Our total subfloor cost is on our TikTok & Instagram (linked below) Even though our floor is uneven, it doesn't make a huge difference in our van build. We aren't too worried about any damage underneath our flooring, it is really just a style preference. The gap filler worked for about a few months, but it has slowly stopped working from constant traffic. We are hoping that with all of our cabinetry we put into our build, it will weigh it down, and be a lot less of a problem.
I did the subfloor in my first van very similarly to how you did (but with separate sheets of foam and plywood) back in 2020. I learned the hard way that Promaster floors are not flat along their width, and dip about an 1/8" in the center. No way to avoid the subfloor dipping in the center when you step on it unless you go with gluing down a frame system and screwing the plywood into it to essentially permanently conform to the dip. I ended up putting a couple of bolts and tee nuts on either side of my seams right through the metal floor which helped a lot. Like you said, cabinetry and furniture helps to weigh down the seams, but i still have one spot right in the center of the floor that squeaks a bit from the two pieces of plywood rubbing at the seam. Live and learn i guess!
That is interesting. We thought it was just our vehicle, but hearing you say this makes us think that it’s actually how it is. Because towards the middle is where it kind of dips. If the squeak ever gets too bad we will probably have to drill through our floor, just not something we want to do.
Nice work, thanks for sharing the tip on overloading with sound deadening and the floor mishap and eventual solution, I would have leaned towards mechanical anchoring as well and perhaps that might help if weighing it down with cabinetry doesn't. Solid underfoot is a good feeling and a moral boost so worth any extra effort in my book. Some feedback on the video editing, while overall this episode is fun and easy to follow also well polished, a minor thing I noticed is I found the time line a little hard to follow, at points in the beginning of this episode, I get the impression the post production editing is pulling from various points in the timeline and I found that a little disorientating in some places. To help me with this and because I am a top down thinker, what would help is an overview of the process and timeline, perhaps a walk through of the plan would be a good segment in an upcoming episode and help to signpost the key milestones in this journey. Ok a technical how to question. what about moisture? How do you manage humidity levels and condensation that forms between the inside of the van walls and the insulation that could lead to mold and corrosion, in a house there is a breathable membrane that equalises humidity but as your in a sealed metal cylinder I would be interested to know you plan to manage the internal weather and water cycle (evaporation, condensation, transpiration, precipitation). Also I was a little surprised you didn't paint the inside of the van, particularly the floor where the metal was exposed from wear, is corrosion of these exposed metal segments, hidden under the floor, a concern? I hope that doesn't sound too negative, I did enjoy the episode, it was fun and I am looking forward to the next one :)
We will try and answer all of the questions! The flooring doesn't feel too uneven as we walk, it is just more 'aesthetic' and if I look down I will notice it. Since it is such a small spot whereas the rest of the floor is flat, we don't think we will worry too much until the very end. Thank you for the advice on the video editing! So many projects are happening in our build all at one time that we are constantly having to stop one project to work on another. We totally get having things in order (I am also wanting to keep with one task at a time, it is just so hard to do within this small van build). About the humidity/mold concern, this is a big one for us as well. We have insulation that is water wicking and mold resistant. We read online that the best offense for condensation is good airflow. With our windows and fans we hope to keep it under control. We didn't paint the bottom of the van because there was no exposed bare metal on the floor, only the primer. We did cover any places that had exposed metal from prior damages, but nothing concerned us on the floor.
@@JamesandKeli Nice update, thank you for the good answers to all my questions :) I recognise the propensity to get in and get it done and taking the extra time to setup for a camera shoot, when working across multiple tasks, would be bridge to far for me at the best of times. I think you guys are doing great and I am sure success will come your way in many forms.
I did my sound deadening a little different, I did the entire floor and 50%+ of the surfaces, and it sounds almost silent from road noise and sounds like a solid steel wall now.
Where did you actually buy (particular store) the Zip board? The insulated board is their new product. Their website just sends a buyer to any store that has any ip system, not just the insulated board.
