Is this bad advice for flooring?

[Wild Brambles]

I watched this video by a guy who was installing a floor in a self-build -


The video is 10 mins long, so just in case you don't want to watch the whole thing, I'll list the 2 points that made me feel uncomfortable. The first is the way he attaches the battens. He lays out the pattern, and then drills pilot holes through the wood and the metal floor. He then drives screws down to secure them. Obviously this creates a good solid structure, but my feeling is that it could introduce potential rust problems in the future. My inclination would be to glue the battens to the floor - would this be a better option?

The other thing he suggests is an engine oil wash over the battens and the floor. His theory is that this gives protection if the van develops a leak, but I think it creates a serious health risk, I think I would prefer to use a decent paint,or maybe even just leave it untreated.

 

[Figaro]

I don't know much about self builds but I think your correct to be concerned about both those points.
Not watched the video but the guy sounds a Muppet

 

[DuxDeluxe]

That is awful..... trying to do it all on the cheap. Those floor boards must weight a tonne. Cowboy

 

[Wild Brambles]

Well I'm economy minded (cheap), but that doesn't mean I need to drop quality. I'll probably use pallet wood for cladding for example. The Convoy is a 3.5 tonne, twin wheel version, so I hope that I'll be OK for weight. The payload is about 1.5 tonnes, and fuel economy doesn't seem too bad when loaded. Headwinds and trailers seem to knock the fuel consumption, and a lead foot doesn't help.

 

[funflair]

Well it should stop it squeaking if nothing else

Martin

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[two]

Did not watch the video. Did he insulate? I'd glue, to avoid penetrating the floor. I'd prefer insulated board and glue that to the floor.
Watch the weight. It all adds up and 1.5tonne may seem a lot but is easily eaten away.

 

[TheBig1]

Both stupid ideas. Bond down some insulation board and then a 9mm sheet of plywood to that. Holes in the floor mean rust points. Old engine oil is carcinogenic, so causes cancer and stinks

Use lightweight ply for your build. It may cost more but gives a better finish and doesnt eat up the payload

 

[robnchris]

Oh dear, obviously the guy is young and hasn't done his home work, he clearly should have used stainless steel screws, first checking he wasn't going to put a hole in any wiring or brake pipes under the floor.
Gluing would have been the better option but the whole thing has been a poor choice of materials but we all have to learn so carry on fella and good luck to you.

 

[jezport]

If you must use battens anywhere surely pressure treated timber would be the choice. But battens on the floor Nooooo

 

[Wild Brambles]

At the moment I'm using a couple of layers of carpet as a temp. solution. I want to check for rust, and think about a bit of trunking for wiring, before I do anything permanent. It's an ex-RAF crew bus, so there is what looks to be rubberised flooring underneath For the floor conversion, I was considering using Celotex with a thin sheet of ply on top of it. Is this a good idea?

I like the idea of sheep's wool for the walls btw.

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[Lenny HB]

Should be titled How Not to Build a Van Floor. If he wanted the batterns rot proof should have used tanilised timber.
Bet it will be well overweight a lot of those older vans were only 2800kg.

 

[Lenny HB]

Celotex with a thin sheet of ply on top of it. Is this a good idea?

Sounds sensible.

 

[Stealaway]

You don't need screws to hold down a floor for pity's sake. On top of which modern adhesives are phonominal. Glue is god.

 

[the1andonly]

Wool for the wall insulation is a good idea. The best for a vehicle is a 50/50% mix of sheep mineral wool. This the best of both worlds in terms of insulation and structure resistance to condensation , i bought by accident without knowing it was the best for the job.

 

[autorouter]

If you put two metals together in damp conditions you will get 'electrolytic corrosion' if the metals are not exactly the same. The car makers have learned this lesson, the hard way, over the years. Even stainless steel will rust in those conditions. Screws in a metal floor??

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[Richard n Ann]

Has anybody got the link for his next episode? Could be fun to watch... Motorhome fun ??

 

[pappajohn]

With the weight of that floor it'll be self righting should he ever roll it.

 

[Wild Brambles]

With the weight of that floor it'll be self righting should he ever roll it.

Don't joke about it. I drove down the A3(M) in high winds the other day,and the van way waving about a bit. I dropped down to 35mph as a precaution. This is one disadvantage of high tops.

 

[Vipar]

Why do you think that the highway maintenance people leave all those sandbags laying on the temporary signs? They are there for you to load into your van as ballast.?

 

[Mikeco]

I bonded battens to the floor with Sikoflex 512, celotex insulation between then 9mm ply on top.
If you use thinner plywood than 9mm it will not be strong enough to stand the foot traffic or furniture.

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[Wild Brambles]

If you use thinner plywood than 9mm it will not be strong enough to stand the foot traffic or furniture.

Good point, does it have to be thicker to stop stiletto heels puncturing it.

 

[Mikeco]

Good point, does it have to be thicker to stop stiletto heels puncturing it.

Stopped wearing them years ago, my wife has as well.

 

[thebriars]

I watched this video by a guy who was installing a floor in a self-build -


Obviously this creates a good solid structure, but my feeling is that it could introduce potential rust problems in the future.

Don't know why anyone is bothered what he does, the van is rusty and knackered to start with. He proudly shows where a new large patch has been welded to the floor. A few more screw holes in a rust bucket will not make the slightest difference.

Different if it had been a new van...

 

[Figaro]

A few more screw holes in a rust bucket will not make the slightest difference.

Oh no it won't, his mate told him. The one that did the welding sprayed some stuff around and told him "it'll never rust now"

 

[thebriars]

Oh no it won't, his mate told him. The one that did the welding sprayed some stuff around and told him "it'll never rust now"

Hmmm. Bet he didn't spray underneath.....

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[Figaro]

Let's hope he's not planning to sell it !

 

[Wild Brambles]

Hey, don't knock the old vehicles. I'd prefer to have a vehicle that I can maintain, and not have to join all the new vehicles that I see being moved on the back of recovery trucks. Rust is only really a problem if it is left untreated in my opinion

I don't have a rust bucket, because the water doesn't stay inside it at the moment.

 

[thebriars]

Hey, don't knock the old vehicles. I'd prefer to have a vehicle that I can maintain, and not have to join all the new vehicles that I see being moved on the back of recovery trucks. Rust is only really a problem if it is left untreated in my opinion

I don't have a rust bucket, because the water doesn't stay inside it at the moment.

I'm not knocking it, but it does look as though there's been a significant amount of rust left untreated for some time. Wonder what its like underneath? Cars/motorhomes whatever. I don't fancy grovelling around on the floor in winter keeping things on the road these days. Been there, done it and got the tee shirt. Now all our vehicles, including the moho have a 5 year warranty.

 

[Wild Brambles]

It really depends on the vehicle. My Convoy has got a chassis, and that is sound, but I do need to add a bit of extra protection. There is rust on the non-load bearing parts of the body, but that should be easy to repair or replace. Well I'm not sure about lifting the plastic roof, but I'll be here next summer discussing that.

It will suit me if I can get 5 years of cheap living/motoring out of it, and that should be manageable, if I'm sensible about the work I do on the van, and I listen to the advice that I'm getting.

 

[pappajohn]

I would have got its MOT before starting. At least I'd get a year out of it.
Imagine the disappointment after finishing the conversion and the tester just laughs while failing it on structural integraty.