Laying new floor-Fill the gaps
Moderators: User administrators, Moderators
- browneyes1311
- Registered user
- Posts: 507
- Joined: 02 Jul 2006, 17:00
- 80-90 Mem No: 2714
- Location: llanarmon yn la, n wales
Laying new floor-Fill the gaps
A friend of mine is very kindly lying a new floor for me after water ingress from badly fitted window soaked old one.
He is a perfectionist and is busy cutting out marine ply to fit in the gaps in the structural ribbing, before laying the new floor which will then all be varnished three times before covering with altro non slip vinyl. Old floor did not have the gaps between the ribbing filled.
My question is this. Is it better to just lay new floor on top of the ribbing so wood can breathe underneath? Or is he absolutely right?
He is a perfectionist and is busy cutting out marine ply to fit in the gaps in the structural ribbing, before laying the new floor which will then all be varnished three times before covering with altro non slip vinyl. Old floor did not have the gaps between the ribbing filled.
My question is this. Is it better to just lay new floor on top of the ribbing so wood can breathe underneath? Or is he absolutely right?
1983 air cooled T25 high top.(hopefully someone will tell me what conversion) name Myrtle de turtle
-
- Registered user
- Posts: 1248
- Joined: 05 Jun 2011, 11:06
- 80-90 Mem No: 9768
- Location: hull. f*** me the city of culture
Re: Laying new floor-Fill the gaps
it all depends on the thickness of the ply 12mm and above no need to fill the gaps.....besides unless they fit perfectly and are glued down the blighters will rattle. flash band is sometimes fitted to quieten the noise or a low density board to act as a noise damper and insulator
just as a for instance an 18mm flooring grade chipboard floor is supported on joists that are set at 600mm centres
mark
just as a for instance an 18mm flooring grade chipboard floor is supported on joists that are set at 600mm centres
mark
1988 1.9 dg Caravel.
https://i.imgur.com/oIt3VLk.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/oIt3VLk.jpg
- browneyes1311
- Registered user
- Posts: 507
- Joined: 02 Jul 2006, 17:00
- 80-90 Mem No: 2714
- Location: llanarmon yn la, n wales
Re: Laying new floor-Fill the gaps
Hes cutting em out, varnishing and then yep hes glueing em down. I just didn't want him to do unnecessary work for himself
1983 air cooled T25 high top.(hopefully someone will tell me what conversion) name Myrtle de turtle
-
- Registered user
- Posts: 804
- Joined: 09 Aug 2009, 21:53
- 80-90 Mem No: 8265
- Location: County Monaghan, Ireland
Re: Laying new floor-Fill the gaps
Varnish both sides or it could warp.
1984 1.9D (AEF Code) T25 tintop
- SamsBus2012
- Registered user
- Posts: 561
- Joined: 15 Aug 2012, 10:24
- 80-90 Mem No: 11455
- Location: Devon
Re: Laying new floor-Fill the gaps
400mm ctrs for 18mm, 600mm ctrs for 22mm chipboard.mark wrote:
just as a for instance an 18mm flooring grade chipboard floor is supported on joists that are set at 600mm centres
mark
Tom (aka Matt)
1986 Hightop with 1.9dg 4spd. The boys call him "Magnus"
1986 Hightop with 1.9dg 4spd. The boys call him "Magnus"
- browneyes1311
- Registered user
- Posts: 507
- Joined: 02 Jul 2006, 17:00
- 80-90 Mem No: 2714
- Location: llanarmon yn la, n wales
Re: Laying new floor-Fill the gaps
boatbuilder wrote:Varnish both sides or it could warp.
