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Topic: Question: GV Entry Stair Construction (Read 846 times) previous topic - next topic

Question: GV Entry Stair Construction

We are having our floor re-done next month at Infinity in NAC.  We'll be using luxury vinyl tile in bathroom, kitchen and living room + new carpet in bedroom and under the forward capt's chairs.  On the entry stairs, we want to use a combination of vinyl tile risers (the vertical surface) and Roppe rubber stair treads (the horizontal surface) .  I am, however, concerned about how to handle the "edges" of the stairs - that is ,the edge your foot hits when you step on the stair (where the riser meets the tread).  We currently have the OEM carpet (and padding) on the stairs, and it is hard for me to feel the shape of the edge.  It feels like the edge might be "rounded" rather than a "90 degree angle".  If so, this will make it more challenging to cover with the tile/rubber step combo.  We might have to use, instead, the rubber steps with matching rubber riser (which would still be OK - just not what DW wants).

So, can anyone confirm the shape of the stair edges?  "Curved" or "Rounded"?

Thanks for any input!  (See photo below for a rough idea of how we want steps done, but not as fancy or glitzy)
1993 U280 SE 40' WTBI, Build: 4359
C8.3 300hp, 6-Speed, Exhaust Brake
960 watts on the roof (6 x 160)
Sorento (or BOLT) on a Kar Kaddy SS
"Nature abhors a vacuum"

Re: Question: GV Entry Stair Construction

Reply #2 –
Chuck, my 88 was rounded, the u280..94 is too. sanded the 88 stained it, polyurethane. ? Looked great.. put vinyl on kick riser that matched the bathroom, just to accent. ^.^d

If you dont want the 1/2 round.. take a straight cut router to it, then put the edging you want..
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My advice and experiences are Free, you decide if they are worth anything .

John - driving Old Faithful
1994 U280 GV
C8.3, Banks, Pacbrake, 900 watts, Resonator, XLHD tow dolly
Retired Army Warrant Officer

Life is what you make of it - if it is lemons, make lemonade!
Former Coaches:
1988 GV 40' ORED 300HP CAT - 9 years
1990 Winnebago LeSharo - 3 years
2000 Newmar London Aire - 3 years (#18 of 23 produced)

Re: Question: GV Entry Stair Construction

Reply #3 –
Thanks, John - that's exactly what I needed to know!
1993 U280 SE 40' WTBI, Build: 4359
C8.3 300hp, 6-Speed, Exhaust Brake
960 watts on the roof (6 x 160)
Sorento (or BOLT) on a Kar Kaddy SS
"Nature abhors a vacuum"

Re: Question: GV Entry Stair Construction

Reply #4 –
After John kindly answered my question with specific info about his coach, I got to thinking...(always dangerous, in my case).  If I have learned one thing about Foretravel, it is that they seldom (if ever) made 2 coaches exactly the same.  My coach is a year older than John's, and I thought it possible they might differ in the stair area.  So, since we're going to remove the carpet pretty soon anyway, I decided it would not hurt to check.  I cut back the old carpet on all 3 steps, and found all 3 are 90 degree right angle edges.  Which is good news to us, because it will be much easier to finish the stairs the way we desire.
1993 U280 SE 40' WTBI, Build: 4359
C8.3 300hp, 6-Speed, Exhaust Brake
960 watts on the roof (6 x 160)
Sorento (or BOLT) on a Kar Kaddy SS
"Nature abhors a vacuum"

Re: Question: GV Entry Stair Construction

Reply #5 –
Chuck this what we ended up with when I redid the stairs, we had carpet on our 92 and we put tile from the bathroom to the front seats. ours were at 90 degree cut.
Andy & Eileen
MONTROSE COLORADO
1992 U300  40' 6V92 TA
2016 4 Runner
1998 Jeep Grand cherokee

1998 Jeep Grand Cherokee) Build # 4135 Skp# 122921

Re: Question: GV Entry Stair Construction

Reply #6 –
Andy, Thanks for the photos!  That is basically what we have in mind, except we will use the complete 1-piece colored rubber step covers on the horizontal surfaces.  We'll have tile just like you did on the risers and the sides, and the matching rubber "nosing" around the top of the stair well.  Yours looks great!
1993 U280 SE 40' WTBI, Build: 4359
C8.3 300hp, 6-Speed, Exhaust Brake
960 watts on the roof (6 x 160)
Sorento (or BOLT) on a Kar Kaddy SS
"Nature abhors a vacuum"

Re: Question: GV Entry Stair Construction

Reply #7 –
We had our floor done at Infinity also, and used high end vinyl tile, but for the stair edges found bullnose ceramic tile pieces that were a great match at Lowes in Lufkin.  Infinity had no trouble mitering and fitting them to the surrounding vinyl tile.

Dave and Nancy
1999/2013 U270 36' Xtreme
Motorcade # 16774
2013 Subaru Outback
KD0NIM

Re: Question: GV Entry Stair Construction

Reply #8 –
Dave, We wanted to use the ceramic pieces like you guys did, but were unable to find anything even close to our tile choice.  We tried Lowe's and Home Depot, plus every ceramic tile store (we have a bunch of them) in town.  No luck.  But we did find that Roppe makes their rubber stair treads and stair nosing in a color that coordinates with "our" tile perfectly, so that's what we will use.
1993 U280 SE 40' WTBI, Build: 4359
C8.3 300hp, 6-Speed, Exhaust Brake
960 watts on the roof (6 x 160)
Sorento (or BOLT) on a Kar Kaddy SS
"Nature abhors a vacuum"

Re: Question: GV Entry Stair Construction

Reply #9 –
I really like Mitch at Infinity and his new shop.  Good to see him doing well, interesting he is doing so many floors, originally a very talented high end upholstery shop.  (Post a lot of pictures).  FWIW, my price from FOT (David Flanagan) for my floor was just about the exact amount as quoted from Infinity.

I am using Armstrong Alterna Luxury tile, with a glue down install and 1/8 or 1/4 grouted joints.  Manington and Congoleum also make similar products, not sure if there pluses or minuses between the brands, but DW chose the armstrong product.
Tim Fiedler    2025 LTV Unity MBL on Order
2000 Chevy Tracker 2 Door Convertible 4WD Now lifted 4.5"
1985 Citroen 2CV6 Charleston
Murphy Rebel on wheels with 175HP Titan
Cessna P337
1980 48' Westport MY (!/4 Share)

Re: Question: GV Entry Stair Construction

Reply #10 –
Quote from: Tim Fiedler –
I am using Armstrong Alterna Luxury tile, with a glue down install and 1/8 or 1/4 grouted joints.  Manington and Congoleum also make similar products, not sure if there pluses or minuses between the brands, but DW chose the armstrong product.
You can be sure Infinity and FOT are well aware of each others pricing on competing services, and set their rates accordingly.

We also looked at all 3 brands of luxury tile.  We found Armstrong and Manington to be pretty close in price, and Congoleum somewhat higher.  Congoleum has many critical reviews online - the other 2 seem to have mostly positive reviews.  We (also) chose the Armstrong Alterna line, because it is the most-marketed in our local area and we found the greatest selection of samples to view.
1993 U280 SE 40' WTBI, Build: 4359
C8.3 300hp, 6-Speed, Exhaust Brake
960 watts on the roof (6 x 160)
Sorento (or BOLT) on a Kar Kaddy SS
"Nature abhors a vacuum"