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Small Cabin Forum / Cabin Construction / Flooring Options
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paulz
Member
# Posted: 12 Feb 2022 10:46am
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Quoting: travellerw
Unfortunately I have no answer for this. Any caulk with silicone in it is sticky and will collect dirt/hair. They do clean up pretty easily with a wet rag, but its a hands and knees affair.

Maybe someone else has suggestions.


I think I'd prefer something that hardened without being sticky even if it meant doing it over every year or two. A lot of dirt and mud get dragged into the cabin.

travellerw
Member
# Posted: 12 Feb 2022 05:46pm - Edited by: travellerw
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Quoting: paulz
I think I'd prefer something that hardened without being sticky even if it meant doing it over every year or two. A lot of dirt and mud get dragged into the cabin.


DAP Acrylic Latex Plus. It has a tiny amount of silicone to make it easier to apply and longer lasting. However not enough to make it sticky (and its still paintable if that is important). It will last 3-5 years before forming small cracks (usually along the seam). If you are catch it right when its forming those cracks you can usually just apply a thin layer over top and get another 3 years or so before complete replacement.

travellerw
Member
# Posted: 12 Feb 2022 05:57pm
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Back to the flooring.. I'm just about finished my other project (our basement), so we spend the day shopping for flooring.

The cabin floor was secondary, but I got to talk with a lot of people about options. Pretty much all of them suggested that vinyl plank would not be a good option if we use the cabin in the winter. They said vinyl plank would be ok if we left the cabin all winter. However, the rapid heating from very cold to comfortable temps using the wood stove would definitely cause problems.

Modern Laminate was pretty much the winner. It was suggested that we go with ONLY AC4 or AC5 rated flooring. Laminate has really dropped in price due to the competition with Vinyl. Quality AC5 commercial grade laminate is pretty darn affordable now. AC5 laminate is pretty much waterproof and will not curl at the edges like the old school stuff.

So, that is probably what we will go with.

paulz
Member
# Posted: 14 Feb 2022 12:23pm
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Quoting: travellerw
DAP Acrylic Latex Plus.


Just got back from Ace Hardware, they have an entire isle of caulk, the Isle of Caulk.. Anyway the stuff you suggested was in the 'Door and Window' caulk section. The 'Kitchen and Bathroom' section was all silicone caulk. Why would that be?

travellerw
Member
# Posted: 14 Feb 2022 01:41pm - Edited by: travellerw
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Quoting: paulz
Just got back from Ace Hardware, they have an entire isle of caulk, the Isle of Caulk.. Anyway the stuff you suggested was in the 'Door and Window' caulk section. The 'Kitchen and Bathroom' section was all silicone caulk. Why would that be?


According to the big box stores, Silicone is pretty much the defacto caulk for bathrooms/kitchens now. I have no idea why they do that, but they do.

Acrylic Latex is commonly used around trim on doors and windows.. but it absolutely can be used in a bathroom. Around a toilet or the bottom of the baseboards is a perfect spot for it. Its %100 waterproof and mold and mildew resistant. Best of all it dries smooth and hard(ish) with a flat (not shiny finish) and is not sticky! Its super easy to apply and cleans up with a wet rag while uncured! It also has almost no smell (no stinky vinegar).

Oh ya.. and its SUPER cheap compared to silicone alternatives!

jsahara24
Member
# Posted: 14 Feb 2022 06:30pm
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Quoting: travellerw
Modern Laminate was pretty much the winner. It was suggested that we go with ONLY AC4 or AC5 rated flooring.


I'm in the same situation as you, shopping for flooring. My initial reaction was to not use laminate as past experiences with water were not great, but maybe I need to look into it again.

I have a lot of SF to floor and I don't want to screw this up....haha....I was leaning toward real wood but I guess I have some research to do yet.

Good luck and let us know what you end up with...

gcrank1
Member
# Posted: 14 Feb 2022 07:53pm
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A good friend just finished one of two big rooms of his Victorian house with the new lam snap planks. He is an experienced home remodeler and never used the stuff; he loves it! Just talked about it today, he said quick learning curve, cut-snap-break to length, goes along quickly. Said the hardest part was keeping the first runs from not moving while snap locking the next pieces in because of the floating.
Think Id buy or make some wall side spacers to hold the gap.

KinAlberta
Member
# Posted: 14 Feb 2022 10:13pm
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Found this:

Best Flooring For Extreme Temperature Changes - Cabin Guides

https://cabinguides.com/best-flooring-for-extreme-temperature-changes

travellerw
Member
# Posted: 14 Feb 2022 10:13pm
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Quoting: jsahara24
My initial reaction was to not use laminate as past experiences with water were not great, but maybe I need to look into it again.


