A Women's RV Forum run by Women RVer's!

because it is a decorating question not a maintenance question choose to post here if wrong move me ok?
I'm in a mood to change the interior of the inside of my fifth wheel...it has a wallpaper look not sure what it is but not
fabric so can it be painted if so what is advised and issues if you've done it?
sheila

I painted all the cabinets in my Class C because they had an orangey finish that I hated. I also "painted" all the fabric because it was an icky blueish color. You just get the fabric medium that you add to latex paint and voila - new color. I also changed all the cabinet latches and handles - can you believe there there 30, yes 30, handles in that damn RV.

I actually like my cabinets so won't be painting them or at least I don't plan on it but it's the walls and ceiling I want to paint
again it's not fabric but what looks like wall paper and the border that goes around know it is as I put some over the one they had going around
just don't want to pain then have it flack off so want to know if i need to put a base coat on first then the color I want?
sheila

I have painted over wall paper many many times the only time you would have a problem is this the wallpaper is loose from the wall and I doubt that is a problem in an RV sometimes in an old house you might have that problem just go for it sounds wonderful I love changing things around also
PS..I used to remodel houses

Sheila, try a paint test spot in an out of the way spot, like under the dinette. See if it will 'cover' the patterns in the wall paper. If it won't cover look at using Kilz to cover the wall paper and then after it is good and dry paint it. Hope you are going with an exciting to you color!

I ran across some really neat paint Tuesday afternoon. It is the dry erase paint! I thought it was so neat. When I get my retired and not traveling in an RV anymore I will definitely have a couple of spots in my "then" kitchen and office to write on!

Good luck and keep us posted.

I started to do that too, years ago but never finished it. However, my son in law is a painter and I checked with him about the painting, some of the border was loose and it was advised to just remove it as it was the regular "paper" kind. Little steam
worked well and all the border has been removed around the livingroom and dining area. The rest of the wallpaper is the vinyl pressed on, clean real good with the tsp and then do a coat of kilz. After the kilz you just paint as normal. So thats the advice
I got from him.

Thanks all....the kilz was what I was trying to remember...what I am thinking right now is doing the bedroom
and see how it goes..haven't even looked at paint but did see a bedroom in a recent Woman's World that I liked
will have to look at it more...
again thanks
sheila

Sheila, you have cooked in your unit a lot. I would suggest that you wash the walls with trisodium phosphate (TSP) before you try to paint them.

I was washing the ceiling today in the kitchen which needs painting even if I don't do the walls
in the main part of the fifth wheel and thought I think I'll need to wash these again..so thanks for the tip
i saw Ava mention the tsp just didn't soak in so thank you both for the heads up on it...where do I find it?
sheila

We have bought it in both liquid and powdered form at Home Depot as well as Walmart in the paint department. Use gloves and protect your eyes.
Velda

thanks Velda
sheila

You are welcome. Glad to help when I can.
Velda

Sheila, if you use the Kilz, you won't need primer and the regular paint will be great. The Kilz seals the wallpaper to prevent matter from leaching through. The TSP is a neutralizer of growth items, but it does not seal.

With the painting and stain I have been doing on my sister house I used the TSP to neutralize the stripping material on the wood floor and the Kilz on the ceiling consisting of old wallboard. I used the paint with primer on a wallboard that was new and had been textured. But, I would not do that again on the other walls I am preparing to paint. On them I plan to prime the new wallboard and then use regular paint as the walls will be textured and the paint with primer does not like the texture we are using (neither do I). I will Kilz the ceiling as it is old wallboard but the walls are all new. And GOSH I hate painting in white....but it is my sister's house! Think I could introduce her to colors on the wall and do a bright white ceiling?

Keeps us posted on what you decide and pics on what you are doing.

so far all I've done is wipe down walls in the living room/kitchen I think since the bed room is smaller it will
be the room I start on but not sure when I will even start...I'm so easily swayed...so I never know what colors
I want and where to begin which is why I still have a yard of weeds that I can do anything I want with it...and right
now it is weeds!!! not that that is what I want
when I do anything I'll let you all know
sheila