Help with hardwood floor install in Westfalia Syncro

[mreuter]

I have a question about installing hardwood floor in my Westy. I found allot in this forum but most of the install is with cabinetry installed. I removed all my cabinetry to install Lizardskin sound and heat control. I wonder if I can install the hardwood floor covering the whole area and install the cabinetry and rear seat on top of the floor or do I have to install everything and than only cover the small area with hardwood floor like it is done in all the installs I found on Samba? Any advise would be appreciated.

[crazyvwvanman]

I always do the whole floor with cabinets out. Much cleaner that way. Leave some small gap at the hidden edges.

Mark

[djkeev]

Yes, removing everything IS the proper course of action.

Did you notice the OG vinyl floor and subfloor completely covered the entire metal floor?

There are cutouts in the proper locations for fasrener access.

Dave
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Ghia
http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=392473

Vanagon
http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?p=6315537#6315537

Beetle
https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=482968&highlight=74+super+vert

[mreuter]

@djkeev & crazyvwvanman

Thank you for your advise! Any pictures you could share or link to your post?

Did you have to cut anything on the cabinetry?

[williamM]

I was going for the "Hacienda" look- with tile floors and mexi water basin--looked good, but weighted in at about 100# just for the floor. But did set a Masonite floor for the entire interior and tiled round the the amenities.

In the end, It was just to much weight and mechanicals put the project on the back burner after getting into splits.

Sold it to explorers who took all the heavy stuff out and really did an excellent job on putting it back on the road.


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Guess my point is- you can get really carried away with what you dream and in the end it's just not sustainable. After seeing other Scoolie builds with tile n stuff litterly fall apart on corrugated roads.- I will next stick to the KISS principal.[/img]
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[crazyvwvanman]

I have a finished photo of the last one I did. It is easy, cheap, and looks good.

Mark

[E1]

William, I Love the Hacienda look!

And the ceiling, I've toyed with that very design (in my head) for our headliner...

Mark, sweet. Great upholstery, too.
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[djkeev]

You did not have a floor that you removed?

The original floor is about 1/2" thick.

Unless you are using 3/4" Tongue and Groove with a 3/4" plywood underlay, your floor depth using an engineered floor should not vary significantly.

Fill in the floor ribs with wood strips.

Dave
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Stop Dead Photo Links how to post photos

Ghia
http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=392473

Vanagon
http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?p=6315537#6315537

Beetle
https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=482968&highlight=74+super+vert

[williamM]

Side note- once your floor is in - get a "floor stabilizer" clear coat and it will basically "glue" all the seams together and give it a tough shine.
_________________
some days I get up and just sit and think. Some days I just sit.

opinion untempered by fact is ignorance.

Don't step in any!

[mreuter]

Wow, all this amazing work. I was going for the grey Allure Ultravinyl. 100% waterproof floor. I still have the original floorboards with the grey plastic on top. The floor will be higher so i was wondering if anyone had to cut the rear bench seat box on the bottom or was it not required at all? Th

[mreuter]

Looks like my Westi subfloor is smaller. It ends right where the cabinetry is installed.

[Timwhy]

I planed down strips of cedar for the ribs in the floor as an anchor. Holes where the exiting floor bolt held in the seat were left in place.
Then I screwed the strips in place and topped them with a piece of thin plywood. Finally plotted out the laminate and secure it with a piece of angled aluminum.

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http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/album_search.php?search_author=Timwhy&show_results=summary

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[9.5isCanadian]

[mreuter]

[mikemtnbike]

When I put my laminate flooring in, I just kind of winged it and it's worked out great for over a year of pretty hard use. I filled each of the channels with reflective heat tape, then I glued down reflectix sheets, then I glued very thin plywood on top of that. Then, installed floor, trim, done. A true weekend job- actually a true single weekend day job, my favorite kind.

I guess what I'm trying to say is there way more than one way to skin this cat. I did it my way because my investment was whatever the reflectix roll cost because I already had everything else, including the floors that I helped a buddy remove from the house he had just bought.

Don't overthink it and have fun!
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