I am going to be redoing the interior of my trailer and am contemplating painting the oak. Has anyone else tried this and if so how did it turn out? I have searched for pics but can't seem to find any.?.Also, how about the walls? Will paint stick to the finish?
If you plan on EVER selling your trailer, don't do it! Most buyers want the original wood finish (& Zolotone) unadulturated, especially with the vintage trailers.
Oak is too nice a wood to cover with paint. Sand it, stain it if you like, seal it and enjoy it. Nothing looks beter then finished wood. That's my opinion only.
While I like the newer coaches, I prefer the older natural wood, finished and coated. You don't have to finish it a dark color, you can give it a more modern "feel" by staining with a lighter color. It will also give the trailer a more open, airy atmosphere, rather than the "suburban apartment" feeling you will get by painting.
My first motorhome ('83 310) had been owned by an "agricultural engineer" who painted the oak cabinets. Looked terrible, was a lot of trouble to strip and refinish.
Put away the paint and get out the stain. Painting the wood makes it look so sterile. The look of the natural wood is so soothing I can't imagine painting it. We took off over four layers of paint on our wood cabinets. Worth every minute of the mess.
We still don't know the age of your unit.
Best rule of thumb for doing old houses or old Airstreams:
Do nothing that can't be undone to restore to original!
Having said that, it's your unit, do as you like. But, if any time in the future you are looking to sell.... be aware that much you do will not add to value, but detract and lower instead!!!
Anything you do, do the highest standards.... if you paint, NO BRUSH MARKS!! If you do the floor, say install tile.... no gaps between tiles allowed!
If all you're wanting is to freshen and lighten, consider putting a wallpaper insert on each door. Use a strippable type for ease of undoing I might be tempted to use the kind that imitates a tin ceiling, and paint them before installing.
Your unit, your call.
Meanwhile, ENJOY!!!!
Elizabeth in Iowa
__________________ The carpeting is gone! The carpeting is gone! Long live the cork floor!
It's a 1993 34'. As soon as I posted I realized I meant stain not paint. I appreciate the comments and the pictures from everyone. My wife and I are just not crazy about the current stain color. It is the normal oak color that you normally see and we were looking for something more exciting. By the way, when we bought the unit in May we planned on replacing the upholstery and floor coverings but found rot in a few places so most all of the cabinets and such are out already except for the kitchen. I still need to fix the floor, but I am trying to get a plan in my head about the finishing of the unit. I think I'll go to Sherwin-Williams and look at stain colors soon.
I'll never forget what Henry Ford said to his wife when he returned home one night after being gone on a business trip and found his wife had painted white the beautiful imported walnut panelled walls in the large family room of their Dearborn, MI home.
"What do you think, Henry?" she asked.
And after thinking for a minute, he replied, "Peace, at any price."
But if MY DEAR WIFE ever painted the woodwork in our home or trailer while I was away....well, don't ask!
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The carpeting is gone! The carpeting is gone! Long live the cork floor!
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