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Chronologically Experienced
United States
เข้าร่วมเมื่อ 4 ก.พ. 2020
Just a few tidbits of experience or opinions here and there as I think of them.Hopefully they are useful to others.
I'm not old - I'm Chronologically Experienced!
I'm not old - I'm Chronologically Experienced!
DIY Stairs & Bullnose using LVP: One Year Update!
Note: This is a status update of the process I used to create my own stairs and bullnoses using LVP. You can watch that here: th-cam.com/video/RCASgPttPD8/w-d-xo.html
I meant to get this update out earlier, but creating videos isn't really my thing and I wanted to do a decent update so it took me a little longer to put this together.
Anyway, as of 10/2020, it has been over a year since I finished my stairs using the LifeProof LVP from Home Depot. I provided a closeup look at the stairs, answered some questions and added some comments from viewers that might help make this process easier if you decide to try it.
This isn't a scientific review or anything like that, so I expect there will be some folks complaining about that. But in the end, it doesn't really matter to me because it's my house, my stairs and they look and function great!
I meant to get this update out earlier, but creating videos isn't really my thing and I wanted to do a decent update so it took me a little longer to put this together.
Anyway, as of 10/2020, it has been over a year since I finished my stairs using the LifeProof LVP from Home Depot. I provided a closeup look at the stairs, answered some questions and added some comments from viewers that might help make this process easier if you decide to try it.
This isn't a scientific review or anything like that, so I expect there will be some folks complaining about that. But in the end, it doesn't really matter to me because it's my house, my stairs and they look and function great!
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LifeProof LVP Flooring: Quick Tip
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If you are using or planning to use the LifeProof LVP flooring, here is a quick tip I figured out for when you have to deal with putting in a thin piece of LVP along the edge of a wall or slide it under the existing baseboard/wall gap. This tip is handy if you can't get your tool between the plank and the wall to tap it into place.
LifeProof LVP Flooring: How to use on stairs and create a matching Bullnose!
มุมมอง 428K4 ปีที่แล้ว
NOTE: At the time that I did my floors (over four years ago), they did not sell matching bullnoses for this LVP product which is why I had to come up with my own process. Even now, years later, I still get comments from people who can't find a matching bullnose for their particular product or the premade bullnose has a lip or some other issue that doesn't make the stair seamless. If you fall in...
How long did you heat it ????
Just long enough for the material to become soft and malleable. I used a simple heat gun on low for a few minutes (holding it about two inches above the material) and went back and forth so as not to melt it. Obviously the time it takes will vary depending on what you are using to heat it, but you can feel the material periodically (careful as it will get hot) and you will easily notice it getting softer. Hope that helps.
@@ChronologicallyExperienced thank you. I’m gonna try 🤞🏻
I like your disclaimer at the start
Yeah, was getting a few negative comments at the beginning so felt I needed to make things clear. Thanks for watching!
Heat from the back
I did try that initially, but because I needed to mold the planks directly over the existing stair, there wasn't enough room to get the heat gun underneath to properly heat the plank without getting too close to the material. For those that have uniform stairs and can build a simple molding station to bend the planks, I think that could work quite well. Thanks for watching!
I heat them from the back with a propane torch. Builds up more heat much faster but u have to be careful obviously
thx! for my risers I was going to use 1/4 to just skin the existing staircase, do u see any issue with my risers being 1/4 inch thick vs your risers being thicker? I have a prior carpet job as well with a 1"50 inch front on my step. I see alot of people on you tube cutting the overhang on the step flush than using a thicker riser. I was going to install like what you did with not cutting the step overhang.
Hi Tom. I don't see an problem with thinner risers. I was using my risers to help keep the molded planks in place so I wanted something sturdy. As for cutting the lip off, I would first make sure that you aren't making the stairs too narrow to step on going up and down. You want to avoid that feeling you get when walking up & down on stairs that your foot barely fits on, if you know what I mean. I prefer having a bit more room to step on which is why I didn't cut mine off. Plus, I think there may be some building code to watch out for that define a minimum depth/width. Hope that helps. Thanks for watching!
