Vinyl planks are suitable for RV flooring because they are lighter and give a natural wood and tile appearance. In addition, these are smooth, easy to clean, and take less time to install in your RVs.
Common problems with vinyl plank flooring in RVs include delamination, contraction and expansion, cracking, staining, less durability, and non-repairable. In addition, these are not environment-friendly, prone to discoloration, and have porous surfaces.
Vinyl plank flooring has some problems, but people still prefer to use them because these issues are easy to prevent and fix when you handle them properly. In addition, these are more water-resistant than original wood and laminated planks which absorb moisture quickly.
| Problems | Solutions |
| Delamination of planks | Glue them properly |
| Contraction and expansion of planks | Use window tints and UV films |
| Cracking and staining | Change furniture location and use wax-based cleaners |
| Less durable and non-repairable | Correct installation and cleaning or replace damaged sheet |
| Not environment friendly | Open windows and ventilate the interior |
| Discoloration and porous | Change the rugs position and use baking soda for spillages removal |
Delamination of vinyl plank flooring
People use glue and adhesive materials for vinyl plank installation in their RVs. These are high-quality glues that provide better sticking with floors.
Delamination means that strips come off from the floor surface as they become old. In addition, you can see bending on the edges because of their poor installation.
The bend edges issue comes because of their incorrect adjustment. You can face this when you do not tap their edges with a hammer for proper fixing.
In addition, these can also come off from the subfloors when you use low-quality gluing material. The heat from the lower side of the RV causes the melting of the glue, and these cannot adhere to the strips.
These can also delaminate when you move the high furniture on these floors. Moreover, the delaminated strips are hard to remove because the gluing material leaves marks on the surfaces.
Avoid moving the heavy furniture on its smooth surfaces. Use the plastic pads under furniture so it cannot damage them. Tap the edges slightly with a hammer so they cannot come off from the sides and allow water to seep.
Use high-quality glue and add it properly on the subfloors and these strips for better adherence.
Contraction and expansion of vinyl planks
The contraction and expansion of vinyl plank flooring in RVs lead to changes in their shape and are known as warping. It is highly sensitive to heat and cold conditions, and changes shape according to fluctuating temperatures.
The temperature inside the RV is so hot during summer, and it is freezing in winter. Changes in temperature cause them to contract and expand and leave gaps between them.
The issue can also come when you do not use glass tints and UV film in your RV windows. As a result, direct sunlight enters inside and causes the problem.
You can also face this when you do not clean the spillage quickly. Water can seep inside from their porous material and cause the planks to expand.
Sometimes these are not installed properly, and moisture penetrates easily into their inner layers and causes them to change their structure.
You can prevent the warping conditions by maintaining the internal temperatures according to the environment. Avoid parking your RVs outside in summer and winter because outside temperatures significantly impact them.
Use window tints and UV films in hot and cold weather to inhibit the entry of warm and cold air.
Cracking and staining
Vinyl plank floors are made of thin sheets of different materials, and these cannot absorb the outside impacts. As a result, these can develop cracks and dents when excessive pressure comes on them because of their lighter and thin sheets.
Vinyl plank flooring can crack when you walk on them with thin heels. In addition, you can see cracking in high-traffic areas, such as near the RV entry and exit doors.
The issue also comes when you place furniture in the same place for longer. The heavy-weight furniture puts pressure on their surface, and these can crack.
Sometimes, you can see dents on their surface, and these do not develop cracks when you put heavy-weight furniture on them.
Pets’ nails can also scratch the thin layer of sheets and give a bad appearance to the overall interior. Furthermore, these materials can develop stains when using incorrect cleaners on their surfaces.
The stains can penetrate their inner layer when you do not wipe off the spillages quickly and ruin their appealing look. Avoid putting heavy-weight furniture on them because the thin sheets are not designed to bear the heavy loads.
Change the location of your furniture items frequently so they cannot pressure certain areas. People use various cleaning solutions, but I prefer wax-based cleaning agents to give them a scratch and stain-free look.
Use the mop to clean the liquid spillage quickly so it cannot seep inside and produce non-removable stains on their surfaces.
Less durable and non-repairable
Vinyl planks are less durable than original hardwood because of the thick sheet of compressed materials. In addition, these do not last long because it contains a mixture of more than one material.
The sheets look like original tiles or wooden floors, but they are not durable as these materials. You have to replace them after 1 to 2 years because these can develop cracks, and you can see their curled edges.
The durability also reduces because of the method of installation. People use glued material which can lose its sticking properties after some time and cause them to come off from the subfloors.
The durability of these thin metal sheets also decreases when you use harsh cleaners and cloth for their cleaning. In addition, the harsh cleaners and rugs leave scuff marks on their surfaces, which are hard to remove.
In addition, these are non-repairable, and you need to replace the scratched and cracked sheet with new ones, which can increase the replacement cost.
You can increase their durability by maintaining or installing them correctly. These can last for years when you maintain them correctly and avoid using harsh cleaners on them.
Quickly replace the damaged plank so it cannot ruin the appearance and allow moisture to seep.
Not environment friendly
Vinyl plank flooring in RVs is not environmentally friendly and impacts human health badly. These are made of synthetic plastic and release dioxin, ethylene dichloride, and vinyl chloride in the interior.
Long-term exposure to these chemicals can cause allergic reactions. In addition, these also release volatile organic compounds when they become old.
The off gasses released from these organic compounds can affect your health if these remain inside. You can reduce the harmful effects of off-gasses and their smells from the interior side by adequately ventilating your RVs.
Keep your windows open, and add the exhaust fan or ventilation system to remove volatile organic compounds.
Discoloration and porous
Vinyl plank flooring is more vulnerable to discoloration and gives a bad interior appearance. In addition, you can see yellow stains on them because of their poor installation.
Sometimes people forget to apply the substrate under the sheets, which can cause the moisture from subfloors to contact their surfaces and fade their color.
In addition, the issue also comes when you apply excessive glue or adhesive materials under them during their installation. You can also see discoloration patches on their surface because of UV exposure, stains from greasy foods, and rugs or carpets placement.
These are not completely resistant to water and allow moisture to seep into their layers. Moisture causes mold and mildews stains on their surface. You can remove the discoloration stains from their surface by treating them with baking soda and alcohol sprays.
Change the position of carpets and rugs in your RV to prevent discoloration.
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