| Author |
Message |
Bryan L.
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Friday, July 15, 2005 - 2:24 am: | |
At the risk of looking too '70's, we want to put carpet on a portion of a wall in our bus. It's just basic unpainted plywood right now.
What would you use to attach the carpet? Glue? What kind?
Thanks in advance for any help you can give us.
-Bryan |
Jim Ashworth (Jimnh)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Friday, July 15, 2005 - 7:37 am: | |
You will get a lot of opinions as to the suitability of carpet on the walls, most of them negative. I like carpet on the walls and ceiling. I have used contact cement applied with a roller to both the plywood and the carpet. Use the solvent based, not water based glue. Carpet installer wholesalers have the best stuff.
Carpet in a bus doesn't have to retain odors any more than the clothing you wear or the bedspread or blankets. Keep the bus ventilated while cooking or smoking and it WILL NOT smell. I have had it in 3 busses and never once had a problem with odors.
Now, excuse me while I put on my flame-proof suit.
Jim |
Jtng
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Friday, July 15, 2005 - 8:31 am: | |
HAR!
Oh.... Don't trip over the floor mounted ceiling fan. |
James Maxwell (Jmaxwell)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Friday, July 15, 2005 - 9:37 am: | |
One of the easiest way to install carpet on sidewalls or overhead is to use a conventional, cheap, spray gun. Find an upholstery supply place and they should have the contact cement--made for spray on application and used for vinyl tops on cars; won't let go in the heat. Spray a light coat to both surfaces and press it on, trim it out, you're done. An alternative is Weldwood brand original contact cement.
Odor retention is not the problem that some on here would claim. Today's dry chem cleaners make for renewing carpet to it's original condition simply by cleaning every 4-5 yrs. Of course, you could use paneling and wood with a Verathane finish and watch it 'yellow' on you from day one, or paint and watch it 'blacken' on you from secondary air movement. In short, nothing wrong with carpet and it can't be beat for sound deadening, unless perhaps you would like to line your bus with lead. |
airless in Mississippi (Airless_in_mississippi)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Friday, July 15, 2005 - 10:06 am: | |
Kinda reminds me of the story of the woman that went to dr because she has really high amount of flatulence. She tells the dr that it was really embarrising that she could not control it but that it was lucky that it had no odor. The dr provided her with two scripts... She asked what are these for? The dr says this first one is for your Gas. She asks well what is the 2nd for? Dr advises that is for your sinuses. |
Marc Bourget
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Friday, July 15, 2005 - 10:16 am: | |
It's hard to conceive all the surface area on fibers that comes with carpet won't end up absorbing odors, etc.
Even the glass inside my windshield gets a film from my breath, the natural outgassing of the interior components and cargo. Lots more stuffs and odor sources in a conversion. |
Gary Stadler (Boogiethecat)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Friday, July 15, 2005 - 10:30 am: | |
I put carpet (industrial, tight weave stuff) on the floor and walls of the front third of my bus, in the area we occupy while driving. I did it as much for sound as for look, and we like it absolutely.
To attach, I simply went on ebay and bought a Duo-Fast Electric Tacker, and tacked it onto the plywood. Again, very fast, easy to pull off if I ever have to get behind it, but permanent enough if I don't.
My plan was to buy the tacker on ebay, use it and resell it, as I do with many tools I need for the bus... better than a free rental house if you do it right and often you can use a tool for six months and sell it for more than you bought it for! But the tacker proved so handy that I kept it.
No odor problems ever, soft if you bump into it, nice looking, works well for us! |
Gene Lewis (Genelewis)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Friday, July 15, 2005 - 10:43 am: | |
Bryan,
Everyone has or,has had, a belly button as well as an opinion. Gather your facts and then DO IT YOUR WAY.
That's what I did and I have Berber carpet on the walls in my coach. On every wall but the bath area. A neighbor, a professional carpet installer of some 25 plus years, installed my carpet and on the walls he used staples (Carpet staples). It looks good and in the future, if and when a change becomes necessary, it can be removed and replaced with little or no effort. I think it's a good move.
