We have an '09 Big Horn 3670 RL. I was looking at the steps leading up to the bedroom/bathroom one day and realized that the carpet was looking a bit ratty and that the cover for the storage bin in the hall floor was very uneven. I decided to upgrade the entire area. I figured that the space under the steps was wasted area and could be used for extra storage.
After taking the treads off and checking out the construction (2" X 2" and OSB covered with carpet), I didn't see any major issues. After taking careful measurement of the treads and risers, I prefabbed new steps using 3/4" Fir plywood for the substructure and Hickory boards for the treads and risers. I decided on Hickory because I was able to match the color with the cabinetry in the rig and it is a very attractive wood, although very hard and requiring a lot of work to plane and sand. I braced the sub structure corners with 2" X 2" cut on a 45 degree bias and then glued and screwed the corners. I assembled the treads and risers so that all screws were from the inside so that no screw heads show on the finished part of the stairs. I prefinished all of the steps with stain and 5 coats of Diamond Varathane clear. I installed the treads with a 1" strip at the back and piano hinge so the the treads could be opened, thus making the area underneath usable storage space.
The next step was removing the old stairs and making up and installing a side panel on the left side of the stairs where the carpet panel had been removed. I held my breath as I lifted the new steps into place but they fit very well. The only glitch was that I had to modify the lower tread so that it cleared the front door frame.
Once I had finished the steps, I removed the carpet from the hall way and installed high end cork flooring. I had to remove the large hinge on the storage cover and modify the lid so that it was flush with the new floor. Once that was accomplished, I installed two recessed brass lift handles for removal of the cover.
The net result is a much more attractive hall and stairs area with more usable storage and a beautiful, rich wood finish which is easy to clean.
After taking the treads off and checking out the construction (2" X 2" and OSB covered with carpet), I didn't see any major issues. After taking careful measurement of the treads and risers, I prefabbed new steps using 3/4" Fir plywood for the substructure and Hickory boards for the treads and risers. I decided on Hickory because I was able to match the color with the cabinetry in the rig and it is a very attractive wood, although very hard and requiring a lot of work to plane and sand. I braced the sub structure corners with 2" X 2" cut on a 45 degree bias and then glued and screwed the corners. I assembled the treads and risers so that all screws were from the inside so that no screw heads show on the finished part of the stairs. I prefinished all of the steps with stain and 5 coats of Diamond Varathane clear. I installed the treads with a 1" strip at the back and piano hinge so the the treads could be opened, thus making the area underneath usable storage space.
The next step was removing the old stairs and making up and installing a side panel on the left side of the stairs where the carpet panel had been removed. I held my breath as I lifted the new steps into place but they fit very well. The only glitch was that I had to modify the lower tread so that it cleared the front door frame.
Once I had finished the steps, I removed the carpet from the hall way and installed high end cork flooring. I had to remove the large hinge on the storage cover and modify the lid so that it was flush with the new floor. Once that was accomplished, I installed two recessed brass lift handles for removal of the cover.
The net result is a much more attractive hall and stairs area with more usable storage and a beautiful, rich wood finish which is easy to clean.
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