Vlog 11: Totally Floored
After the efforts shown in the last vlog, I was not happy about the panel gaps in my new campervan floor – so I bought a load more plywood and re-cut them, using the “almost right” ones as a starting point. In this video, I describe this process in probably excruciating detail.
Essentially I just traced around the “almost right” panels but then went back over the areas where it wasn’t quite right and with a bit of freehand sketching (not the best way, admittedly), re-drew some of the corners. I also re-measured the lengths and re-marked them on the new sheets.
Frustratingly, the new ones still weren’t perfect but I did at least remember to use the factory-cut edges as the main straights, leaving the curved cut edges (such as around the wheelarch) as the parts I cut with the jigsaw.
By and large, this floor will suffice and seems to be pretty much flat so I’m going ahead with it.
Did you consider putting insulation batts between the floor joists before putting down the floor itself? That would be much more effective in preventing the convection currents in the floor thus giving better insulation.
RJ Adelaide Sth Australia
I haven’t got sufficient headroom in the van to allow for any degree of proper insulation board, I just can’t afford to lose even the extra inch or so that it would need. Hence the primitive radiant barrier & tiny air gap “solution”!
I felt your pain with the gaps and unevenness of your initial cuts for the flooring. I wonder if you have thought of using a batten board or long piece of straight scrap as a guide you can than simply clamp down and run your jigsaw along making a perfect straight cut? Oh and by the way, I love Cruising the Cut. From the USA
Hi. Thank you. I did try this but despite giving it two or three attempts, I still managed to get the cut wrong! No idea why :-(
Hi
What did you use to stick the battens to the floor?
Thanks
Unfortunately, I don’t remember exactly what I used but it was one of the ultra-super-incredibly strong tubes of adhesive found in most DIY stores.
You might like to investigate the “ticking stick” method for marking irregular shapes that need to be cut to fit into door openings, around floor edges and so on. This procedure has apparently been in use for a long time to cut internal bulkheads for boats and such things. Very simple and inexpensive. Saves time and with practice only one round of cutting should suffice. Plenty of examples on YouTube. Just a thought.
Cheers, yes I know of that technique but in the case of the floor, I believed using the existing flooring as a template should suffice.