Options for bottom step?

[JackConrad]

  I need to put a new floor covering on the bottom step of our coach. Initially, we used a layer of 3/4" plywood cover with ceramic tile, but after several years, the wood rotted and the tile cracked. I removed everything, used sand misx concrete mixed using latex ad-mixture for base and new ceramic tile. Tile has cracked within a few months. I am looking for a floor covering that is waterproof, scratchprrof, has a little flexibility and would look good with the rest of our bus. We plan to leave the ceramic tile on the rest of the steps.  This will not be repaired until we get home next month, but I need to start getting ideas and considering options.  Thanks, Jack

[bevans6]

You will probably laugh, but I would use a 3'4" or 1" thick carbon fiber sandwich.  You can probably find a piece from a race shop or a marine facility.  Several layers of carbon fiber laid up over a core matrix will last virtually forever, is impervious to anything if you seal the edges before you install it, is stronger and stiffer than the equivalent plywood by a whole lot, and with that as a base you can put your tiles on and they should stay forever.

Brian

[bottomacher]

Jack, did you do anything to stiffen the lower metal step before installing the plywood? Keeping the plywood from flexing will usually prevent cracking, and pressure treated plywood shouldn't rot. Expanded metal lath in the tile bed also helps. FWIW

[JackConrad]

Jack, did you do anything to stiffen the lower metal step before installing the plywood? Keeping the plywood from flexing will usually prevent cracking, and pressure treated plywood shouldn't rot. Expanded metal lath in the tile bed also helps. FWIW

I added a couple pieces of steel on the inside to reinforce the bottom before bolting the Kwikee electric step to the under side.  Before I added the steel, the Kwikee step seem to cause the bottom step to flex. I haven't noticed any flex since I added the pieces of steel.  Jack

[JackConrad]

Here is a photo of the steps and the Kwikee electric step.  I would like to find something that will go with the rest of our coach.  I will have to wait until we get home to see if I have any more ceramic tile left.  Jack

[Dreamscape]

Jack, I used



I must say it has not shown any signs of wear, lightweight and durable. I know it's not fancy but it's very practical, installed it over 3/4 plywood.

[robertglines1]

.You have classic step apearance.one of the best I've seen! I used ge silicon caulk as a adhesive .lets tile flex but holds like welding--might use smaller squares of same style on steps if it doesn't detract from apearance...1/2 in aluminum to stop flex under tile..just a few ideas   Bob

[luvrbus]

I would use the Terra-Flex rubber non slip on the bottom step you can match the tile color, the bottom step always gives you problems on a bus with high usage and mostire coming up from the outside.
Terra-Flex cost around 20 bucks a tile but you only need 3 comes in 1/2 or 7/8 thickness and I would not use any kind of wood on the bottom use some type rust proof metal will that will last you forever


good luck

[HighTechRedneck]

I added a couple pieces of steel on the inside to reinforce the bottom before bolting the Kwikee electric step to the under side.  Before I added the steel, the Kwikee step seem to cause the bottom step to flex. I haven't noticed any flex since I added the pieces of steel.  Jack

I remember how solid that step was after  your reinforcement.  It didn't even flex under me.  lol

You have been in a wide range of climates this year (both temp and humidity).  I wonder if there is a chance that underlayment had any expansion/contraction issues that caused irregularities in the surface under the tile.  Perhaps even temporarily.  In a post in another recent thread a good point was made that on really hot summer days pavement temperatures can exceed 140°.  The underlayment of the bottom step would be highly exposed to that heat.  If that could be it, maybe try it again with some expansion gaps (1/16"-1/8"?) in the underlayment. 

If you don't have more of the same tile, make it look intentionally different.  You could go with tempered glass floor tile on the bottom step.  If you wanted to you could even get some with a custom print from a dye sublimation shop.  Maybe printed with a "Welcome" or something building on the Orange Blossom Special" theme.  The dye sublimation tiles have an opaque white finish on the back of the tile that gets printed.  Because of the way dye-sub works the image saturates through the opaque finish and is visible up through the tile.  Any unprinted space just looks white.  Another thing you could do with the glass tile is edge light it with LED's for effect.  Because they are tempered glass designed for use as floor tile they are very durable and have a textured surface for traction.

You would have to get them from a dye sublimation shop, but this site is one of the main suppliers to that industry so you can see what sizes are available and what it can look like when printed:

http://www.dyetrans.com/group.php?webmaincat=sub_prods&websubcat=tiles&websubcat2=glass&websubcat3=deco&title=Decorative Glass Tiles

Because of the printable coating on the back, a specific tile adhesive is specified, but the dye sub shop cold advise on that.

[Lin]

The Traffic Master stuff posted by Dreamscape comes in numerous very decent wood grain patterns too.  We used it in the bathroom.  It is not even glued down generally.   It could wear well, and, if it ever did scratch, it would be snap to slip in a new piece.  Available at the big box stores.

[Ace]

Jack as you know, I have a sort of limited backround in flooring and want to caution you and anyone else about the flooring Paul posted  a picture of. It WILL crack and break! We used it in our kitchen at home and of course there is a piece that did just that. Right in the middle too. Not an easy fix!  Since you used real wood plank, I would say look at a  flooring retailer, not big box, and ask for "Nafco" vinyl plank flooring. They might have some VERY close to what your wood is. Very flexible and durable. The wear layer is greater than the Big box store stuff. I have installed a mess of it in my time. Oh and you can install it on a 45 to match your layout.

[steve wardwell]

We got a large piece of  3/16" dimond plating (alum) from some friends redoing their sailboat hardtop.....had enough to do the door, the steps and landing clear under the drivers seat to the wall. It stays clean, all nonskid, matte finish....when raining we'll put custom rugs down to catch dirt/prints/etc.....works well never a problim, always looks great easy to install and indestructable...we love it for our foyer and would do it again even if I had to pay double the price !

[JackConrad]

Jack as you know, I have a sort of limited backround in flooring and want to caution you and anyone else about the flooring Paul posted  a picture of. It WILL crack and break! We used it in our kitchen at home and of course there is a piece that did just that. Right in the middle too. Not an easy fix!  Since you used real wood plank, I would say look at a  flooring retailer, not big box, and ask for "Nafco" vinyl plank flooring. They might have some VERY close to what your wood is. Very flexible and durable. The wear layer is greater than the Big box store stuff. I have installed a mess of it in my time. Oh and you can install it on a 45 to match your layout.

Thanks Ace,
    I thought I remembered you saying something about wood grain plastic flooring.  How thick are the planks and are they installed by gluing or are they a floating system?  Jack

[Ace]

Jack the planks come in 3 and I think 6 inch widths. They are not installed as a floating floor so they would need to be full spread. If you dont get it done by Arcadia, or heck, I just remembered, I'll see you in Hoboken so I will bring some if what I have and maybe it will match. At least you will see it before you go searching for it.

[JackConrad]

Jack the planks come in 3 and I think 6 inch widths. They are not installed as a floating floor so they would need to be full spread. If you dont get it done by Arcadia, or heck, I just remembered, I'll see you in Hoboken so I will bring some if what I have and maybe it will match. At least you will see it before you go searching for it.

Thanks Ace,
    Look forward to seeing you at Hoboken.  Remind me to tell you what I heard about The Turner Center.  Jack