@@ChronologicallyExperienced thank you!! much appreciated. i purchased my heat gun last night & tried a few test pieces. thx again for the added info
What Mil thickness did you use for the stairs? Lifeproof has choices from 6 mil up to 30.
Mine was 6 mil. Thanks for watching!
Great video! You think this would be possible to do for a step down from one room to another that requires more than 1 plank side by side?
Hi Boyd. In theory, yes it is possible. However, you'll need to make sure that you are very careful with the bending at the joint where the planks are connected to make sure that both sides are evenly bent so that they still connect together cleanly after bending the plank. The good thing is that you only have one step-down to deal with. I think extra patience, extra hands and maybe some extra clamps would come in handy on this one! This might even be a good candidate for making a separate mold as some suggested for bending as you could clamp the two planks in nice and tight to keep them connected during the process. Good luck with this project if you decide to go ahead (definitely worth at least one try) and thanks for watching!
That turned out so damn good, congrats! I have the flooring and I can't believe Lifeproof doesn't sell these and accessories.
Yeah, at the time I did this there weren't any options, but now there is an option from some company that makes 'matching' bullnoses. However, from what I've seen and folks have told me, it still doesn't really look as good as the original planks. Hence having to do my own solution. Thanks for watching!
You had done a wonderful job. I am a DIY guy and your information and instructions will help me tremendously when I begin my stairs this week. Thank goodness I only have 11 stairs to complete so I am hopefull I can get it done thanks to your instructions. Thanks again.
Thank you! Be sure to watch my one year update video for additional tips and suggestions from comments and myself before you get started. Thanks for watching!
How did it go?
Very nice idea, couldn't look better. Was looking up how to end a run of LVP at the top of some stairs and instead of using a nosing strip I'll probably do this if I'm left with enough width on a plank to do it.
Hi Kiowann, thanks for watching! I had to do the same thing at the top of my stairs. It was narrower than the other bullnoses, but once I had it formed and glued in place, it looked great.
Wonder if it would be easier to do if you could assemble and form each step on your workbench. 😮
Yes, that would have been much easier and suggested that in my follow-up for those that have consistent step measurements. Unfortunately my steps had different thickness (and width) from one stair to the other so making a standard form wouldn't have worked for me as I would have had to reheat and adjust it for each stair anyway. Thanks for watching!
Liked it so much, I subbed !
Awesome, thank you!
If the hammer might dent the riser, put that 2x against it and tap on it 😊 26:11
Yeah, I wasn't really tapping that hard so I thought the towel would be good enough. Luckily it did the trick and no dents!
😅Using your fist when there's a perfectly good hammer laying right there !!! 😂 ❤ 25:24
Well, you saw what happened to that one step I used the hammer on so I was a bit shy to use it again, heh heh. Of course I was a bit frustrated when that happened . . .
Great idea!!! Wonder if heating it from underneath would work.😮
Hi Paul, the underpart is some kind of rubbery material and it started melting/stinking very quickly so I just ended up doing it from the top which made more sense to me anyway since it was that hard material I needed to soften. Thanks for watching!
This video is so educational. Thanks for sharing!
Thanks Vivian, glad you liked it and thanks for watching!
LVP is a garbage product that studies indicate may be a source of respiratory problems in young children due to off gassing, It shoudl not be used in homes with chioldren and likely is going to be the next asbestos or lead based paint prodiuct that will require removal and remediation.
Don’t worry. It only does this in California.
No that's the smog.
I also wonder about the toxicity of wood floor stains and protective coatings.
Wow what an amazing job your little plan routing and bending in place is genius. Your explanations on your concept is exceptional and your table setup for routing is all you really need for DIY I’ll be using your skills in a few days only I won’t have my wife too guide me 😅 hopefully it all works out ✌️
Thanks for watching! Apologies for not getting back to you before the holidays, but if you already started, I hope your project works/worked out well. If you haven't started yet, be sure to watch my short one-year update/follow-up with additional suggestions and tips from myself and other viewers. Thanks again and Happy Holidays!