My $.02 worth.
Above all ~Do it your way~!!
Enjoying the journey in NC,
Gene 05 Eagle |
Larry D
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Friday, July 15, 2005 - 11:02 am: | |
I heard it might be better to use a Hi Temp glue, I also plan on using staples , unless I find something looking better. |
Geoff (Geoff)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Friday, July 15, 2005 - 11:17 am: | |
Ozite is the modern replacement for ceiling and wall carpet. Some outdoor carpet is similar to Ozite, and is available at home improvemen stores. |
Jason Whitaker (Jeepme)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Friday, July 15, 2005 - 11:55 am: | |
I carpeted the bunks in my bus with a short nap carpet and used weldwood contact cement. First qt I used was the original formula and after putting up with the odor in the confined space I bought some of the waterbased type. After gluing a section with it I returned the rest and used the original formula for the remainder of the project. Seems to have a much stronger bond. |
Richard Bowyer (Drivingmisslazy)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Friday, July 15, 2005 - 1:04 pm: | |
I very seriously doubt if odors would penetrate any carpet material except for possibly wool. Having said that, I really wonder what people are cooking, or doing that would cause a build up of odor. Have they never heard of exhaust fans? I personally think it is a great way to go, for all the benefits. And there are de-oderizers available if you cook too much fish and never use the exhaust fan.
Richard |
Chuck Newman (Chuck_newman)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Friday, July 15, 2005 - 1:22 pm: | |
Great ideas, particularly for sound control. What you all recommend for holding down carpet in the drivers area of an MCI? Cement sounds like trouble if I want to change it out in the future. Will tacks or staples go through the original floor material? Is there a "heat it and pull it off" glue or cement suitable for carpet?
Chuck Newman
Oroville, CA |
TWODOGS (Twodogs)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Friday, July 15, 2005 - 3:36 pm: | |
entrance & drivers area should be rubber or something simular..why...when ya' fill-up with diesel,lots of times I walk on diesel spills... |
Pete/RTS Daytona (Pete_rtsdaytona)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Friday, July 15, 2005 - 7:28 pm: | |
I used solvent based indoor/outdoor carpet glue and the recomended notched trowel - spread on wall and on the carpet. let it get tacky - applied the carpet to the plywood wall - pulled out any wrinkles (you can't do that if you use contact cement - this stuff is super forgiving) - roller - put a couple of safety staples on the top edge - takes 2-3 days to cure - very very strong bond after 3 days
I'm big fan of sprayed contact cemet - (overhead applications / formica / ettc) but this was soooo much easier - did all the plywood walls under the window line on my RTS this way - worked great
Pete RTS/Daytona |
DMDave
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Friday, July 15, 2005 - 10:43 pm: | |
shag carpet baby! I think thats where the "smells funny" stuff came from. 20-30 year old carpet probably does smell especially if there are water leaks. |
gusc
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Friday, July 15, 2005 - 10:44 pm: | |
Synthetic fabrics do not absorb odors, or water for that matter. Cotton and wool, yes.
Nylon is the best for wear. |
John Jewett (Jayjay)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Friday, July 15, 2005 - 10:55 pm: | |
This must be a red letter day- to get this many posts to concur! ...JJ |
Jim Ashworth (Jimnh)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Saturday, July 16, 2005 - 7:39 am: | |
I agree JJ, I guess I put my flame-suit on too early. I've never seen so many in favor of carpeting. I usually got bashed pretty good when I mentioned it before. The only thing difficult about carpeting is that there is so many styles and colors to choose from. It takes my wife forever to decide which to use.
Jim |
Richard Bowyer (Drivingmisslazy)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Saturday, July 16, 2005 - 7:46 am: | |
A few throw rugs scattered around takes care of the possible tracking in of mud. They can easily be thrown in the washer.
