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Mattyfatz Samba Member
Joined: November 08, 2008 Posts: 55 Location: Reno
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Posted: Sun Mar 29, 2009 4:45 pm Post subject: Carpet & flooring options. |
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Hey Folks.
Thinking about a new carpet for my 87 Vanagon GL. The tan interior is pretty trashed.
I was thinking about the Go-Westy carpet kit... or maybe just trying to cut some carpet myself. Anyone put wood floors in? I was thinking wood floors in the middle, carpet in the front, and seat covers from http://www.seatcovers.net/vw-volkswagen-seat-covers.html these guys
what are your thoughts? |
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cannedveggiessuck Samba Member
Joined: April 11, 2004 Posts: 233 Location: Ohio
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snowesty Samba Member
Joined: September 06, 2005 Posts: 189 Location: Nelson, BC
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Posted: Sun Mar 29, 2009 6:16 pm Post subject: |
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in my weekender. Love my wood (floors...). _________________ Fritz - '86 Syncro Tintop, Camper interior
Toaster - '91 Multivan Westy, 4sp. |
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Mattyfatz Samba Member
Joined: November 08, 2008 Posts: 55 Location: Reno
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Posted: Sun Mar 29, 2009 9:28 pm Post subject: sweet!!!!! |
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Nice wood floors snowesty! .... how did you solve the the trim problem... what I mean to say is what did you do about the the metal trim pieces that border the sliding door?
thanks for the photo> |
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bjrogers86auto Samba Member
Joined: March 26, 2009 Posts: 1375 Location: Halifax, N.S.
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Posted: Mon Mar 30, 2009 8:58 am Post subject: Flooors |
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I had a leftover box of laminate from my kichen that looks like ceramic tile. Fit perfect. I went to a flooring store and got a piece of bullnose for the edge. Cut it to friction fit so I can remove the floating floor in about 33 seconds. (haven't actually timed it). I would add a pic if I had a clue how to do that! |
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MootPoint Samba Member
Joined: September 16, 2006 Posts: 862 Location: ABQ, NM
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Posted: Mon Mar 30, 2009 9:36 am Post subject: |
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I searched quite a while for a metal strip that would fit with my Pergo flooring but finally settled on a piece of quarter-round (non-Pergo so it's vaguely different but not noticiable);
The quarter-round is glued in (though the rest of the floor still "floats"). But I don't intend to need to remove it, either.
I bought the GoWesty (SewFine) carpet kit last summer. I haven't installed it yet, as it will require taking out the kitchen unit to get behind the driver's seat. That's the next project. My only thought on the carpet was that it felt somewhat thinner and perhaps less robust than the OEM carpets. That might not be a problem at all but it seems a little lower in overall quality. _________________ 1984 Westy with tencentlife power! |
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madmax25 Samba Member
Joined: March 04, 2007 Posts: 204 Location: Kansas City MO
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Posted: Mon Mar 30, 2009 10:02 am Post subject: |
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Here's 1 box of T&G bamboo flooring from Home Depot...
Right now they're just slid together without glue. I'm going to leave the two slats in the 2nd pic unglued so I can slide the middle bench out for more cargo if need be. it was pretty self explanatory. Took me a few hours. I had to shim the seat track up with a washer under each bolt for the floor to fit underneath, but everything fit pretty well. I've got a matching tapered threshold for the slider edge that I haven't installed yet. Right now the floor just overlaps the silver edge piece. that's probably what I'll do with the wood threshold as well, just overlap the ribbed part of the metal trim.
Overall I'm happy with it. There's a little more road noise because I haven't replaced that funky yellow underlayment with anything yet and hardwood reflects sound a lot more. I'm planning on dynamat or whatever. Also, it is SLIPPERY. Think of the scene in Dumb and Dumber when the dogs are sliding around in the back . I'm thinking some of that black sandpaper tape like on steps and aircraft wings might help if I can make it look OK. Probably tacky though. _________________ -Elliot
'88 Vanagon GL "Big Red"
'90 Westy |
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Steelhead Samba Member
Joined: February 25, 2007 Posts: 1791 Location: Kentfield, CA
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Posted: Mon Mar 30, 2009 10:24 am Post subject: |
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My company has redone hundreds (thousands?) of apartments with this relatively new product. In the vanagon it would require a subfloor of some sort, but it is an awesome product. Much, much quiter and resilient than any of the laminates we've tested. Also a better grip (less slippery)....sort of a rubbery wood. Durable too (25 year warranty) and some of the patterns look really authentic when installed. We use cherry a lot in high-end apartments and people pay $100/month over carpet and other laminate floors we've tried.
http://www.konectousa.com/main.html
It is sold at Home depot as "trafficmaster". If I was going for the wood look I would definitely consider this with a masonite subfloor. Inexpensive, installs easily, totally waterproof, great selection of colors and styles. _________________ '77 Bay Window / '89 Caratsburg (aka. the Stormtrooper) |
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1621 Samba Member
Joined: May 15, 2006 Posts: 2174
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Posted: Mon Mar 30, 2009 10:27 am Post subject: Re: sweet!!!!! |
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Mattyfatz wrote: |
Nice wood floors snowesty! .... how did you solve the the trim problem... what I mean to say is what did you do about the the metal trim pieces that border the sliding door?
thanks for the photo> |
Added a piece of aluminum angle at the threshold, held by five evenly spaced screws. Inexpensive, sturdy, and no issues after nearly two years.
