Does Changing from Carpet to Wooden Floor affect the noise level?

[Pete Masterson]

The OEM flooring was carpet, foam rubber pad, 3/4" plywood, then sheet steel.

The flooring I purchased was individual planks, I used an (overpriced) adhesive
as recommended by the vendor and they also recommended putting 1/4" cork
"underlayment" on top of the plywood. The area near the galley where I pulled up
the tile had gotten a bit roughed up -- so I cut out the torn up sub floor and
pieced in a new sheet -- then used a "leveling compound" on the bit of left over
rough area (that I couldn't cut out) and over the new joints. Although the sub
floor was pretty level, I was more comfortable with having the uniformity of the
extra 1/4" cork.

It seems as if BB upgraded the underlayment/subfloor in the LXI compared to the
'95. BIrch underlayment is commonly used under various flooring materials --
indeed, I have it under the vinyl in my home kitchen, etc...

Pete Masterson
95 WBDA 42'
On the road at West Yellowstone, MT -- leaving for St. Regis, MT tomorrow
morning.

On Wednesday, June 10, 2009, at 08:32AM, "david brady"
wrote:
>Pete,
>
>Was the cork subfloor something you added or was it part of the
>original BlueBird subfloor? I ask cause Ernie's installing a hardwood
>floor in my coach and BB sandwiched cork between 3/4" marine
>plywood and 1/2" birch subflooring on my LXi.
>
>Thanks,
>David Brady
>'02 LXi, NC
>
>Pete Masterson wrote:
>>
>>
>> I installed bamboo flooring from the front of my coach to the bedroom
>> door (I have a side-aisle around the bath). I installed it over a cork
>> sub-floor. Noise levels are about the same as when I had the carpet.
>> Smells a lot better, though!
>>
>> Pete Masterson
>> 95 WL wbda 42
>> On the road at West Yellowstone, MT.
>>
>> On Tuesday, June 09, 2009, at 08:30PM, "Curt Sprenger"
>> > wrote:
>> >The carpet was removed in our coach. Bamboo flooring installed from the
>> >front of the bus through the salon and the kitchen area. No difference in
>> >noise that I can tell.
>> >
>> >Curt Sprenger
>> >1987 PT38 8V92 "MacAttack Racing"
>> >Anaheim Hills, CA
>> >*Read all about Southwest Bluebirds and Friends (SWBB) at
>> >http://www.SOUTHWEST-BLUEBIRDS.ORG
>> <http://www.SOUTHWEST-BLUEBIRDS.ORG> ...Then Join us.
>> >"Host of the Annual Bluebird Quartzsite Rally" *
>> >
>> >
>> >
>> >
>> >On Tue, Jun 9, 2009 at 8:15 PM, Jack and Liz Pearce
>>
>> >> wrote:
>> >
>> >>
>> >>
>> >> Howdy.
>> >> Have you taken out the carpet from your Bird's living room and
>> replaced it
>> >> with a wooden floor? If so, what effect did this have on the noise
>> level
>> >> when traveling in your coach? Please write and let us know.
>> >>
>> >>
>> >> TIA,
>> >> Jack and Liz Pearce
>> >> Regards,
>> >> Jack and Liz Pearce
>> >> Fulltiming in a 1993 Wanderlodge WB40
>> >> D'Hanis, TX in the winter
>> >> Buena Vista, CO in the summer
>> >>
>> >>
>> >>
>> >>
>> >
>>
>>
>> ------------------------------------------------------------------------
>>
>> Internal Virus Database is out-of-date.
>> Checked by AVG.
>> Version: 7.5.560 / Virus Database: 270.12.26/2116 - Release Date: 5/15/2009
6:16 AM
>>
>
>

[David Brady]

Thanks Pete, that's helpful information.

David Brady
'02 LXi, NC

-----Original Message-----

From: Pete Masterson

Sent: Jun 10, 2009 8:27 PM

To: WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com

Subject: Re: [WanderlodgeForum] Does Changing from Carpet to Wooden Floor affect the noise level?

The OEM flooring was carpet, foam rubber pad, 3/4" plywood, then sheet steel.



The flooring I purchased was individual planks, I used an (overpriced) adhesive as recommended by the vendor and they also recommended putting 1/4" cork "underlayment" on top of the plywood. The area near the galley where I pulled up the tile had gotten a bit roughed up -- so I cut out the torn up sub floor and pieced in a new sheet -- then used a "leveling compound" on the bit of left over rough area (that I couldn't cut out) and over the new joints. Although the sub floor was pretty level, I was more comfortable with having the uniformity of the extra 1/4" cork.



