Fulltime-friendly interior walls?

[BrockLives]

Apologies if this has been covered before, search didn't turn up anything. I plan to fulltime and spend time in colder climates, and I want to know what wall options are practical for doing so.

My 'stream currently has the ugly 70s vinyl-clad walls. I'm really taken with the CCD look, but am worried about condensation and durability if I just strip off the vinyl. I also read some threads about metallic laminates, which looked pretty cool if the real thing won't work. Will wall laminates hold up in those conditions?

Aside from metal/metal laminates, what else is out there? Wood I assume has condensation problems too. Any thoughts or ideas (negative is appreciated too, I don't want to get something and then have a huge disaster on my hands because I didn't look at the bad side well enough)?

Brock

[malconium]

Originally Posted by BrockLives

Apologies if this has been covered before, search didn't turn up anything. I plan to fulltime and spend time in colder climates, and I want to know what wall options are practical for doing so.

My 'stream currently has the ugly 70s vinyl-clad walls. I'm really taken with the CCD look, but am worried about condensation and durability if I just strip off the vinyl. I also read some threads about metallic laminates, which looked pretty cool if the real thing won't work. Will wall laminates hold up in those conditions?

Aside from metal/metal laminates, what else is out there? Wood I assume has condensation problems too. Any thoughts or ideas (negative is appreciated too, I don't want to get something and then have a huge disaster on my hands because I didn't look at the bad side well enough)?

Brock

I think if you are actually living in the unit during cold weather that you can minimize the condensation easily enough by a combination of venting moisture out (such as in the bathroom), how you heat and possibly by using some type of dehumidifier if there is just too much moisture. Virtually any kind of wall material will have problems if you let too much moisture build up. Keep things dry enough and you could use pretty much anything you want on the walls.

Malcolm

[CanoeStream]

By going to advanced search you can actually search the Full-Timing & Winter Living subforum. Search on the keyword condensation. Problems with any trailer and Airstream is no exception - 2" of fiberglass ain't much. The aluminum ribs with outer & inner skin provide no thermal break. I can speak for 30 degree & 20 degree camping -- it's necessary to leave a ceiling vent open slightly and maybe a window flopping loose to allow enough circulation to prevent great condensation. You'll go through a lot of LP -- up to 30# in one day from my experience if having to travel with the furnace on to keep the innards from freezing. You'll do well to look into bulk tanks if stationary.