Cabin flooring

[bluedog225]

Good evening,

I’ve got a 25x25 cabin with a 12x25 loft. The subfloor is 1 1/8 advanteck and 3/4 ply respectively.

I thought you guys might have some thoughts on what a good flooring might be. The living area has a 10x12 garage door on one wall so a little water is a possibility.

I can paint it. Maybe a good option. The race track wood series would be nice but a little spendy. And I don’t know if it would let the advantech breath or would it hold water underneath.

“Luxury” vinyl planks are an option but having a hard time telling quality from carp. Any reputable brands out there? Would they keep the water from getting through to the wood?

Any thoughts appreciated.

Thanks

 

[zeke67]

I used Lowes SMART core product on mine. It's a vinyl plank, vinyl surface on a tongue and groove synthetic substrate. Clicks together, floating floor, about $3/sq. ft. Requires a vapor barrier. There are other brands in this type and price range. At $3 per foot this would be the high-side of vinyl residential floors but not the top, and low-mid side of wood floating floors, like a bamboo or a pre-finished engineered veneer ( low is the picture-of-wood Pergo laminate.)

I chose it for the following reasons. DIY install, waterproof once installed, can handle uneven concrete slab or other imperfections without leveling (to a certain extent), can wet mop it (unlike wood), and could put down with hand tools. I would argue that tile and paint are DIY, but not necessarily quick to go down. Not sure your situation but one of my requirements was I had to be able to live in the cabin while the flooring was being installed and only had about a week to do it. And it looks pretty good; looks like wood to a lot of people, we get a lot of questions about it.

 

[bluedog225]

Thanks for the tip. That is a good looking product. I read (somewhere) I should look for a 20 mil wear layer. Will do some more research to see if that if gospel.

 

[zeke67]

From what I understand the 20 mil is the standard for commercial, less than that for resi, a lot less. Not sure your situation but in my case, I don't hardly use the cabin 30 days per year. Thus, I'm prioritizing lifetime products, like windows and doors real T&G wood walls, over replaceable decor items like floors and cabinets. You results may very. if you like the Smartcore look, I believe they have higher end products with more wear layer.

In any event, flooding your post and will be interested what you decide.

 

[bluedog225]

Good to know. And I agree with the approach.

Not to drift too much but what are you finding price wise on the T&G in Houston? Best I can find around here is $9 Pine #122/Nickel Gap/Shiplap Siding 1"X8'X8'.

But a trip to Houston is might be worth it. I’m in Smithville.

I was actually thinking pine T&G for the floor but got talked out of it. The 100F temp swings would be hard on it. Maybe hard on the walls as well?

 

[zeke67]

Ah, the cabin is in Minnesota. Thus, one of the reasons for Smartcore floors, I could look at it here, order it ahead of time up there and they held it until I could pick it up. Also the reason for living in it while flooring it.

I ordered it from the local yard up there. It's a place I have a relationship with, a house account and they deliver for free (at least to me they do). I'm 46 miles from town and always dealing with a rental car. So lumber type stuff I don't bid, I just get it from them. So, I call, order, and it shows up before I get there. I could look at the product for you, and what I paid next week when I'm up there as I keep all paperwork from the local yard. I can tell you it's pre-finished, pine, 6" T&G with beveled edges on both sides, not ship lap. In a mix of 8' long and mostly 10' long. I've used the end matched stuff, but one of my buildings was 24" OC so 10' landed on studs anyway. Haven't ordered any for a couple of years though, so because of both location and timing I probably don't have a good reference for you.

The pine T&G I have I would not use for flooring, the bevel isn't suitable, the finish is likely not durable for flooring and it really needs to be nailed. I mean, I guess a person could do whatever they want. This product is nice, but even a mostly clear pine has the knotty look and the open pores and the joints would catch and trap dirt. As far as the temp swings, we don't get the plus 100 temps obviously, but negative 30 degree winters to mid 80's highs at the worst of it is a comparable temp swing and it's been fine.

 

[Krfjkm]

I used LVP on a condo remodel— got it from Home Depot. Think it is the ultra brand—really nice product!