It seems as if BB upgraded the underlayment/subfloor in the LXI compared to the '95. BIrch underlayment is commonly used under various flooring materials -- indeed, I have it under the vinyl in my home kitchen, etc...



Pete Masterson

95 WBDA 42'

On the road at West Yellowstone, MT -- leaving for St. Regis, MT tomorrow morning.



On Wednesday, June 10, 2009, at 08:32AM, "david brady" <"dmb993%40earthlink.net"> wrote:

>Pete,

>

>Was the cork subfloor something you added or was it part of the

>original BlueBird subfloor? I ask cause Ernie's installing a hardwood

>floor in my coach and BB sandwiched cork between 3/4" marine

>plywood and 1/2" birch subflooring on my LXi.

>

>Thanks,

>David Brady

>'02 LXi, NC

>

>Pete Masterson wrote:

>>

>>

>> I installed bamboo flooring from the front of my coach to the bedroom

>> door (I have a side-aisle around the bath). I installed it over a cork

>> sub-floor. Noise levels are about the same as when I had the carpet.

>> Smells a lot better, though!

>>

>> Pete Masterson

>> 95 WL wbda 42

>> On the road at West Yellowstone, MT.

>>

>> On Tuesday, June 09, 2009, at 08:30PM, "Curt Sprenger"

>> <"curtsprenger%40gmail.com" r%40gmail.com>> wrote:

>> >The carpet was removed in our coach. Bamboo flooring installed from the

>> >front of the bus through the salon and the kitchen area. No difference in

>> >noise that I can tell.

>> >

>> >Curt Sprenger

>> >1987 PT38 8V92 "MacAttack Racing"

>> >Anaheim Hills, CA

>> >*Read all about Southwest Bluebirds and Friends (SWBB) at

>> >http://www.SOUTHWEST-BLUEBIRDS.ORG

>> <http://www.SOUTHWEST-BLUEBIRDS.ORG> ...Then Join us.

>> >"Host of the Annual Bluebird Quartzsite Rally" *

>> >

>> >

>> >

>> >

>> >On Tue, Jun 9, 2009 at 8:15 PM, Jack and Liz Pearce

>> <"jacklizpearce%40gmail.com" ce%40gmail.com>

>> >> wrote:

>> >

>> >>

>> >>

>> >> Howdy.

>> >> Have you taken out the carpet from your Bird's living room and

>> replaced it

>> >> with a wooden floor? If so, what effect did this have on the noise

>> level

>> >> when traveling in your coach? Please write and let us know.

>> >>

>> >>

>> >> TIA,

>> >> Jack and Liz Pearce

>> >> Regards,

>> >> Jack and Liz Pearce

>> >> Fulltiming in a 1993 Wanderlodge WB40

>> >> D'Hanis, TX in the winter

>> >> Buena Vista, CO in the summer

>> >>

>> >>

>> >>

>> >>

>> >

>>

>>

>> ----------------------------------------------------------

>>

>> Internal Virus Database is out-of-date.

>> Checked by AVG.

>> Version: 7.5.560 / Virus Database: 270.12.26/2116 - Release Date: 5/15/2009 6:16 AM

>>

>

>

[timvasqz]

Curt, the qualifying statement here is "that I can tell". It could be assumed
that during the course of bamboo installation batterylife and ability was
reduced thus hearing diminished. How long do they last anyway?

Greg 94ptCa

--- In WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com, Curt Sprenger wrote:
>
> The carpet was removed in our coach. Bamboo flooring installed from the
> front of the bus through the salon and the kitchen area. No difference in
> noise that I can tell.
>
> Curt Sprenger
> 1987 PT38 8V92 "MacAttack Racing"
> Anaheim Hills, CA
> *Read all about Southwest Bluebirds and Friends (SWBB) at
> http://www.SOUTHWEST-BLUEBIRDS.ORG ...Then Join us.
> "Host of the Annual Bluebird Quartzsite Rally" *
>
>
>
>
> On Tue, Jun 9, 2009 at 8:15 PM, Jack and Liz Pearce > > wrote:
>
> >
> >
> > Howdy.
> > Have you taken out the carpet from your Bird's living room and replaced it
> > with a wooden floor? If so, what effect did this have on the noise level
> > when traveling in your coach? Please write and let us know.
> >
> >
> > TIA,
> > Jack and Liz Pearce
> > Regards,
> > Jack and Liz Pearce
> > Fulltiming in a 1993 Wanderlodge WB40
> > D'Hanis, TX in the winter
> > Buena Vista, CO in the summer
> >
> >
> >
> >
>

