We have vinyl floor covering in our caravan enjoying South Australia but the cold coming up though the floor is not nice.
Looking for ideas how to insulate the floor?
Dougwe said
12:27 PM Jun 29, 2019
G'day Ralph,
I have long narrow matts down the middle of the aluminium tent that helps heaps with that. Even here in the tropics they are nice under foot. I put some small bits of not slip rubber under each corner to stop any slipping.
I was talking to a fellow happy camper not that many moons back and he painted the under side of his AT with that black bitumen paint and reckons that helps too.
MarkAC said
12:39 PM Jun 29, 2019
I don't like wearing shoes inside but sometimes I'm forced to wear ugg boots.
Just go to one of the carpet/rug specialists and get a runner. Mine is perfect width but I had to cut it down and heat sealed the ends.
its easy to clean using the dyson vac
its nice on the bare feet as well
SouthernComfort said
01:09 PM Jun 29, 2019
Mats here too. Bunnings sell some nicely bound ones which are just the right width for our floor. Dog also appreciates them!
the rocket said
01:32 PM Jun 29, 2019
Hi radar, bunnings sells hallway runner carpet by the metre. We had it, works well and looks good too.
Kiwoz said
01:44 PM Jun 29, 2019
Radar, Clark Rubber also have a pale coloured rubber backed and very light weight floor covering. We've got this and seems pretty effective. Certainly warmer than the lino type covering it's sitting on.
Tony Bev said
02:21 PM Jun 29, 2019
I also have a vinyl floor, and used rubber backed carpet pieces, from Bunnings
Funny enough the floor of my motorhome is insulated, (they must have used it there, instead of the roof)
The vinyl is still cold, without the mats
brickies said
02:58 PM Jun 29, 2019
When masters were around i brought thin carpet tiles and covered the whole floor of the caravan we were very please with the result , look at mates but it was just so had to get the right lenghts and width and carpet worked a treat .
erad said
03:48 PM Jun 29, 2019
Whatever you put on the floor, the temperature difference between inside and outside will still remain the same. What does change is how fast the heat drains from your feet. If you have something wet, or metallic, these are excellent conductors of heat and the heat transfers at a different rate. Thus they feel hotter or colder than insulating materials such as carpets etc. So overall, there will be no difference in the heat load on the caravan heating or cooling system - it will just take slightly longer to reach a stable condition. Carpet or Ugh boots are good insulators and therefore are the way to go.
Whenarewethere said
11:13 PM Jun 29, 2019
Don't put bitumen inside it will stink in summer. Air is what is doing the insulating. So some foam underlay under carpet.
Also the actual surface you walk on makes a difference. At home we have two bathrooms, one with smooth tiles & the other with textured tiles, the textured tiles always feel warmer. It's because there is less contact with the feet due to the rough surface.
Plastics are not good except nylon which never feels as cold. You may be able to pick up an offcut of commercial grade solution died nylon carpet which has a synthetic back so you can hose it clean.
Also solution died nylon you can clean with bleach if it has the synthetic back.... commercial grade.
Another option is some boat carpet either with or without foam underlay underneath.
I have actually put an offcut of SDN carpet in our kitchen for the last few weeks as the floor gets cold but without foam underlay & it's been nice to stand on, so much warmer than the tiles!
This is the SDN carpet with synthetic back: https://www.alliedfloorcoverings.com.au/product/opulence/
dabbler said
11:50 PM Jun 29, 2019
Ikea sells cheapish rugs and hall runners but in fixed sizes. Colours and patterns might not suit a van either. More importantly, they sell a non-slip undelay mat (which oddly for Ikea, is called Stopp). We use it under all our rugs and runners at home on our polished wood floors.
MarkAC said
09:03 AM Jun 30, 2019
I used rubber backed carpet runners and they left black stains on the vinyl
JayDee said
09:12 AM Jun 30, 2019
A couple of years ago, to get the exact house carpet to cover the floor of the study, we had to buy the last of a roll of carpet.
Turned out to be a bonus as we had heaps over so we then carpet the van floor. Great result especially in winter.
Also added a nice finishing touch to the interior decor of the van.
I am sure that there are plenty of off cut in the carpet shops or carpet warehouses.
Jay&Dee
Cupie said
10:53 AM Jun 30, 2019
MarkAC wrote:
I used rubber backed carpet runners and they left black stains on the vinyl
Me too.
I use ugg boots in winter & thongs in summer.
I painted the underside as a water proofing measure 20 years ago. Don't know if it effected floor temperature.
Except for the last trip, I avoid caravanning in cold weather.
The personal fan heater warms up the floor while I'm steeling myself to get out of bed. Turn it on from a GPO easily reached from the bed. We rarely bush camp & certainly not in winter.
Olive Oil said
05:16 PM Jun 30, 2019
Ugg boots, love 'em!
Cupie said
05:40 PM Jun 30, 2019
Olive Oil wrote:
Ugg boots, love 'em!
Yep me too ... I have an outdoor pair (old & much repaired) and an indoor pair .. too nice to take camping. LOL
-- Edited by Cupie on Sunday 30th of June 2019 11:14:48 PM
Radar said
08:55 PM Jun 30, 2019
Thank you all for the replys, helpful hints and some I have now taken on board. We are on the road down in South Australia during the coldest winter in 7 years.
