Subfloor materials and question

[pepepito]

Hi.

I went to homedepot and a local plywood store here in Vancouver, BC and after looking around I have some questions :

I want to use 1.5 inch thick pink Foamular or similar for the floor insulation base on my research looks like I should use c250 base on the limit of weight it can withstand but I'm building a frame that will be screw in floor so I don't know if I can just use C200 ?

For the frame I was going to pick 2x2 in pine but they have in fir and cedar so I wonder with one will be better for the floor in case there is some water leakage in the future ? ( for walls and ceiling I might use pine)

Since I was worried about water damage I was going with 3/4 inch Marine plywood but it is $120 CAD per sheet so I checked in home depot and they have sanded maple C3 plywood and I was thinking to use that but on this I have some questions :

which one should I go for, marine ? if I was going to install a seat bench and seat belts can I put a metal plate under the plywood and then screw the seat to that , and in that case either plywood will be ok strength wise ? or do I have to go through the metal floor ? ( to comply with the law.....).

Any experience with water damage and something that you regret not doing before building the floor ?

And a question for shorty owners with chevy van fronts: what did you do between the bus body and the cabin to go all the way flat with the floor ? ( in my bus the metal floor on the back is higher than the original van floor so if I use the same foam I will have to use double foam to make it as high as the back so I don't know if I should build a step there or not. I haven't be able to find pictures of other builds subfloor)

Thanks.

[Bon Voyage]

Not sure about your insulation but if I were you I'd use pressure treated wood on the floor. Maybe not plywood but for the stuff that's is right against the metal.

I don't believe there are any laws that stipulate how a custom vehicle installs seat belts. Laws probably only apply to vehicle manufacturers. However for the seat belt to be effective I'd anchor the seats in the metal floor.

I don't have a shorty but I'd probably try to keep it one level in there. Just my preference.

Hope that helps a little


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[pepepito]

AFAIK pressure treated wood is corrosive against metal and has some nasty stuff on it, it was advise to me not to use it.

[superdave]

the foam board will handle any weight we put in the bus, no need to frame. just use regular plywood or advantec is also good. I ordered self drilling screws from ebay and screwed it down. good luck

[EastCoastCB]

Originally Posted by superdave

the foam board will handle any weight we put in the bus, no need to frame. just use regular plywood or advantec is also good. I ordered self drilling screws from ebay and screwed it down. good luck

Dave's floor is SOLID.

[cadillackid]

we were walking on foam? wow i never even knew..
-Christopher

[Bon Voyage]

So what did superdave do? Foam with plywood right on top? No wood "floor joists" to hold the plywood up?

[EastCoastCB]

Originally Posted by Bon Voyage

So what did superdave do? Foam with plywood right on top? No wood "floor joists" to hold the plywood up?

Wood over foam. Sounds and feels SOLID!!!!
Same route I'm taking.

[Phatman]

Originally Posted by pepepito

Hi.

I went to homedepot and a local plywood store here in Vancouver, BC and after looking around I have some questions :

I want to use 1.5 inch thick pink Foamular or similar for the floor insulation base on my research looks like I should use c250 base on the limit of weight it can withstand but I'm building a frame that will be screw in floor so I don't know if I can just use C200 ?

For the frame I was going to pick 2x2 in pine but they have in fir and cedar so I wonder with one will be better for the floor in case there is some water leakage in the future ? ( for walls and ceiling I might use pine)

Since I was worried about water damage I was going with 3/4 inch Marine plywood but it is $120 CAD per sheet so I checked in home depot and they have sanded maple C3 plywood and I was thinking to use that but on this I have some questions :

which one should I go for, marine ? if I was going to install a seat bench and seat belts can I put a metal plate under the plywood and then screw the seat to that , and in that case either plywood will be ok strength wise ? or do I have to go through the metal floor ? ( to comply with the law.....).

Any experience with water damage and something that you regret not doing before building the floor ?

And a question for shorty owners with chevy van fronts: what did you do between the bus body and the cabin to go all the way flat with the floor ? ( in my bus the metal floor on the back is higher than the original van floor so if I use the same foam I will have to use double foam to make it as high as the back so I don't know if I should build a step there or not. I haven't be able to find pictures of other builds subfloor)

Thanks.

You don't want to use any cabinet grade plywood on the floor. There is really nothing wrong with it but you are wasting your money. You need a good exterior BC (sanded on one side) plywood. If you are worried about leaks, then I would suggest you pinpoint those leaks and make the repairs. Water is an unbelievably destructive force. If that leak finds its way to that maple plywood, it will delaminate pretty quickly. Then you will find yourself somewhere taking it all apart. More work. I hate doing things twice. EVEN IF I'M GETTING PAID FOR IT.

[Tango]

Better yet...real marine ply. Never saw an RV yet that didn't have substantial water on the floor at some point in its' life.

[Mark_In_MA]

Originally Posted by pepepito

AFAIK pressure treated wood is corrosive against metal and has some nasty stuff on it, it was advise to me not to use it.

I'll second this. Some of the chemicals in pressure-treated can be corrosive towards metal. You could potentially rot the joint between the floor and the walls. . .around the entire perimeter of the bus.

I'd look for an exterior grade plywood that's water resistant, just in case.

[Josiahdr]

Originally Posted by pepepito

Any experience with water damage and something that you regret not doing before building the floor ?

Hey so f I where to do it over I would paint the floor with a bed liner as it seems to help a bit with insulation.

On mine I just used a industrial yellow rustoleum. I should have used a bedliner would not have cost much more.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O-HnPCLNYAc