Could you share how the stairs are holding up? Have you experienced any shifting in the bullnose?
The stairs are in the same condition as seen in my one-year update. Since we've installed them, we've used them for exercise (in place of walking during COVID), had multiple contractors here for other work (some thought a professional contractor installed the stairs), and for the last two years, have had two cats running up and down them like crazy. I'm pleased with how they have held up for the past four years and constantly get compliments from visitors on how good they look. Thanks for watching!
Thanks to awesome people like you who post such useful videos, all us DIY's can get on with all our projects! Thanks a million
Thank you for watching! If you do plan on doing something similar, be sure to watch the one-year update for additional tips and suggestions from myself and other viewers.
Thank you so much for sharing your story and experience! Your videos helped me solve a flooring issue in our half bath where the toilet was raised on a step above the main flooring to avoid moving the plumbing in a previous remodel. A simple routing along the back side of the Home Depot lifeproof flooring and heat gun to bend the plank was just what we were looking for to avoid the costly task of adjusting the plumbing down 3 inches. Keep up the great work! Much appreciation coming your way from Michigan! Thank you!
I'm glad the video gave you some ideas to solve your problem. Even if I just help one person who had a similar problem it was worth doing the video! Thank you for watching!
Looks great! Thanks for posting
Thanks for watching!
You did an amazing job. Finding this video was perfect timing for us. after a year and 4 months this is the last thing to complete our basement. Thanks for making this. I hope it goes viral and you guys make a ton of money that pays for everything you did in your house.
Thank you! Be sure to watch my one-year update for additional tips and suggestions before starting your project. Thanks again for watching!
Sir, you rock! Exactly what I needed, was researching and there aren’t really satisfying solutions out there. Thanks so much for documenting that! Brilliant idea!
Glad the video helped! Don't forget to watch my one-year update video for additional tips and suggestions before starting. Thanks again for watching!
I think you did a great job and it looks great.
Thank you - greatly appreciated!
You still checking comments 3 yrs later? Hope so! Awesome video.. so our stairs don’t have the round bullnose (wood) but we want the rounded one on the vinyl, thoughts ?
Hi Don, thanks for watching! If you take a closer look at my bare stair treads, you'll see that the bullnose isn't completely rounded either. Because of the LVP thickness, it tended to naturally curve around the bullnose instead of molding to the actual shape that was underneath. However, if you remove too much from the bottom of the LVP, the plank might be too thin and could end up mimicking the underneath bullnose as you heat it up and bend it around the tread. Test a small piece of the LVP on your existing bullnose to see if you get the same results I did. If your stairs tend to all be the same thickness and width, I would say your best bet is to use some extra wood and create a mockup of a round bullnose about the thickness and width of your stair tread and use that mockup to mold the LVP bullnoses. That will give you a consistent bullnose that you can then slip over the stair tread. Good luck with your project!
You did a fantastic job! I bought these same brand vinyl planks for my RV. (Sterling Oak color). Thank you for this great video!!! You should send it to the company that makes the floor planks.
Thank you - greatly appreciated although I doubt if the company would appreciate me sending them advice heh, heh. Thanks for watching!
I think the company is more interested in selling expensive treads for those finishes where it's available. They'd hate to publicize an effective workaround!
nice job!! what is the thickness of the lifeproof LVP ?
6 MIL x 7.1 in. W x 48 in. For more details, search Home depot for "LifeProof Shadow Hickory". Thanks for watching!
Thanks a million going to do this now after they sell then for 50$ a piece I can get a whole box and some
Good luck with your project and thank you for watching!
Has anyone figured out how to do this for a stair with a 90 degree angle? I'm not sure how I would do this on a stair corner. Seems like I'd need to be a wizard.
Hmm, sounds like that is going to take some major creativity! Good luck with your project.
All I needed was to transition lvp to oak treads at the top step and landing to step, and no, I couldn't find a transition piece. I tried heating a bought transition with no luck. Then I watched your video. Thx buddy, great idea & video. Works well!!!
Glad to hear I helped someone! Thanks for watching!
Great work! Do you know the color name of the LVP?