[Pete Masterson]

I think that Curt was only indicating that the wood flooring did not seem to
change the general noise level inside the coach during travel. I can concur that
the noise level is about the same. However, this is simply a non-scientific
impression, since I did not use a decibel meter and I suspect neither did Curt.

The only real difference I've noticed is that the wood floor is much easier to
keep clean in typical camping situations (where you're parked on gravel or other
dusty areas). I have a "runner" (a cheap rug measuring 24" x 72") positioned
between the passenger and driver's seat at the top of the coach stairs that was
purchased from Target or WalMart. It has a non-slip rubberized back and is
washable. I have a hand-woven rug, about 36" x 48", that we keep in front of the
sink. (My wife used to weave.) The rug is old and worn, but is ideal in the
coach to catch the inevitable drips, etc. during dish-washing and food
preparation. -- I'd have used something in a similar size from the
aforementioned stores.

All in all, I'm immensely pleased with the flooring change, both in appearance
and utility. If you're thinking of removing your carpets and installing a
hardwood floor -- I highly recommend it.

I hear that Ernie does good work -- and if you're a fair carpenter, you may be
able to do it yourself. I will observe that the "engineered" wood products might
be easier for a beginner to install, but if you've done any tile work
(successfully) in the past, using regular boards with adhesive isn't that much
different that putting down tile. The loose boards I used, would probably have
been nailed, had a pro installed them, but doing good work with a nailer is
tricky, so the conservative approach is to use adhesive.

The only annoying aspects was the creation of the wire chase covers along the
edge of the coach on each side. These were a little tricky to do -- and I'd
probably have done them differently, if I had it to do over again.

Fortunately, the bamboo wood I used, "took" a hand-rub stain/finish quite well,
so I was able to finish the cut edges that were exposed when making the boxes to
cover the wire chases. I also find that the same stuff works well on the couple
of minor scratches that have occurred (once the finish was rubbed on, the
scratches just disappeared.

Pete Masterson
95 WBDA 42
On the road at St. Regis, MT enroute Walla Walla, WA.




On Wednesday, June 10, 2009, at 10:08PM, "timvasqz" wrote:
>Curt, the qualifying statement here is "that I can tell". It could be assumed
that during the course of bamboo installation batterylife and ability was
reduced thus hearing diminished. How long do they last anyway?
>
>Greg 94ptCa
>
>--- In WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com, Curt Sprenger
wrote:
>>
>> The carpet was removed in our coach. Bamboo flooring installed from the
>> front of the bus through the salon and the kitchen area. No difference in
>> noise that I can tell.
>>
>> Curt Sprenger
>> 1987 PT38 8V92 "MacAttack Racing"
>> Anaheim Hills, CA
>> *Read all about Southwest Bluebirds and Friends (SWBB) at
>> http://www.SOUTHWEST-BLUEBIRDS.ORG ...Then Join us.
>> "Host of the Annual Bluebird Quartzsite Rally" *
>>
>>
>>
>>
>> On Tue, Jun 9, 2009 at 8:15 PM, Jack and Liz Pearce >> > wrote:
>>
>> >
>> >
>> > Howdy.
>> > Have you taken out the carpet from your Bird's living room and replaced it
>> > with a wooden floor? If so, what effect did this have on the noise level
>> > when traveling in your coach? Please write and let us know.
>> >
>> >
>> > TIA,
>> > Jack and Liz Pearce
>> > Regards,
>> > Jack and Liz Pearce
>> > Fulltiming in a 1993 Wanderlodge WB40
>> > D'Hanis, TX in the winter
>> > Buena Vista, CO in the summer
>> >
>> >
>> >
>> >
>>
>
>
>
>
>------------------------------------
>
>Yahoo! Groups Links
>
>
>
>
>

[Bill Garamella]

Another factor that we considered when deciding to go with a "click in"
engineered floating floor is that this material is easily removed for access or
simply changing to a different style.

