring installation project. You also need to consider if you have the required tools to carry out the flooring installation project yourself.
Well, whether you do your small home flooring project yourself or hire a professional installer, there are some basic tasks you need to know about tiny home flooring installation before you start your project. At the end of this article, you shall be home with the step-by-step guide you need to know about tiny home flooring installations before you start your project.
Choose Your Tiny Home on Wheels Flooring
Tiny home flooring choices usually include carpets, ceramic tiles, rugs, vinyl, laminates, and hardwood floors. Data from the 2019 floor-covering news show that carpets and rugs are the most common flooring trend, gulping some 52.9% of the entire flooring output, worth some $23.07 billion. Although carpets and rugs are the most popular, one still has to consider whether they are the most appropriate flooring for the room they are to be used or not. For instance, while rugs and carpets may be good fits for bedrooms, there are better fits for bathrooms and toilets. It is good to consider the features of the available flooring to go for the best fit for your room choice.
Flooring Trends You Can Consider For Your Tiny Home Flooring Installation
Carpet
Carpeting has been making a huge comeback since 2020 and even more so this 2022. The reason is its plush and cozy feeling beneath the feet and the various colors it comes with, which allows users to make their choices just as they want. Carpeting can be used on multiple kinds of floors, including hardwood flooring.
To partake in the carpeting comeback or install carpeting in your tiny home, you need to take a few steps such as:
- Clear out old carpeting, nails, and several other padding and staples.
- Repair squeaks with shank nails
- Use latex patching compounds to repair, fix, or level out depressions, minor holes, and slopes.
- Clear out all floor registers for the installations
- Cover up gapes at the carpet edges after installation
- Ensure the carpet is stretched correctly to avoid buckles and creases.
Fixing carpet flooring is challenging and requires professional carpet installers to assist with proper installation.
Vinyl
Most people looking for flooring for their bathrooms, toilets, or kitchens use vinyl flooring. This is because vinyl flooring is made of waterproof materials and surfaces such as fiberglass, wear layers, and polyurethane. If you go for luxury vinyl, installing it is easier. Otherwise, it can be difficult for a non-professional to get the right cuts for the edges of standard vinyl flooring. If you are looking for flooring that is 100% synthetic and has a base layer of fiberglass and PVC Vinyl or plasticizer coating, then vinyl is all you need. Vinyl has wear layers that provide coverage and protection for the print layer.
If you want to do your Vinyl flooring yourself, you need to ensure the following:
- Ensure the floor is flat and smooth, and in good condition
- Vinyl sheets are hefty and large and demand careful handling.
- Getting appropriate cuts in Vinyl sheets can be tricky and needs strict adherence to instructions.
Laminate
Laminate is often preferred for its stain, scratch, and fade-resistant nature. It is also durable and inexpensive. Vinyl has a protective layer that can be slippery when wet. This makes the flooring less suitable for bathrooms, kitchens, and toilets. The floating system is easy to install vinyl yourself as it does not require nailing or gluing. You only need to be patient and have handyman skills to perfect installations around doorways and corners. Like vinyl, laminate is a synthetic flooring that is made of fiberboard materials such as
Ceramic Tiles
Ceramic tiles are all-rounders for all rooms of your choice. It can serve both for moist prone rooms as well as traffic areas. Ceramic tiles are durable and very easy to clean. They come in varied colors and are preferred for all room types except the bedroom or children’s play areas. This is because ceramic tiles are icy to walk on and may lose health risks on regular exposure.
Ceramic tiles are, however, very hard to install and need highly Professional skills from flooring installers. Waterproof underlayments and dry and clean subfloors are required for its installation to ensure proper fitting and durability. If you want to DIY, you should strictly follow the step-by-step approach to installing tiles, as it is sophisticated.
Hardwood Flooring
This is one of the best flooring trends you can go for. It is preferred for being eco-friendly. It is natural and very renewable. Hardwood flooring also gives several options to choose from in the selection process. Hardwood flooring is not preferred in moist-prone rooms because it absorbs water and can be disfigured afterward. It is recommended that hardwood flooring be allowed for some 4 to 5 days to acclimate before installing over a clean and dry wood floor after removing the previous flooring, dirt, and every similar obstacle.
Methods of Hardwood Floor Installation for Tiny Houses on Wheels
Installing hardwood flooring can be very difficult and requires some technicalities. These methods may include:
- Nailing with a nail flooring wood gun and mallet is one of the most popular methods.
- Stapling with a pneumatic staple gun. You might need a professional to determine what staple guns are appropriate.
- Gluing with mastics and adhesives. This method is most suitable for engineered wood flooring.
- Floating the wood floor on bed padding reduces noise.
Engineered Wood Flooring For Tiny Homes on Wheels
Engineered wood flooring is a special kind that gives you the look of wood. Although it is not affected by humidity, it is not recommended for moisture-prone areas like bathrooms and toilets. Engineered woods are made of core hardwoods and can be used for places like steps and basements. You can use the glue-down or floating floor system to install engineered wood.
Estimate of Possible Flooring Installation Time For Tiny
Homes on Wheels
Have you decided on installing your new flooring by yourself? Well, that’s not a bad idea. Ensure you read through the step-by-step installation process, get all the necessary tools either buy or rent, prepare the proper subfloor for your floor choice and know the estimated time it might take a professional to complete the installation as listed below:
- 2-3 days for tile floors
- 1-2 days for a laminate floor in a large room
- 2-3 days for hardwood floor
- ½ for peel-and-stick flooring
- 2-3 hours for the carpet install
Doing it yourself may take longer, and getting a professional may take less and come more efficiently. Ensure you check installers’ references when hiring one.
Flooring Installation Preparation For Tiny Homes
- Clear breakables and dirt underneath
- Remove drapes and blinds before installers arrive
- Ensure floor heights do not disturb doors
- Settle for who will move furniture and old flooring
- Stick to recommended installation temperature
You should always contact your installer days before installation for all questions you may need to ask.
Checkout The Installation Risks
- Installation tools can be very hazardous and should be kept from pets and children.
- Be at home one of the installation days to ensure things are done right.
- Always contact a company that guarantees their work to avoid possible mistakes in cutting, trimming, and installing costly flooring.
How to Get Your Tiny Home Installations Right
Installing your tiny home flooring can be time-consuming and complicated sometimes. You need an experienced and fully insured installer to help you get your installations done right. Handyman installers is just that company you need to get your installations done right.