Richard |
Jtng
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Saturday, July 16, 2005 - 8:44 am: | |
If you use brown carpeting, it'd go better with the
avocado colored appliances. |
Jtng
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Saturday, July 16, 2005 - 9:22 am: | |
(wuz just yankin' chains; carpet's ok; DIY!) |
Chuck Newman (Chuck_newman)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Saturday, July 16, 2005 - 1:39 pm: | |
Can the solvent based carpet adhesive be broken down by high heat or some
other method if I need to repair/replace a piece
after full cure?
Chuck Newman
Oroville, CA |
Jim Ashworth (Jimnh)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Saturday, July 16, 2005 - 7:21 pm: | |
Even with rollering the contact cement on fairly thick, I can pull the carpet off with a good tug. The back of the commercial carpet (not Ozite) that I use is open weave and does not provide a great deal of surface area for the glue to adhere to. That being said, I have never had a piece of carpet even come close to loosening, even in summer heat in direct sunshine with a closed bus. To me it has so many plusses and so few minuses that it is the ideal interior wall and ceiling finish. Just use the smelly, brain-cell damaging solvent glue. Not the waterbased stuff.
Jim |
Chuck Newman (Chuck_newman)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Sunday, July 17, 2005 - 12:54 am: | |
Jim,
I stopped by a carpet place today to look at samples.
Mentioned solvent vs waterbased glue and the owner said it is very difficult to get the solvent based glue in California. For some reason I knew that was comming. You know, we have to protect our special air and our special water.
Anyway, on my next trip to Arizona, Oregon or Nevada, what brand names have you used? Do you think they might be available at HD? (not in the land of oz, of course). Also, any particular wording on the can I should look for?
Thank you,
Chuck Newman
Oroville, CA
(only until the bus is finished) |
Jim Ashworth (Jimnh)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Sunday, July 17, 2005 - 8:25 am: | |
What I use is Clear-Tite, made in MA but only available on the east coast. I have seen one called "Robertson" or something similar that looks and smells and works just the same. That is a Canadian product. As for the west coast...I don't know. Just don't use a waterbased version. I have in the past and it doesn't work. Especially on ceilings where gravity never stops working. The good stuff looks like thick polyurethane in the can and smells dangerous. Actually, it IS dangerous, so use a box fan or two to supply air when using it inside the bus.
Jim |
Jtng
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Sunday, July 17, 2005 - 9:26 am: | |
Nothin' like a good flammable substance applied to ceilings
and walls! But.. the fumes from the burning glue should act
as an anesthetic...
(heh heh heh) |
Jim Ashworth (Jimnh)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Sunday, July 17, 2005 - 8:21 pm: | |
Come on John, you and I both know it's only flammable when wet, before the solvents evaporate. And, if used according to directions, almost all the solvents are gone prior to applying the carpet to the wall. Your attempts at jokes are getting a little boring.
Jim |
John that newguy
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Sunday, July 17, 2005 - 8:41 pm: | |
Jim-
If you think it was an attempt at humor, guess again.
Unless you're using wool, those carpet fibers are more than
likely flammable. Add to it, the substance that's keeping it
adhered to the walls and ceiling, and you may be constructing
a very volatile container.
I see plenty of motorhomes using carpeting on walls and ceiling.
It does look great, in most cases. Although there may be nothing
"wrong" in duplicating the "look" in our own home-brew RV,
I do feel that each of us should be made aware of the pitfalls
of not paying attention to things like "fumes" and flammability.
Pay attention now, or pay the price later. |
John that newguy
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Sunday, July 17, 2005 - 9:29 pm: | |
Of interest:
Carpet on Walls
Carpet is manufactured for use as a floor covering, and
installation on other surfaces, such as walls, is not
recommended. Many carpet manufacturers will not assume any
liability, real or implied, when carpet is applied on surfaces
other than floors.
More?
It was also determined that carpet mounted on walls and
ceilings has a greater effect on flame spread than similar
carpet installed on the floor.