I was reminded of this a couple of days ago when I found out where the access
point is for the steering box). At some point I will need to change one of the
return lines on the power steering. Access to one of these hoses is through the
floor aft of the steering column. All I have to do is lift up the on or two
pieces and fold back the sub floor. To replace it simply fold down the sub floor
and lock the finish floor back in place above it. Done.

I clearly understand that synthetic "wood look" material (and it DOES look real)
is aesthetically less desirable then "real wood". However, this to me is a
situation where function trumps form.

Thanks, NH Bill
1983 FC "Casa Billisa"

--- In WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com, "Bill Garamella"
wrote:
>
> Hello Jack and Liz,
>
> I took the carpet out of of our 83 FC 35 and installed a 2# ft sq. .5" thick
rubber and foam (rubber side up) sub floor from SounDown <
http://www.soundown.com/AI.htm >.
> On top of this, We installed Dupont Engineered floating floor which also has a
built in pad < http://www2.dupont.com/Laminate_Flooring...index.html>.
>
> This product comes in many different styles and is rugged. You can whack it
with a hammer no problem. It also carries a 30 year warranty. We chose the
"Henna Hickory". Proper installation is the key. Anyway, we also installed 2"2#
ft. sq. fiberglass/lead sandwich insulation in the doghouse at the same time and
it all works well together resulting in a pretty quiet FC. I traveled about
7,000 miles in two different PTs this year and I dare say our FC is not
noticeably much louder. We can cary on a normal conversation at cruising speed
(about 60 mph). It is however noticeably slower!
>
> NH Bill
> 1983 FC "Casa Billisa"
>

[bubblerboy64]

I've seen Bills floor and it looked plenty fine to me.. In fact I removed the
parquet flooring in the kitchen area of my Pt and replaced it with pergo which
is a snap in floor. I see no reason not to use it. If there is a disadvantage I
am not aware of it. Looks as nice as any flooring out there to me.
John Heckman
1986 PT 36
Shippensburg Pa









>
> Another factor that we considered when deciding to go with a "click in"
engineered floating floor is that this material is easily removed for access or
simply changing to a different style.
>
> I was reminded of this a couple of days ago when I found out where the access
point is for the steering box). At some point I will need to change one of the
return lines on the power steering. Access to one of these hoses is through the
floor aft of the steering column. All I have to do is lift up the on or two
pieces and fold back the sub floor. To replace it simply fold down the sub floor
and lock the finish floor back in place above it. Done.
>
> I clearly understand that synthetic "wood look" material (and it DOES look
real) is aesthetically less desirable then "real wood". However, this to me is a
situation where function trumps form.
>
> Thanks, NH Bill
> 1983 FC "Casa Billisa"
>
> --- In WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com, "Bill Garamella"
wrote:
> >
> > Hello Jack and Liz,
> >
> > I took the carpet out of of our 83 FC 35 and installed a 2# ft sq. .5" thick
rubber and foam (rubber side up) sub floor from SounDown <
http://www.soundown.com/AI.htm >.
> > On top of this, We installed Dupont Engineered floating floor which also has
a built in pad < http://www2.dupont.com/Laminate_Flooring...index.html>.
> >
> > This product comes in many different styles and is rugged. You can whack it
with a hammer no problem. It also carries a 30 year warranty. We chose the
"Henna Hickory". Proper installation is the key. Anyway, we also installed 2"2#
ft. sq. fiberglass/lead sandwich insulation in the doghouse at the same time and
it all works well together resulting in a pretty quiet FC. I traveled about
7,000 miles in two different PTs this year and I dare say our FC is not
noticeably much louder. We can cary on a normal conversation at cruising speed
(about 60 mph). It is however noticeably slower!
> >
> > NH Bill
> > 1983 FC "Casa Billisa"
> >
>

[Jack and Liz Pearce]

--- In WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com, Pete Masterson wrote:
>
> I think that Curt was only indicating that the wood flooring did not seem to change the general noise level inside the coach during travel. I can concur that the noise level is about the same. However, this is simply a non-scientific impression, since I did not use a decibel meter and I suspect neither did Curt.
===================================================================

A big THANK YOU to all those that replied to our question re: noise level. The replies were varied and helpful.

Regards,
Jack and Liz Pearce
Fulltiming in a 1993 Wanderlodge WB40
D'Hanis, TX
Buena Vista, CO