Repairing Soft Camper Floors: A Step-By-Step Guide

Discovering a soft spot in your camper's floor can be a terrifying experience, but it's important to act promptly to prevent further damage and ensure your camper remains serviceable. Soft spots are usually caused by water leaks, which can lead to rotting and even the floor caving in. The first step is to find and fix the leak, then assess the extent of the damage. If the damage is minor, you can use a flooring putty to repair it. For major damage, you'll need to cut out and replace the affected area with a new piece of wood. This process involves carefully cutting out the damaged section, creating a new base of support, and installing a replacement panel. It's a challenging task but can be accomplished with time, patience, and the proper tools and knowledge.

Find the source of the damage

Before you can repair a soft camper floor, you need to find the source of the damage. This is the first step in the process and will help you understand the extent of the problem. In most cases, a soft camper floor is caused by a water leak. This could be from a leak in the roof, walls, or plumbing. Inspect the area closely and check nearby walls, windows, the roof, and any water lines or drain pipes.

It's important to find and repair the leak as soon as possible to avoid further damage. Water damage can cause the sub-floor to rot, and if left unattended, it will get mushy and eventually cave in. When dealing with water damage, it's crucial to act quickly to minimise the impact.

To determine the extent of the leak, be sure to check under cabinets, refrigerators, and other areas where water can hide. You need to know the full scope of the damage to effectively repair it. Once you have identified the source and extent of the leak, you can move on to the next step of the repair process.

In addition to water leaks, soft camper floors can also be caused by moisture and salt damage, especially in areas of high humidity and atmospheric salinity. Even a single soaking can cause disintegration of particle board floors, leading to a soft feeling underfoot. In such cases, a complete replacement of the floor in the affected area is often necessary.

To summarise, finding the source of the damage is crucial in repairing a soft camper floor. Water leaks are the most common cause, but moisture and salt damage can also be factors. By inspecting the area thoroughly and identifying the source and extent of the damage, you can effectively address the issue and prevent further problems.

Repair the leak

The first step in repairing a soft camper floor is to identify the source of the leak. Check for any signs of water intrusion, such as leaks in the roof, walls, plumbing, or seals around doors and windows. Once the leak has been identified, repair it as soon as possible to prevent further damage.

If the sub-floor is weak but not wet, it could be due to an old leak. In this case, use a moisture meter to check the moisture content of the wood. If the moisture content is above 15%, you will need to dry out the wood before repairing it. This can be done by exposing the affected area to sunlight and fresh air, or by using fans and dehumidifiers.

After repairing the leak, assess the extent of the damage to the sub-floor. Use a stud finder to locate the floor joists and determine the area of damage. Mark the area to be cut out, ensuring that you have a solid frame to screw the new sub-floor into.

If the sub-floor is made of particle board, it will need to be replaced as it cannot be repaired. Plywood sub-floors, on the other hand, can sometimes be repaired without replacing the entire section.

Minor damage repair

If the damage is minor, you can use a flooring putty such as Donald Durham's Rockhard Water Putty to repair the affected area. This will help to re-level the floor and strengthen it.

Major damage repair

For major damage, you will need to cut out the damaged piece of the sub-floor and replace it with a new piece of plywood. Use a circular saw to cut along the marked lines, then use a pry bar and hammer to remove the old sub-floor. Ensure that you have a clear work area by vacuuming up any dust and plywood fragments.

Next, prepare the area for replacement plywood. Create a new base of support by installing cleats or "sister" joists to the existing joist system. This will provide a solid foundation for the new sub-floor.

Cut a new piece of plywood to fit the hole, ensuring that it is the same thickness and material as the original sub-floor. Fasten the new piece of plywood to the floor joists or cleats using screws.

Fill in any gaps or cracks with a sealant or automotive body filler. This will help to create a smooth surface for your new floor covering.

Finally, lay your new floor covering according to the manufacturer's instructions. If you are using carpet or laminate, you may be able to reuse the original floor covering. For vinyl flooring, you will likely need to install a new piece.

Discover the full extent of the damage

Discovering a soft spot in your camper's floor can be terrifying, but the first step is to find out how bad the damage is. Move around the whole interior of your RV, testing the floors everywhere for a soft feeling. Be extra vigilant around slide-outs, plumbing areas, and your freshwater storage tank if it is inside. Mark out the soft spots on a floor plan.

Once you have identified the soft spots, you will need to cut and peel back the laminate or carpet to reveal the subfloor underneath. Be careful when doing this, as you may be able to reuse the same floor covering after making repairs. Cut along the walls and peel the flooring back in all directions from the soft spot until you locate solid, undamaged wood.

If you have particle board flooring, it will quickly turn to powder, so be prepared for this when removing it. You may need to cut a long way back to get to solid wood. Plywood flooring is preferable as it is stronger and easier to work with.

By pressing and tapping the floor, you can determine the extent of the soft wood and mark out the area you will need to cut out and replace. It is important to cut a few inches beyond the soft spot to ensure that all the damaged wood is removed. Use a square and a marker to carefully draw out the area you will cut out, ensuring it is large enough to screw the new piece of flooring into the floor joists.

At this stage, you should also check for any screws, nails, or other metal in the wood along the cutting line, as these will need to be removed before cutting. You don't want them flying out when you start cutting, and they will blunt your blade.

Now you know the full extent of the damage and can start preparing to replace the soft spots with new, solid wood.

Remove the rotten wood

Once you've located all of the soft spots in the floor, it's time to cut and peel back the laminate or carpet to reveal the subfloor underneath. You can do this by carefully cutting along the wall, so that you can reuse the same floor covering after the repairs are made. Keep peeling the flooring back in all directions from the soft spot until you locate solid wood that is not discoloured.

Now you can remove all the rotten wood. You can do this using a small saw to cut up the subfloor and a pry bar to dig out the rotten wood. If there is foam under your subfloor, be careful to remove the rotten wood without damaging the foam. If there are wooden supports under your subfloor, remove enough wood so that you meet up with the supports on at least two sides. Then, cut the hole into a straight-sided rectangle to make things easier when adding new wood. Ensure that all the old, rotten flooring is completely removed, as any damaged wood remaining can cause the new wood to rot.

Once the damaged subfloor is gone, let any exposed wood framing and the wood around the soft spot dry out completely. This could take a week or more, but it will ensure that you won't encounter the same problem again once you complete the floor replacement. If your wood frame is rotten, you may need to remove and replace certain pieces. This can be done, but it requires carpentry skills. If the styrofoam under your subfloor is wet, it may also need to be replaced.

Seal the wood

Once you've identified the source of the leak and removed the rotten wood, you'll want to seal the wood around the damage to protect against further rot, strengthen any wood that might be compromised, and prevent mould growth.

An epoxy resin is perfect for this job. Combine the two parts of the epoxy wood rot repair system, following the included instructions carefully. Once combined, spray or brush the solution over the wood around the damaged area. You can also inject the epoxy into the wood for added strengthening power.

Epoxy resin can be harsh, so it's important to only mix it if you are in a well-ventilated area. You should also wear disposable gloves and a respirator while working with it.

Depending on the hardener and epoxy you use, you'll have varying times to work with it before it begins to harden. However, you will need to wait a week or two before it hardens completely.

After sealing the wood, you can move on to adding new wood to fill the hole and then sanding down the edges to ensure they meet up nicely with the original subfloor.

Frequently asked questions