And more?
These tests showed that flame plumes with temperatures of
500-975[degrees]C were produced above flammable liquids.
Ignition of their vapors in a carpeted room produced a very
short-lived flash of fire throughout the room, followed by
intense flames in a layer above the floor ~1 m deep, which
quickly degenerated to isolated pools of low flames.
-------------
It would pay to know exactly what that material you're covering
your walls and ceiling can and cannot contribute to, in the
event of a fire.
There's absolutely nothing "funny"; no humor, in these posts. |
Geoff (Geoff)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Sunday, July 17, 2005 - 11:36 pm: | |
I used water-based indoor/outdoor carpet glue to hold my Ozite and it worked fine. I took the plywood panels off, laid them on saw horses, and then appied the carpet and glue, using a roller to get any air pockets out. The trick to doing it this way is to put electrical tape on the edge of the plywood so the carpet won't stick to the ends where the screws go to hold the panel in place on the bus. I did my ceiling in 5' sections this way and used oak trim to hide the seams. To remove the panels all I have to do is remove the trim, gently pry the edge of the Ozite back to reveal the screws, and remove the panel. How many other people have removable ceiling and wall panels?
--Geoff
'82 RTS CA/AZ |
gusc
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Monday, July 18, 2005 - 9:32 pm: | |
There are no flammable fluids in carpet.
Obviously flames will climb a wall and burn the ceiling much easier than the floor. Flames do this.
Most synthetics, especially nylon, melt. They burn to some degree but not much, they make a lot of smoke.
This is a quote from the first linked article; " Although carpet is one of the least likely interior materials to propagate fire,".
Vinyl, wallpaper, wall panel or plywood with their glues and resins are probably more of a fire hazard than carpet. |
John that newguy
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Monday, July 18, 2005 - 11:22 pm: | |
Gusc-
One of those links attempts to explain what happens when fuel
burns. To greatly oversimplify it (as I'm known to do?)....
If you're familiar with the operation of a catalytic heater, you
should be able to clearly see the problem of having carpeting
on the walls and ceiling. If the actual fiber burns or not, is only
a small part of the danger involved. Likewise, the glue type used
may also present a problem, if the heat captured within the
carpeting material rises to the flash point of the dried glue.
Smooth walls and ceilings do not present such a problem regardless
of the material used. Ie: the rug could be totally fireproof and
non-combustible, but the wicking action, and the catalytic features
could have disastrous effects. |
Jack Conrad (Jackconrad)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Tuesday, July 19, 2005 - 11:08 am: | |
When exposed to fire, even if the carpet does not burst into flame, it is producing deadly toxic gases which can kill you quicker than the flames. Jack |
gusc
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Tuesday, July 19, 2005 - 10:44 pm: | |
Just about any material used in buses will produce toxic gases when burned, I thought the discussion was mostly about flames. |
Jtng
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Tuesday, July 19, 2005 - 11:15 pm: | |
Not necessarily about "flames".. It's more about the pros and cons
of using carpeting on the ceilings and walls. Hey... If I were considering
using household carpeting to cover the interior of my bus, I'd certainly
want to hear what other's thoughts are. Maybe some are prejudiced,
and maybe some are factual, but it's good to hear it all.
To tell you the truth, I never before gave thought to the carpeting
acting like a catalytic converter, holding smoldering gases and
hiding the flames...
Just things to think about....... |
niles steckbauer (Niles500)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Wednesday, July 20, 2005 - 1:26 pm: | |
I think Jack has us trumped - bet he could tell us a few things that a fire can do with/to carpet - |
Doug Dickinson (Dougd470)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Wednesday, July 20, 2005 - 2:11 pm: | |
Another good reason to use a GOOD smoke detector as well as rate-of-rise (heat) detection in the coach. A CO detector/alarm is a good investment also.
My $0.02 worth (and I am using industrial carpet on the floor and lower walls - flameproof but not completely out-gas proof). |