How to Install Foam & Puzzle Carpet Tile Pontoon Boat Floor
Date Published: 08-10 - 2020
Installing EVA foam boat flooring is a simple process when using soft interlocking tiles. On thing to keep in mind is that most EVA foam puzzle tiles are not UV treated and will expand and contract with temperature and humidity fluctuations. However, they are waterproof and will create a soft flooring surface unmatched by any other boat deck flooring.
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Connecting the tiles is a straight-forward process of pushing the puzzle style interlocks together following the directional arrows embossed on the underside of the tile and making sure to leave at least ¼ inch of expansion room around the edges of the floating floor. Failure to leave expansion room will result in temporary buckling of the foam when it expands.
As you reach obstacles such as rails, seats and helm, the foam backed carpet squares will need to be cut to fit. To do this, you’ll want to have a tape measure, straight edge, utility knife with a fresh blade and a pen or marker on hand.
When cutting a straight edge, simply measure the distance between your already laid flooring and the object it will be butting up to. Mark that distance, making sure to plan for the expansion gap, on the underside of the tile and double check to make sure the cut will be on the correct side of the tile.
Once you’re sure the marks are in the correct place, lay your straight edge over the cut line and make a series of shallow scores with the utility knife along the marks, using the straight edge as a guide. Once you have cut the majority of the way through the foam, fold the tile back, opening the cut, and cut from the inside of the crease on the carpeted side to complete your cut. Then push the custom cut tile into place.
If you need to cut rounded edges, such as around the seat base, it’s best to remove that object from the boat deck if possible, lay the tiles in place and then loosely install the obstacle over the tiles so you can mark or stencil in the areas to cut.
In this case, the pontoon seat base was bolted down. So the bolts were removed and holes were drilled from the underside of the pontoon to ensure exact placement of the base. The base was the placed over the foam carpet tiles and bolts were slid into place through the base and tiles. At that point you can then trace the outside edge of the base. If you cut at that line you’ll have a snug fit around the base, but you’ll want to expand the circle by ¼ inch to ensure expansion room.
If you have exposed edges, such as in the bow of the boat where there are no rails, it is a good idea to install some edging around the perimeter that will slightly overlap the edge of the tiles to keep them in place without securing them to the floor.
Enjoy your new carpet topped EVA foam boat flooring.
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