AC4 has a small amount of wood in it and will resist spills for days.. AC5 is pretty much %100 waterproof.

One saleman said that when they install AC4 in bathrooms or kitchens they glue the pieces together using Titebond II. He said they have never had a callback for water damage.

nicalisa
Member
# Posted: 15 Feb 2022 03:13pm - Edited by: nicalisa
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We have extreme weather shifts. from 40+ to 40- summer to winter and we only use the cabin occasionally so it is not consistently heated, therefore rough on flooring. We decided to go with vinyl plank flooring. We used a peel and stick kind

https://www.homedepot.ca/product/allure-stayplace-quincy-oak-6-inch-x-36-inch-luxury- vinyl-plank-flooring-24-sq-ft-case-/1000822991

and it has been awesome. plus the bonus is when you buy a few extra boxes you can replace any areas that get worn over time (or have sap on them or have any other issue occur which can and do happen especially in our family lol)

they are great to clean as well which helps with 2 adults, 2 kids, 3 dogs and 400 square feet lol

this is a pic of them 6 years later....
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AK Seabee
Member
# Posted: 16 Feb 2022 12:17am
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From my perspective, the vinyl planks are hit and miss.

I think slow temperature swings are OK as I have a neighbor in the AK Lake Louise area that used the vinyl planks and they have held up well. This neighbor does t use his cabin in the winter so no quick temperature swing.

I also used the vinyl planks and have noted seperation in both bedroom doors. I use my cabin in the winter and have a great wood stove. In a matter of 5 hours the inside cabin temp will start out at 10 to 30 below zero F and rise to 75 F. Huge temperature swing,

Outside of the seperation in the doors the vinyl plank floor looks brand new 5+ years later. A laminate transition piece in the door hides the seperation so no one is the wiser. Still though, when it's time to replace the floor, I will use something else.....

I helped my son finish his cabin and he went with a snap in water proof laminate plank. I am excited to see how it holds up.

paulz
Member
# Posted: 20 Feb 2022 12:33pm - Edited by: paulz
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OK you've seen the best, now here's the rest, lol. As most of you know my cabin is mostly recycled materials. About the time we were walking (and rolling) on plywood, a friend called to say a local store was closing and giving away a bunch of shelving..

Surprisingly, they have been in 5+ years, and aside from a couple of ember burns, look as good as new. No scratches, they have a very hard surface and particle board center, heavy. Couple of good things, they are just laying in place, easy to replace one with the 200 spares I have. And the light color helps brighten the place. I'm not a big indoor decor guy, prefer the outdoors, much to my wife's dismay.

I have nice new oak T&G flooring I took out of that same friend's daughter's newly built tract home because they wanted carpet. Some day I'll probably put it in, why I'm not sure.
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deckit
Member
# Posted: 27 Apr 2024 11:07am
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Your flooring considerations are practical and thoughtful, especially regarding the mess associated with wood flooring and the desire for warmth and ease of installation in different areas of your home. Here are some thoughts on your proposed flooring options:

Vinyl Plank Flooring: Vinyl plank flooring is a versatile and durable option that can mimic the look of hardwood or stone at a lower cost. It's resistant to moisture, making it suitable for areas prone to spills or humidity, such as kitchens and bathrooms. However, as you mentioned, vinyl plank flooring can expand and contract with temperature changes, so it's essential to leave sufficient expansion gaps around the perimeter of the room and transitions to accommodate these movements. Wide baseboards can help conceal expansion gaps and provide a finished look.
Carpet Flooring: Carpet offers warmth, comfort, and sound insulation, making it an excellent choice for bedrooms and loft areas where comfort is a priority. It's also relatively easy to install and comes in a wide range of styles and colors to suit your preferences. Using throw rugs on vinyl plank flooring can help add warmth and texture to the space while allowing for easier maintenance and cleaning.
Considerations for the Loft: Carpeting in the loft is a practical choice, as it provides a soft surface for lounging and adds insulation against drafts and temperature changes. Additionally, carpet installation is relatively straightforward and can be done without the need for extensive subfloor preparation or adhesive.
Temperature Changes: As you mentioned, temperature fluctuations can cause vinyl plank flooring to expand and contract. Proper installation techniques, including leaving expansion gaps and acclimating the flooring to the room's temperature and humidity before installation, can help minimize the risk of buckling or warping. Additionally, choosing a high-quality vinyl plank flooring product with stability features, such as a rigid core or built-in underlayment, can enhance its resistance to temperature changes.
Overall, your proposed combination of vinyl plank flooring in the main area and carpet in the bedroom and loft areas seems like a practical and balanced approach. Just be sure to consider factors such as comfort, durability, and ease of maintenance when making your final flooring decisions.

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