_________________ '85 Westy |
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Home Team Van Samba Member
Joined: January 02, 2008 Posts: 465 Location: wilmington, nc
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Posted: Mon Mar 30, 2009 10:56 am Post subject: |
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I still haven't put my wood in yet but I've already been thinking about the slip n slide issue. My thought was to use either a non slip pad with a rug or to go with these which are four 2'x2' interlocking foam mats which will provide padding as well. either would be easy to remove for when I want to show off the wood.
http://www.greatmats.com/products/foamspecial.php _________________ _________________________________
82 Diesel Westy |
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MootPoint Samba Member
Joined: September 16, 2006 Posts: 862 Location: ABQ, NM
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Posted: Mon Mar 30, 2009 11:22 am Post subject: |
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I solved the slippage problem by getting an inexpensive ($12), washable, non-skid carpet. It fits perfectly and even matches the rest of the interior.
It also substantially reduces the chance of scratching the floor (remember, Pergo and their ilk aren't really "wood"; it's just a bunch of photographs stuck to pseudo-wood) when you slide camping gear, coolers, in and out or get stones caught in your Vibram soles.
Yes, it covers up a lot of the "wood" but I get just as many ooo's and ahhh's about the carpet as I do the floor. _________________ 1984 Westy with tencentlife power! |
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madmax25 Samba Member
Joined: March 04, 2007 Posts: 204 Location: Kansas City MO
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Posted: Mon Mar 30, 2009 11:27 am Post subject: |
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MootPoint wrote: |
I solved the slippage problem by getting an inexpensive ($12), washable, non-skid carpet. It fits perfectly and even matches the rest of the interior.
It also substantially reduces the chance of scratching the floor (remember, Pergo and their ilk aren't really "wood"; it's just a bunch of photographs stuck to pseudo-wood) when you slide camping gear, coolers, in and out or get stones caught in your Vibram soles.
Yes, it covers up a lot of the "wood" but I get just as many ooo's and ahhh's about the carpet as I do the floor. |
"Really ties the room together" _________________ -Elliot
'88 Vanagon GL "Big Red"
'90 Westy |
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TheBlueTurtle Samba Member
Joined: July 03, 2007 Posts: 353
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Posted: Mon Mar 30, 2009 11:36 am Post subject: |
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madmax25 wrote: |
MootPoint wrote: |
I solved the slippage problem by getting an inexpensive ($12), washable, non-skid carpet. It fits perfectly and even matches the rest of the interior.
It also substantially reduces the chance of scratching the floor (remember, Pergo and their ilk aren't really "wood"; it's just a bunch of photographs stuck to pseudo-wood) when you slide camping gear, coolers, in and out or get stones caught in your Vibram soles.
Yes, it covers up a lot of the "wood" but I get just as many ooo's and ahhh's about the carpet as I do the floor. |
"Really ties the room together" |
fuckin A, man.. _________________ 84 Westfalia (Goldie)
GoWesty 2.2 |
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markz2004 Samba Member
Joined: November 13, 2007 Posts: 944 Location: Portland, OR
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Posted: Mon Mar 30, 2009 11:40 am Post subject: |
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I did something very similar to Home Team's. I used a shop mat from Sears. It covered a total of approximately 5' x 5' and consisted of several 1'X1' interlocking squares. I trimmed one edge and it fits over the existing floor really well. All for $10.
Home Team Van wrote: |
I still haven't put my wood in yet but I've already been thinking about the slip n slide issue. My thought was to use either a non slip pad with a rug or to go with these which are four 2'x2' interlocking foam mats which will provide padding as well. either would be easy to remove for when I want to show off the wood.
http://www.greatmats.com/products/foamspecial.php |
_________________ 87 Westy, 250k GW 2.4 - 2.0 , 16" wheels |
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mr_vanagon Samba Member
Joined: March 31, 2005 Posts: 589 Location: Southern Illinois (GO SALUKIS)
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Posted: Mon Mar 30, 2009 2:12 pm Post subject: |
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Can we see a pic of this rubber square stuff in situ? _________________ '68 Autostick Bug Mom bought new
'89 Tintop Vanagon Dad bought new |
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snowesty Samba Member
Joined: September 06, 2005 Posts: 189 Location: Nelson, BC
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Posted: Mon Mar 30, 2009 2:28 pm Post subject: |
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I've got a layer of the puzzle flooring stuff in the back. Clean, removable and cuts out some of the engine noise. I have a thin mat for over the wood for the winter (we have real winters up here ), but I don't worry too much about scratches, if I have to replace it every 3or 4 years, it cost what, $30 in cheap laminate. Acceptable... _________________ Fritz - '86 Syncro Tintop, Camper interior
Toaster - '91 Multivan Westy, 4sp. |
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PDXWesty Samba Member
Joined: April 11, 2006 Posts: 6247 Location: Portland OR
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Posted: Mon Mar 30, 2009 2:44 pm Post subject: |
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I don't know why someone would go to all the trouble to install a nice wood floor then completely cover it with carpet or a rubber pad. Enjoy the wood if that's what you want. Don't cover it up! I myself installed a nice piece of remnant carpet that just lays in over the rubber floor. It's easily removable and I like the added comfort and warmth. |
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82WestyMan Samba Member
Joined: December 28, 2006 Posts: 1098 Location: Western OR
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Posted: Mon Mar 30, 2009 3:16 pm Post subject: |
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One of the nice things about laminate flooring is you're not just limited to the look of wood
(a friend of mine custom made the threshold for me from ash) _________________ "The floggings will continue until morale improves"
"I never did give anybody hell. I just told the truth and they thought it was hell" - Harry S. Truman
82 Westfalia - w/ a Raby 'Camper Special' engine |
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Mattyfatz Samba Member
Joined: November 08, 2008 Posts: 55 Location: Reno
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Posted: Tue Mar 31, 2009 8:33 pm Post subject: |
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Wow. Great stuff. You have given me some great idea's. This is a great website. _________________ if the van is a rockin...... |
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cannedveggiessuck Samba Member
Joined: April 11, 2004 Posts: 233 Location: Ohio
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