This morning we went via a green shed, picked up a mat which I have devided into 3. 1 down each side of the bed and a bit at the end.
Next thing I have done, the main door is so cold, I have found an cupboard carton cut it size, now will live between the fly screen and main door with some vents for the gas to leak out.
Once again thank you all for your thoughts.
Aus-Kiwi said
01:01 PM Jul 1, 2019
We fitted marine carpet through our motorhome . Bought it from Bunnings . If floor is cold ? Have you thought of some insulation on the bottom? May help sound wise too ??
Onedodger said
05:42 PM Jul 1, 2019
You can get UG boot style slippers and they are PURRRfect.
Granty said
02:46 PM Jul 2, 2019
I use Marine Carpet. It is very light, doesn't matter if it gets wet, and it is easy to cut to shape. BCF usually have it in rolls and you can buy by the metre. Also it doesn't need edging like other carpet.
darjak said
08:51 PM Jul 3, 2019
Marine Carpet X2
Put it in in 3 pieces use sticky back Velcro under joints.
Vacuum weekly and every couple of months take it outside
Give it a good hose, no more cold or gritty feeling under feet.
We have vinyl floor covering in our caravan enjoying South Australia but the cold coming up though the floor is not nice.
Looking for ideas how to insulate the floor?
I have long narrow matts down the middle of the aluminium tent that helps heaps with that. Even here in the tropics they are nice under foot. I put some small bits of not slip rubber under each corner to stop any slipping.
I was talking to a fellow happy camper not that many moons back and he painted the under side of his AT with that black bitumen paint and reckons that helps too.
I don't like wearing shoes inside but sometimes I'm forced to wear ugg boots.
Just go to one of the carpet/rug specialists and get a runner. Mine is perfect width but I had to cut it down and heat sealed the ends.
its easy to clean using the dyson vac
its nice on the bare feet as well
Hi radar, bunnings sells hallway runner carpet by the metre. We had it, works well and looks good too.
Funny enough the floor of my motorhome is insulated, (they must have used it there, instead of the roof)
The vinyl is still cold, without the mats
Whatever you put on the floor, the temperature difference between inside and outside will still remain the same. What does change is how fast the heat drains from your feet. If you have something wet, or metallic, these are excellent conductors of heat and the heat transfers at a different rate. Thus they feel hotter or colder than insulating materials such as carpets etc. So overall, there will be no difference in the heat load on the caravan heating or cooling system - it will just take slightly longer to reach a stable condition. Carpet or Ugh boots are good insulators and therefore are the way to go.
Don't put bitumen inside it will stink in summer. Air is what is doing the insulating. So some foam underlay under carpet.
Also the actual surface you walk on makes a difference. At home we have two bathrooms, one with smooth tiles & the other with textured tiles, the textured tiles always feel warmer. It's because there is less contact with the feet due to the rough surface.
Plastics are not good except nylon which never feels as cold. You may be able to pick up an offcut of commercial grade solution died nylon carpet which has a synthetic back so you can hose it clean.
Also solution died nylon you can clean with bleach if it has the synthetic back.... commercial grade.
Another option is some boat carpet either with or without foam underlay underneath.
I have actually put an offcut of SDN carpet in our kitchen for the last few weeks as the floor gets cold but without foam underlay & it's been nice to stand on, so much warmer than the tiles!
This is the SDN carpet with synthetic back: https://www.alliedfloorcoverings.com.au/product/opulence/
I used rubber backed carpet runners and they left black stains on the vinyl
A couple of years ago, to get the exact house carpet to cover the floor of the study, we had to buy the last of a roll of carpet.
Turned out to be a bonus as we had heaps over so we then carpet the van floor. Great result especially in winter.
Also added a nice finishing touch to the interior decor of the van.
I am sure that there are plenty of off cut in the carpet shops or carpet warehouses.
Jay&Dee
Me too.
I use ugg boots in winter & thongs in summer.
I painted the underside as a water proofing measure 20 years ago. Don't know if it effected floor temperature.
Except for the last trip, I avoid caravanning in cold weather.
The personal fan heater warms up the floor while I'm steeling myself to get out of bed. Turn it on from a GPO easily reached from the bed. We rarely bush camp & certainly not in winter.
Yep me too ... I have an outdoor pair (old & much repaired) and an indoor pair .. too nice to take camping. LOL
-- Edited by Cupie on Sunday 30th of June 2019 11:14:48 PM
Thank you all for the replys, helpful hints and some I have now taken on board. We are on the road down in South Australia during the coldest winter in 7 years.
This morning we went via a green shed, picked up a mat which I have devided into 3. 1 down each side of the bed and a bit at the end.
Next thing I have done, the main door is so cold, I have found an cupboard carton cut it size, now will live between the fly screen and main door with some vents for the gas to leak out.
Once again thank you all for your thoughts.
Put it in in 3 pieces use sticky back Velcro under joints.
Vacuum weekly and every couple of months take it outside
Give it a good hose, no more cold or gritty feeling under feet.