Our total subfloor cost is on our TikTok & Instagram (linked below)
Even though our floor is uneven, it doesn't make a huge difference in our van build. We aren't too worried about any damage underneath our flooring, it is really just a style preference. The gap filler worked for about a few months, but it has slowly stopped working from constant traffic. We are hoping that with all of our cabinetry we put into our build, it will weigh it down, and be a lot less of a problem.
instagram.com/reel/C6J1HhOPwnX/?igsh=MTNkZ2t3MGt2djFwbQ==
www.tiktok.com/t/ZTNyKsLKe/
I did the subfloor in my first van very similarly to how you did (but with separate sheets of foam and plywood) back in 2020. I learned the hard way that Promaster floors are not flat along their width, and dip about an 1/8" in the center. No way to avoid the subfloor dipping in the center when you step on it unless you go with gluing down a frame system and screwing the plywood into it to essentially permanently conform to the dip. I ended up putting a couple of bolts and tee nuts on either side of my seams right through the metal floor which helped a lot. Like you said, cabinetry and furniture helps to weigh down the seams, but i still have one spot right in the center of the floor that squeaks a bit from the two pieces of plywood rubbing at the seam. Live and learn i guess!
That is interesting. We thought it was just our vehicle, but hearing you say this makes us think that it’s actually how it is. Because towards the middle is where it kind of dips. If the squeak ever gets too bad we will probably have to drill through our floor, just not something we want to do.
Nice work, thanks for sharing the tip on overloading with sound deadening and the floor mishap and eventual solution, I would have leaned towards mechanical anchoring as well and perhaps that might help if weighing it down with cabinetry doesn't. Solid underfoot is a good feeling and a moral boost so worth any extra effort in my book. Some feedback on the video editing, while overall this episode is fun and easy to follow also well polished, a minor thing I noticed is I found the time line a little hard to follow, at points in the beginning of this episode, I get the impression the post production editing is pulling from various points in the timeline and I found that a little disorientating in some places. To help me with this and because I am a top down thinker, what would help is an overview of the process and timeline, perhaps a walk through of the plan would be a good segment in an upcoming episode and help to signpost the key milestones in this journey. Ok a technical how to question. what about moisture? How do you manage humidity levels and condensation that forms between the inside of the van walls and the insulation that could lead to mold and corrosion, in a house there is a breathable membrane that equalises humidity but as your in a sealed metal cylinder I would be interested to know you plan to manage the internal weather and water cycle (evaporation, condensation, transpiration, precipitation). Also I was a little surprised you didn't paint the inside of the van, particularly the floor where the metal was exposed from wear, is corrosion of these exposed metal segments, hidden under the floor, a concern? I hope that doesn't sound too negative, I did enjoy the episode, it was fun and I am looking forward to the next one :)
We will try and answer all of the questions!
The flooring doesn't feel too uneven as we walk, it is just more 'aesthetic' and if I look down I will notice it. Since it is such a small spot whereas the rest of the floor is flat, we don't think we will worry too much until the very end.
Thank you for the advice on the video editing! So many projects are happening in our build all at one time that we are constantly having to stop one project to work on another. We totally get having things in order (I am also wanting to keep with one task at a time, it is just so hard to do within this small van build).
About the humidity/mold concern, this is a big one for us as well. We have insulation that is water wicking and mold resistant. We read online that the best offense for condensation is good airflow. With our windows and fans we hope to keep it under control.
We didn't paint the bottom of the van because there was no exposed bare metal on the floor, only the primer. We did cover any places that had exposed metal from prior damages, but nothing concerned us on the floor.
@@JamesandKeli Nice update, thank you for the good answers to all my questions :) I recognise the propensity to get in and get it done and taking the extra time to setup for a camera shoot, when working across multiple tasks, would be bridge to far for me at the best of times. I think you guys are doing great and I am sure success will come your way in many forms.
I did my sound deadening a little different, I did the entire floor and 50%+ of the surfaces, and it sounds almost silent from road noise and sounds like a solid steel wall now.
Nice!
Get some of those levelers and drive it onto them when you park. Waalaa. Floor is even.
😆 if only it was that easy
Where did you actually buy (particular store) the Zip board? The insulated board is their new product. Their website just sends a buyer to any store that has any ip system, not just the insulated board.
We special ordered it through a local lumber company in our area.
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We loved China but it was time for us to start a new adventure ☺️