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Painting interior vinyl

Geocritter
Explorer
Explorer
I recently bought a 1994 Holiday Rambler. The interior walls appear to be covered with vinyl. Does anyone have experience with painting over this material? I realize that oil-based paints would probably do the trick but I'd rather use a semi-gloss water-based paint if possible.
Thanks in advance for any help and advice.
Steve
10 REPLIES 10

rgatijnet1
Explorer III
Explorer III
You can get very creative when you paint the interior of your coach. We used to texture coat the interior walls of hotels and those same techniques can be used by anyone that wants to do the same in their MH.
After the wall is cleaned and properly prepared, it should be primed first. Then a solid background color can be applied to the wall. From Home Depot you can get an inexpensive hopper gun. In this gun you can add the texture colored paint, and using a small compressor you can spray on a contrasting texture coat to add depth and some interest to your wall surfaces.
This is not difficult and can be done by anyone with a little skill as long as you do not mind masking off the surrounding areas in the coach.

Rich_D_
Explorer
Explorer
calvin5445 wrote:
I have an 89 monaco that was mauve inside, I used a product that SEM has and I sprayed it a neutral color. This is a vinyl spray paint. It goes on beautifully. Great product, I was shocked as to application and coverage, I wouldnt use anything else. go to there website.
Calvin 89 Crown


X2 on SEM paints. Great product, I've used it on car upholstery panels.
Rich D. Wanderlodge M450 LXi

Tucson_Lawrence
Explorer
Explorer
we're about to paint the interior of our coach as well (a 2004 Damon Challenger)

My research and experience with other projects leads me to believe that I should clean and give a good scrub and then use a shellac-based primer (one popular brand I use often is Zinsser) Shellac will stick to just about anything and just about anything will then stick to shellac... After the prime, I plan to paint with interior-grade house paint.

I've got a piece of wallboard from my wardrobe removal that has the paper on it and I'll be doing some test strips first and will let y'all know how it goes.

Lawrence
"Never remain neutral for the victor will consider you part of his spoils and the vanquished will have no room for you in his cave"
-unknown author

Click herehere to visit my woodworking portfolio

Sooner_Schooner
Explorer
Explorer
Might look at "Color Bond" paint, I have not used it yet but I am ordering some for a RV project I am about to do. It's supposed to be great stuff and they have many colors.
2008 Damon Tuscany 4076 40' Diesel Pusher

Geocritter
Explorer
Explorer
I've explored this painting vinyl issue on other sites, had a discussion with a friend and I also just completed the laborious task of ridding the MH of a 20 year accumulation of cigarette smoke and cooking film. To begin:

On one site a person primered and painted vinyl walls of a manufactured home he'd bought second hand. The primer and paint promptly peeled off in sheets.

As for my discussion, my friend and his wife are very clean people, I've stayed at their Alaskan home and his wife is a stellar housekeeper. Yet he was surprised to find an oily film on the top of a mounted sheeps head located 30 feet from the kitchen stove. Who would've thought that cooking grease would carry so far.

I just spent days cleaning the walls and ceiling of my newly purchased motorhome of what I thought was cigarette smoke film using TSP. However, the film was much worse in the kitchen area, which was filthy. The hood over the range was so sticky I completely removed it along with the grill around the microwave to clean them. I first attacked the area under the stove burners with a putty knife, it was that bad.

As a result of my research, my friends experience, my experience, and the experiences posted by the other board members I've decided what's paramount to painting over vinyl with a water-based paint is a thorough prep job and cleaning followed by the use of high quality primer and paint.

Steve

adamcarp
Explorer
Explorer
Got a 93 georgia boy that had some pretty bad 80's looking interior, my wife painted it with standard interior house paint/primer frome lowes and it looks amazing.
2007 Rockwood signature ultralite 8318SS

1999 Chevy suburban 2500 7.4l 4.10 gears
k/n filter
dynomax exhaust

calvin5445
Explorer
Explorer
I have an 89 monaco that was mauve inside, I used a product that SEM has and I sprayed it a neutral color. This is a vinyl spray paint. It goes on beautifully. Great product, I was shocked as to application and coverage, I wouldnt use anything else. go to there website.
Calvin 89 Crown

erniee
Explorer
Explorer
semi gloss will sure be shiney
Ernie Ekberg, Prevost Liberty XL Classic

fcooper
Explorer
Explorer
Any good automotive type paint store can custom mix a paint made for vinyl upholstery in any color you want. I've used it to change colors on car seats, and it works very well.

Fred
Fred & Vicki
St. Augustine, Florida

donn0128
Explorer II
Explorer II
Did our bathroom last year. Wash the walls thoroughly with TSP. Then prime and paint normally. Any good paint store can give you some more pointers. Be sure to not use the cheapest products.