Rotten wood on lower step June 26, 2024, 08:17:23 pm Discovered rotten wood on my lower step (above my automatic slide steps). Took a look and saw serious wet/dry rot. Looks like four bolts hold the slide steps unit to the rotted step board. Does anyone have experience with this repair? If so, what did you learn and would you do it again? Should I just pay the man and get on with life?
Re: Rotten wood on lower step Reply #1 – June 27, 2024, 02:28:12 am Hi Mike; Not a Lazy Daze, but I had termites on my previous class 'C' motorhome in the step area. It also held the one, size 24, house battery. It really was pretty easy to replace all of the step 'box' and material with carpet on it. Might be easier to not have carpet on the new box and step bolts. I have worked on my LD step mounting bolts and 'box' area with wiring passing behind it from the battery box (I have a 23.5' 'TK so a different floorplan than your MidBath.) As long as the rot doesn't extend up into your floor, it should be a quick job. A lot depends on your skill level with plywood carpentry. Use good waterproofing techniques. Rubber mat for the inside step. RonB
Re: Rotten wood on lower step Reply #2 – June 27, 2024, 07:32:59 am Sounds like I will likely need to replace the full box sides to gain access to the bolts. I'll give it a try. Woodworking part should not be a major issue (famous last words). Thanks very much for the info and encouragement!On the personal side wife and I are So Cal expats (from Huntington Beach) we moved to Vegas after college and to Knoxville 7 years ago. Really miss the beach but love Knoxville and the Smokey Mtns. Just did a week with daughter and three grand children had a great trip.Getting old in Tennessee and loving it.... 2 Likes
Re: Rotten wood on lower step Reply #3 – June 27, 2024, 12:15:15 pm Hi Mike; Glad you like Tennessee, I haven't made it to there, yet. The bolts that hold the step on are attached through the bottom. The sides aren't involved except to support the bottom piece of plywood. The biggest problem is if the wood is shot and trying to undo the nuts holding the steps on. The carriage bolts (square shank) will often turn in the mushy wood, and also the nuts won't back off over dirty threads that have been exposed to the outside environment, and coated with asphalt undercoating. If I were to do this replacement, and the side pieces of the box were sound, I would use steel, galvanized angle on the sides and back, stainless screws and construction glue to fasten a new step support and of course the step sheet of plywood in place. As Larry noted the dimensions are important, for the door to seal properly in place when closed. I would use good stainless bolts, as large as would fit through the holes in the step, to attach the steps again. At least your steps are in good shape. I would glue in a piece of underlayment (about 5/16" 3 plywood with holes cut for these flat head screws, so the floor inside would be level. For the rubber mat material, I cut a piece of doormat that just sits in the hole. It can be removed for cleaning. I guess a dab of glue in the right places would keep it from moving around, but it is stiff enough it should be ok. About 1/2" thick. (recycled tire material I think). Spray or paint the outsides with undercoating. I spray it first with a water sealer. Then spray with black (truck) bedliner. A good repair job should last longer than the original Lazy Daze build. Remember that with someone standing inside and someone on the extended step, you could be looking at a 400-500 pound load, so it has to be done right for safety. I have seen a recent 'rash' of steps hit by rocks, and many of those were pretty smashed up! So repairs to the wooden step support structure could be needed because of other events than just water intrusion. RonB
Re: Rotten wood on lower step Reply #4 – June 27, 2024, 05:05:58 pm Thanks, I will let you know how it goes.
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