Spongy floor

lu296tc@hotmail.com · 07-15-2021, 06:43 PM

Floor is becoming spongy after the step up at rear of coach. What is under the floor in that area. Thor Chateau 31Y.

Chateau_Nomad · 07-16-2021, 03:18 AM

Likely plywood. I have a Chateau 24F with a step up to the bed area in the rear. Does it smell musty? Maybe a water leak from the shower? Also make sure your outside storage compartments are tightly closed and locked.

By "spongy" do you mean soft? If you press on it with your hand does it give? Note there is a thread/discussion on here regarding the vinyl floor covering being wavy and having bubbles. If that's what yours is like, it's by design. Thor does not glue the vinyl supposedly to allow for expansion/contraction to prevent cracking.

lu296tc@hotmail.com · 07-16-2021, 03:34 AM

It's not the linoleum, is it plywood underneath it? No leak it seems and nothing coming out underneath the coach. No musky smell either. It's when you step on it in a few areas, seems like trusses in spots and the other spots flex down under weight. Guess might have to tear up linoleum and replace the plywood.

Chateau_Nomad · 07-16-2021, 04:00 AM

How old is your rig? Are you the original owner?

lu296tc@hotmail.com · 07-16-2021, 04:12 AM

2018 bought it new, sat for 1st 9 months, used a few times, then retired and have been living in it for 2 years now.

spmcar · 03-23-2022, 07:33 PM

I have the same problem on my 2016 Palazzo 36.1. Reluctant to pull up the flooring until I know what to do about the problem. Plywood has probably decayed, possibly by something happened with original owner. No indication of a leak since 2019 when I bought it. Have not been able to find much guidance. Any input is appreciated! Thanks, Steve

JimOIB · 03-23-2022, 10:48 PM

I just had to rip up a section of my 24F floor this past weekend. The floor started to bubble up - big bubble - from the plywood delaminating due to water leak. One of the cheap plastic pex fittings cracked and had a small drip that caused the buckle.

I found a grid of aluminum tubular framing with the voids filled with heavy duty foam. The plywood was 3/8” and extremely lightweight. Given that, I think the plywood would flex quite a bit over time and compress the foam and cause a soft spot. IMHO.

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. BTW, the darker framing is steel and my water pipes from the slide run inside a channel within the framing.

**16ACE27** · 03-24-2022, 12:42 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by spmcar

I have the same problem on my 2016 Palazzo 36.1. Reluctant to pull up the flooring until I know what to do about the problem. Plywood has probably decayed, possibly by something happened with original owner. No indication of a leak since 2019 when I bought it. Have not been able to find much guidance. Any input is appreciated! Thanks, Steve

In my experience repairing RV walls and floors you won't know what you're getting into until you get into it. You gotta decide if you want to save the current floor covering or pre-buy replacement covering. Then you gotta start peeling back layers to see how deep the repair needs to go. I would also have a good piece of at least 5/8" plywood and plenty of epoxy in standby. of course an assortment of screws and other wood will help.

spmcar · 03-24-2022, 01:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jimbo12

I just had to rip up a section of my 24F floor this past weekend. The floor started to bubble up - big bubble - from the plywood delaminating due to water leak. One of the cheap plastic pex fittings cracked and had a small drip that caused the buckle.

I found a grid of aluminum tubular framing with the voids filled with heavy duty foam. The plywood was 3/8” and extremely lightweight. Given that, I think the plywood would flex quite a bit over time and compress the foam and cause a soft spot. IMHO.Attachment 36590. BTW, the darker framing is steel and my water pipes from the slide run inside a channel within the framing.

How did you get the plywood separated from the styrofoam?

spmcar · 03-24-2022, 02:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 16ACE27

In my experience repairing RV walls and floors you won't know what you're getting into until you get into it. You gotta decide if you want to save the current floor covering or pre-buy replacement covering. Then you gotta start peeling back layers to see how deep the repair needs to go. I would also have a good piece of at least 5/8" plywood and plenty of epoxy in standby. of course an assortment of screws and other wood will help.

I have heard of using a "marine" plywood to replace the 3/8" original material. Thoughts?

**16ACE27** · 03-24-2022, 02:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by spmcar

I have heard of using a "marine" plywood to replace the 3/8" original material. Thoughts?

Marine plywood only helps if it gets wet again.

ericmac450 · 03-24-2022, 02:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jimbo12

I just had to rip up a section of my 24F floor this past weekend. The floor started to bubble up - big bubble - from the plywood delaminating due to water leak. One of the cheap plastic pex fittings cracked and had a small drip that caused the buckle.

I found a grid of aluminum tubular framing with the voids filled with heavy duty foam. The plywood was 3/8” and extremely lightweight. Given that, I think the plywood would flex quite a bit over time and compress the foam and cause a soft spot. IMHO.Attachment 36590. BTW, the darker framing is steel and my water pipes from the slide run inside a channel within the framing.

I knew the roof's were made like that, but I had no idea the floors were as well. That seems crazy, of course that light of plywood will flex over time! Here's a picture of my roof that was just repaired.

JimOIB · 03-24-2022, 03:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by spmcar

How did you get the plywood separated from the styrofoam?

I used a combination of a painters 5 in 1 tool and an oscillating multi tool. It is time consuming.

My bad - my plywood is actually 7/16 not 3/8.

spmcar · 03-25-2022, 01:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 16ACE27

Marine plywood only helps if it gets wet again.

Thank You!

spmcar · 03-31-2022, 03:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jimbo12

I just had to rip up a section of my 24F floor this past weekend. The floor started to bubble up - big bubble - from the plywood delaminating due to water leak. One of the cheap plastic pex fittings cracked and had a small drip that caused the buckle.

I found a grid of aluminum tubular framing with the voids filled with heavy duty foam. The plywood was 3/8” and extremely lightweight. Given that, I think the plywood would flex quite a bit over time and compress the foam and cause a soft spot. IMHO.Attachment 36590. BTW, the darker framing is steel and my water pipes from the slide run inside a channel within the framing.

That is good information. Thank You!

Chateau_Nomad · 04-01-2022, 02:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jimbo12

I just had to rip up a section of my 24F floor this past weekend. The floor started to bubble up - big bubble - from the plywood delaminating due to water leak. One of the cheap plastic pex fittings cracked and had a small drip that caused the buckle.

I found a grid of aluminum tubular framing with the voids filled with heavy duty foam. The plywood was 3/8” and extremely lightweight. Given that, I think the plywood would flex quite a bit over time and compress the foam and cause a soft spot. IMHO.Attachment 36590. BTW, the darker framing is steel and my water pipes from the slide run inside a channel within the framing.

I also have a 24F (2020). Is that floor section under your fridge area? I've always wondered how they ran the plumbing to and from the hot water heater...

JimOIB · 04-04-2022, 11:56 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chateau_Nomad

I also have a 24F (2020). Is that floor section under your fridge area? I've always wondered how they ran the plumbing to and from the hot water heater...

It is under the stove on the lower part of the floor. A metal chase that runs left to right across the coach embedded in the floor.

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