Wayne Boatwright wrote:

On Tue 07 Oct 2008 05:40:12p, Pete C. told us...


Wayne Boatwright wrote:

On Tue 07 Oct 2008 04:49:42p, aemeijers told us...

gecko wrote:
I have a double-wide trailer in Delaware and need to replace all my
rugs due to an errant dog who has now passed.

I am thinking of trying hardwood flooring or laminates, but I have to
wonder if I can do that. I am thinking that my sub-flooring might
not
handle hardwood flooring. Laminates might be possible since my
understanding is that they can be installed as 'floating'. I am not
sure I really care for laminates however.

I guess what I am looking for here is any advice pertinent to my
concerns - even 'don't do it'.

Thanks

-GECKO
How dry is it under that trailer? Most trailers I have seen aren't
real
solid on the bottom, and hardwood does not cope with moisture well.
Not
to mention the problems with the floors getting taller on all the
doors.
I'd go with a good grade of textured vinyl and area rugs, myself.

--
aem sends...


Again, age, manufacturer, and method of installation of the double wide
unit are key to its construction and the various characteristics that
some
folks are criticizing/evaluating without knowing all the details.

Modern manufactured homes, in this case a double-wide, often exceed the
specs used for stick built homes. They go through rigorous inspections,
are well insulated, have sturdy subflooring, and are extremely well
sealed
from the underside.

Unless the OP states otherwise, I rather doubt that this qualifies as a
"trailer".

Manufactured homes, whether they are installed above grade or "ground
set"
at grade, have no more moisture underneath them than a stick built home
with a crawlspace.

I think we need to hear more from the OP to accurately make any kind of
recommendation.


Let me quote the OP: "I have a double-wide trailer in Delaware", so
barring info to the contrary from the OP, I'm going to assume he has a
double wide trailer a.k.a. mobile home, not a manufacturered home that
is placed on a foundation.

Sorry, Pete, I did miss that first line. Still, in some places people
refer to manufactured homes as "trailers", since they units are brought in
on wheels.

Yes, there tends to be a lot of confusion between the mobile homes,
manufactured homes, modular homes, panelized homes, and the variants in
between. Manufactured housing these days covers quite a range from
standard low end, to fully custom high end.


My recommendation would be for the laminate as adding the least
thickness, and being more tolerant of dampness that hardwood,
conventional or engineered. If it's replacing carpeting, the laminate
thickness should be comperable so no door issues would be expected.

Personally, I really detest all of the lainate floors I've seen. All I can
think of is *plastic* and *fake*. Unless, of course, it is a laminate with
an actual wood surface. I would also not like having vinyl flooring
installed throughly my home. If it were mine I would re-carpet, since the
source of ruining the present carpetis no longer there.

Personally I think a combination of flooring would be in order, even in
a relatively small home. Carpet is appropriate for some areas, vinyl for
others and wood or laminate in still others. For a mobile home with
typically mediocre insulation underneath, carpet may have an advantage
in comfort for bare feet.