Foretravel Owners' Forum

Foretravel Motorhome Forums => Foretravel Renovations => Topic started by: Rick & Robyn on July 19, 2015, 07:50:50 am

Title: New Corian/Vinyl Tile Entry Steps
Post by: Rick & Robyn on July 19, 2015, 07:50:50 am
After buying our coach this spring and replacing tires, fluids, and filters a few interior changes were in order.  We replaced the original front area carpet, kitchen wood flooring, and bathroom vinyl tile with Karndean Vinyl tiles (with grout joints).  The step treads, edge trim, and step cover supports were replaced with Corian. 

Marine grade 1/2" thick plywood was installed as underlayment and potential sound deadener. Road noise is no more evident now than before, so whether it worked or not result is pleasing.

Seems for every item checked off the to do list, several more are added...
Title: Re: New Corian/Vinyl Tile Entry Steps
Post by: Jeff & Sandy on July 19, 2015, 08:30:25 am
Stunning. Looks fantastic.
Title: Re: New Corian/Vinyl Tile Entry Steps
Post by: Dan Stansel on July 19, 2015, 09:46:27 am
Who did the work? Yourself or what shop?  Nice job!!!! ;D
Title: Re: New Corian/Vinyl Tile Entry Steps
Post by: jtm2014 on July 19, 2015, 02:14:24 pm
  Nice job, looks great.
    Big improvement over the carpet on the side walls.
Title: Re: New Corian/Vinyl Tile Entry Steps
Post by: Lon and Cheryl on July 19, 2015, 02:46:22 pm
Looks fantastic!
I'm not used to seeing Corian used "under foot", How wear resistant is it compared to oak or other step materials?
Is it slippery when wet or damp?
Where do you purchase the raw corian and glue?
Title: Re: New Corian/Vinyl Tile Entry Steps
Post by: Rick & Robyn on July 19, 2015, 04:44:04 pm
Thanks for the kind words!

Work was done at our shop after much research from the kind folks here willing to share their similar experience.  I did some but not nearly all of the work. 

Corian is a filled plastic and as such is very durable.  Cuts and machines like wood.  Glues with 2 part epoxy to form virtually invisible seams.  The tread material is 1/2" thick and has a built-up edge.

One pitfall is the moderate tendency to scratch.  Darker colors show more than light.  Easy to remove by sanding though. 

Our last two shower pans were fabricated from Corian; being slippery has not been an issue.  We did route a simple groove pattern into the surface to help prevent slips.

It's available though authorized fabricators. 


Title: Re: New Corian/Vinyl Tile Entry Steps
Post by: Don & Tys on July 19, 2015, 05:40:45 pm
Did you replace the bottom plywood under the threshold with corian? That is often where you will find water damage with the "wet step" design that Foretravel used for a couple of years. If so, I presume you would have added some support under the corian... That is a tricky job in my experience. I used Starboard to rebuild the step treads and threshold with the threshold being supported by stainless steel flat stock and aluminum angle, but I do like the looks of the Corian.
Don

Title: Re: New Corian/Vinyl Tile Entry Steps
Post by: D.J. Osborn on July 19, 2015, 08:14:41 pm
The results look great!
Title: Re: New Corian/Vinyl Tile Entry Steps
Post by: Rick & Robyn on July 19, 2015, 08:28:11 pm
Did you replace the bottom plywood under the threshold with corian? ... If so, I presume you would have added some support under the corian...
I reviewed your post " Step Repair or Renovation" about 1,000 times before jumping in and removing everything down to the skeleton.  Replaced the bottom plywood with a second layer of Corian supported at the perimeter with aluminum angle.  Made an aluminum pan sealed to the exterior and filled it with about 2" of sprayed in foam to replace the original semi disintegrated foam.  Fortunately the plywood sides were in excellent shape and needed no attention.  Sturdied up the stair framing a bit and put it back together.  Thanks for such an invaluable and complete pictoral on the subject.