Question about painting inside RV (2024)

FAQs

Question about painting inside RV? ›

One very important thing to consider before painting the interior of your RV, is temperature and humidity. Most oil based paint adheres best when temperatures are between 40 and 90 degrees. Latex paint is best to use when temperatures are between 50 and 85 degrees.

You'll need to use oil based Kilz first. After that, you can use interior household paint (water based). The water based stuff won't stick to the vinyl wallpaper covered paneling in most rvs.

Peel and stick wallpaper is easier and quicker to apply than paint, and if you choose removable wallpaper, you won't have to worry about a cheap vinyl finish or toxic chemicals inside your RV. Without further ado, let's check out some stunning ways to use peel and stick wallpaper for RV decorating projects.

By far, we recommend Sherwin Williams Emerald Acrylic Latex paint as the best option for your RV walls and cabinets! Behr and Heirloom Traditions are two popular options that we see commonly used and recommended. Other mentioned paints we saw were: Benjamin Moore (good choice)

Like I mentioned in the previous step, because RV walls aren't made of sheetrock like in a normal house, you need to use a specific type of primer to prep the walls for paint. We used KILZ Adhesion Bonding Primer and highly recommend it.

In most RVs, you'll find that the interior layer — which includes walls and ceilings — is made up of two different materials. RV walls are usually covered in thin plywood or medium density fiberboard (MDF). In higher end or more expensive campers, you may see vinyl paneling used as well.

RV indoor walls are notoriously difficult to paint because the it's really difficult for the primer to adhere to the vinyl 'wallpaper' coating. Because of this, you want to do everything you can to help it adhere properly.

Yes, you can paint RV cabinets without sanding. However, I don't advise that you do so. Skipping the sanding step of painting RV cabinets can result in the paint not adhering well and peeling off. It's worth the extra time to sand first.

Whether you're completely remodeling your RV to live in, or just need to freshen up your RV rental, painting your cabinets is a great way to update your RV's interior.

A professional body painting on an RV has a significantly longer lifespan so that not only will owners benefit from such an investment for longer than five years, but that investment will hold up and will boost the model's resale value.

What color is best for RV interior? ›

Bright, airy paint colors in RV interior color schemes can make coaches feel spacious and calm. And light, neutral-toned wood lends to the overall effect. Modern RVs often use color palettes with a variety of whites, light grays, and light wood tones.

Yes, white is selected precisely to prevent the passenger compartment from overheating excessively, especially during stops. Because white reflects sunlight, and so its properties help to prevent the accumulation of excessive heat, guaranteeing an environment that is always fresh... as much as possible, let's say!

My advice for painting the walls in your RV is to make time to prep the areas first, as this will help ensure a quality paint job that will last. Be sure to make any repairs beforehand, and then clean all surfaces with a degreaser such as TSP or Simple Green, which may help eliminate the need for scuff sanding.

Wax and Clean your RV Regularly

Ensuring you regularly clean and wax your RV is important to protect your RV's exterior from the sun's UV rays. Make sure you wash your RV properly to extract any debris, dirt, and unwanted substances that could have a negative reaction to exposure to the sun and cause harm.

Most manufactured homes come equipped with vinyl walls. This doesn't necessarily affect your ability to paint over them, provided you use the right materials.

We used the Control Pro 170 Sprayer because it allowed us to quickly and easily spray our primer and our paint on all surfaces of the RV – the walls, ceiling, and cabinets. The paint went on smoothly and easily!

Choosing RV Exterior Paint

The professionals might use marine epoxy or automotive paint, which are the longest lasting options.