Thanks for watching! The product I used is LifeProof Shadow Hickory sold at Home Depot. However, that was four years ago so I'm not sure if that is still around.
Excellent! Thx!
Hope it helps. Thanks for watching!
Yo Mr Wright what happens if your treads are 3x more importantly if your wrapping don't measure correctly to line up male female ends.
Hi John, thanks for watching. Not sure who Mr Wright is, but as for me, I only have experience with the narrower stairs (I'm assuming you're referring to the width) and was able to get away with one plank. This could get tricky if you have to put another plank end-to-end as you mention, but I think the overall concept could still work - especially if all the stairs are uniform. Good luck!
I’m a flooring designer for a National Company and you can come and work for us any day! Great job!
Heh heh, thanks for the props and for watching the video!
Lifeproof makes prefabricated treads for this ...
Maybe they do now, but not four years ago when I did this video - at least not ones that matched the flooring.
@@ChronologicallyExperienced Got mine installed around 3 years ago.
You did a great job
Much appreciated - thanks for watching!
nice job! how many steps are your stairs and how many planks did you use?
There are 13 steps and I used two planks for each. Thanks for watching!
So your just removing the padding on the dado
Yeah, that's an option if you have one. Thanks for watching!
Any thoughts on how to finish open Left and right ends that are on a floating stair tread. Think of it as a U…. LVP showing on 3 sides.. great job❤
Thanks for watching! I'm afraid you're going to probably have to get very creative if you are going to use the LVP planks. I don't have a clear idea of what you are dealing with, but the only thing I can think of is using CA glue or construction glue to somehow adhere it to the ends. Or if you don't mind the small nail holes, I guess you could use a nail gun. If the open sides are even with the riser, maybe you could kind of miter the corners to line up similar to a baseboard. Sorry I'm not much help here.
We learn from mistakes.
:-)
Thank you so much!! You problem solve like I do. If there is a will…you can find a way. I know I can do this project! Thank you for the step by step.
Glad you got inspired! Be sure to watch my update video for additional tips and suggestions from myself and viewers before you start. Thanks for Watching!
Wow, beautiful! Nice job dude! How is everything holding up? I think this is exactly what I was looking to do with my tires and dated staircase.
Still holding up like it looked initially. No cracks, wear or tear - and they definitely get a lot of wear in our house. Be sure to watch my follow-up video for additional tips and suggestions from myself and viewers before you start. Thanks for Watching!
I’ve watched the follow up video and I’m quite impressed! I’m definitely going to be utilizing this strategy to refinish my existing staircase. Thanks for sharing your experience!
Good job Sir!
Thanks Dang!
Nice! Hey did you ever take a test piece too bend w/o doing that process with the router to cut out the underlayment material? I'm curious if I could do without that step.
Hi Eric. I did try it but it took too much heat to get to a point where I could bend it without actually melting the surface. That's why I decided to trim it back a bit. Maybe someone else might have better luck. Thanks for watching!
@@ChronologicallyExperienced Thank you. And did I hear you say in the video that your LVP pieces are 7.25" wide? That sounds the same as the ones I bought, so you didn't need to cut the width down for your LVP to fit the total width of the stair tread? Your stair treads look like mine too, which is probably the typical 2x10.
@@ericbader Yeah, it worked out perfectly using two planks since the bullnose piece wrapped enough underneath the lip for me to pin it with the riser from the stair below it. Good luck!
This concept looks so much better than the bullnose they sell...
Yeah, that's what prompted me to try this out! :-) Thanks for watching.
Looks great. Great minds think alike.
Heh heh, thanks for watching!
I wonder if I can do the same for the bull nose with laminate flooring??? Anyone know yet?
Not sure, but if you have a scrap piece, give it a try. Thanks for watching!
No, laminate will not bend like vinyl
Genius
Maybe not genius, but thanks for the compliment and watching! :-)
VERY nice job! Thanks for the instruction!
You are welcome, thanks for watching!
Obviously I am doing this! Thanks man, awesome demonstration!
Thanks, good luck with your project!