How To Repair Damaged Wood Flooring In An RV

Oct. 26 2021 RV's By Sophia James

Travel trailer floor repair is no mere coincidence; whether you're considering buying a used Motor home or simply dealing with the effects of water damage in a trailer, you purchased new and put it through its paces. We provide Jetski, Airstream, and RV for sale to all the customers in different states of the US. Floors and deteriorated walls can cause many problems, not to mention the high cost of having the trouble professionally fixed. Our RV dealers can provide the service of repairing an RV. If you want to avoid any mistake, then you must take professional help.


You can also do your camper floor replacement, which is a terrific way to cut down on your RV floor repair bills. We'll go through the basics of how to fix a rotten camper floor in this post so you can go back on the road in no time without having to spend money at the repair shop.


In a travel trailer, how do you replace rotted wood flooring?


Determine the entire extent of the issue

In your camper, though, you'll want to follow this procedure to the end and make sure you understand the total amount of the damage before repairing the floor. You don't want to spend money on a new living room floor to realize that you still have work to do in the bathroom, for example.


Get rid of the areas that are seriously harmed

You should remove the vinyl floor covering and all the damaged timber once he realizes the issue. To finish this stage, you may need to raise your RV on jacks and remove all of the old, rotten floorings, both internally and externally.


Allow the wood framing to dry

Just let the now-exposed wood structure dry for a week after ripping away the previous flooring. This ensured that when you restored the dry flooring, you wouldn't have the same issue.


Use a mold-killing product

The next step was to eliminate any mold that had developed as a result of the water damage. Doug decided to use antifreeze to get rid of any remaining mold. You can do this with a sprayer, which you have used to apply the antifreeze to the wood's surface. Then wait for one or two week for the disinfection solution to dry. A borax solution is another possibility for killing the mold. It's just as good as the original, but it's pricier. It's crucial to keep in mind that antifreeze is toxic. If swallowed by animals or people, it can be toxic and even lethal. As a result, you must use this product with utmost caution!


Use diluted epoxy resin to seal the wood

Epoxy resin is mixed with an adhesive to create a robust and watertight bond. This permits the epoxy to waterproof the region while also strengthening the rotting timber. It also avoids mold from forming on the wood's surface.

You can dilute epoxy with a thinning agent like xylene, denatured alcohol, or acetone to help it cover a larger surface. Before we go further, it's vital to remember that epoxy fumes can be pretty harmful. If you're mixing it, make sure you're in a well-ventilated environment. It's also critical that you use disposable gloves and a respirator when working with it. This also applies to xylene.


Epoxy resins formulated exclusively for repairing rotten wood flooring can be purchased. However, you won't need it for a camper. They're most commonly utilized in boat repairs, where the wood is continually exposed to damp. You'll need a thinning agent, hardener, and ordinary epoxy resin if you're not using this type of epoxy. Depending on the bonding agent and epoxy you purchase, you will have anything from a few minutes to an hour to work with it.

The first step is to mix the adhesive and epoxy resin. Once this is done, you can begin stirring in the thinning agent.


Replace or add to the wooden frame and flooring

It took a few days for the resin to cure. Doug added new wood to the sub-floor to make it stronger while he waited. He had to add the new cross supports because he had to cut out the damaged areas.


Repairing the Floor in Your RV

As you can see from the above mentioned steps, restoring an RV floor is far from simple... but it's also far from impossible. However, there are a many pointers to keep in mind to guarantee you get the task done as efficiently and economically as possible.


Before you start rebuilding the floor, double-check all sections of the RV for damage. This has already been discussed, but it's worth reiterating since if one piece of your flooring is still damaged, it could infect the new flooring you've just installed. Replace more flooring than you believe you need when in doubt. Always take the necessary precautions while mixing severe substances. Dealing with significant repair issues necessitates the use of dangerous chemicals, which pose serious health concerns. Always make sure you're working in a well-ventilated location and wearing gloves, respirators, and protective clothes to prevent coming into contact with these chemicals.


Along the same lines, use tools with caution. To tear out the old flooring and nail in the new flooring, you'll need a crowbar and a hammer, among other gear - possibly even a nail gun. All of these tools can be hazardous, mainly if they are used carelessly.

Finally, if you're unsure, consider hiring a pro. Southaven Ms can provide RV experts to all the customers. While it's true that doing severe RV repairs yourself can save you a lot of money, not everyone has the skills (or the stamina! or the time!) to do so. If you don't, it might be a wiser decision to engage a professional Airstream or Pontoon dealer who can guarantee that every last bit of damage is securely and effectively repaired.