Hes varnishing all wood three times on both sides. He really is a perfectionist lol
1983 air cooled T25 high top.(hopefully someone will tell me what conversion) name Myrtle de turtle
-
- Registered user
- Posts: 1248
- Joined: 05 Jun 2011, 11:06
- 80-90 Mem No: 9768
- Location: hull. f*** me the city of culture
Re: Laying new floor-Fill the gaps
maybe I should have said it would be 600 centres if your going less than 3m unsupported or 450mm or 16'' centres if you where going over 4.5 m and using 4x2 joists without noggins, also the depth and thickness of the joists and the amount of noggins or herringbone is also taken into account......apart from all of that I was demonstrating that there was no need to fill between the ribs as the centres are approx 150mm and browneyes is flooring her van not her bathroom
mark
mark
SamsBus2012 wrote:400mm ctrs for 18mm, 600mm ctrs for 22mm chipboard.mark wrote:
just as a for instance an 18mm flooring grade chipboard floor is supported on joists that are set at 600mm centres
mark
1988 1.9 dg Caravel.
https://i.imgur.com/oIt3VLk.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/oIt3VLk.jpg
-
- Registered user
- Posts: 1248
- Joined: 05 Jun 2011, 11:06
- 80-90 Mem No: 9768
- Location: hull. f*** me the city of culture
Re: Laying new floor-Fill the gaps
he really doesn't need to fit them as they will serve no purpose............but he's best left to it.....its man thing
mark

mark
browneyes1311 wrote:Hes cutting em out, varnishing and then yep hes glueing em down. I just didn't want him to do unnecessary work for himself
1988 1.9 dg Caravel.
https://i.imgur.com/oIt3VLk.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/oIt3VLk.jpg
-
- Registered user
- Posts: 25
- Joined: 02 Dec 2015, 12:42
- 80-90 Mem No: 15048
- Location: Witney, Oxfordshire
Re: Laying new floor-Fill the gaps
Sorry to jump in on your post browneyes1311.
I need to lay a new floor in my van, and was about to post the same question, I do have a few others too; what material is best to use? I would like to minimise work, so is 12mm the best way to go? Also, is it best to insulate underneath the floor?
Thanks
I need to lay a new floor in my van, and was about to post the same question, I do have a few others too; what material is best to use? I would like to minimise work, so is 12mm the best way to go? Also, is it best to insulate underneath the floor?
Thanks
1989 VW T25 Autohomes Komet II
- kevtherev
- Registered user
- Posts: 18832
- Joined: 23 Oct 2005, 20:13
- 80-90 Mem No: 2264
- Location: Country estate Wolverhampton Actually
Re: Laying new floor-Fill the gaps
Marine plywood is best, 12mm min or higher.Jimmy659 wrote:Sorry to jump in on your post browneyes1311.
I need to lay a new floor in my van, and was about to post the same question, I do have a few others too; what material is best to use? I would like to minimise work, so is 12mm the best way to go? Also, is it best to insulate underneath the floor?
Thanks
I used 18mm chipboard sealed.
Imho the wood itself, being so thick, will provide adequate insulation.
AGG 2.0L 8V. (Golf GTi MkIII)
- browneyes1311
- Registered user
- Posts: 507
- Joined: 02 Jul 2006, 17:00
- 80-90 Mem No: 2714
- Location: llanarmon yn la, n wales
Re: Laying new floor-Fill the gaps
I'm having to replace my units too. So later I will post a thread with the suppliers of Superva and Vohringer I have found with the prices and delivery charges. Also how many sheets you will need ( for kitchen unit plus wardrobe side I believe its going to be three which will leave half a sheet over to make a buddy box)
1983 air cooled T25 high top.(hopefully someone will tell me what conversion) name Myrtle de turtle
-
- Registered user
- Posts: 25
- Joined: 02 Dec 2015, 12:42
- 80-90 Mem No: 15048
- Location: Witney, Oxfordshire
Re: Laying new floor-Fill the gaps
kevtherev wrote:Marine plywood is best, 12mm min or higher.Jimmy659 wrote:Sorry to jump in on your post browneyes1311.
I need to lay a new floor in my van, and was about to post the same question, I do have a few others too; what material is best to use? I would like to minimise work, so is 12mm the best way to go? Also, is it best to insulate underneath the floor?
Thanks
I used 18mm chipboard sealed.
Imho the wood itself, being so thick, will provide adequate insulation.
Thanks kevtherev, I was in the mind set of 12mm Marine plywood, so will definitely look at buying that soon.
1989 VW T25 Autohomes Komet II