Stripping only down to vinyl on walls

[Excella71]

After several searches of the forum, I'm giving up on finding info on this on my own.

Our Excella is badly painted inside [over dirty walls, I believe]bright hot pink. On top of that is smoker's...uh, smoke. Whatever you call the residue from smoking.

Husband and I would like to strip off the hot pink paint and take it back down to the original. Anything's better than thinking you're in the quiet room at the jail....

Any recommendations as to products to use? Citrus stripper is my first choice, but do I need to do anything about the rest of the grunge?

[InsideOut]

I would test the CitriStrip in someplace hidden...it may make the vinyl gummy. Anythng any stronger definately will.

I have seen a 70's vinyl-clad interior that was painted very successfully with Zolotone over the vinyl...it looked spectacular! The texture of the vinyl read through very slightly which just gave it more interest.

Good luck with whatever you decide to do.

Shari

[Zeppelinium]

If the paint isn't adhering too strongly, TSP might work. It does wonders cleaning years of caked on cooking oil and smokers residue off of the vinyl.

Zep

[tslanier]

You mentioned painting over successfully with Zolatone. Is Zolatone a type of paint?

[Darol Ingalls]

Hot pink - another reason to NEVER paint the interior of a vinyl-clad airstream. My three deal killers when looking at Airstreams for sale: (1) Silicone on the exterior, (2) sticky shelf paper in the cabinets and (3) painted vinyl. Darol

[Jim & Susan]

TS, Zolatone was a type of paint was used in the early years on the bare aluminum of the inner walls of the Airstream. It is a type of paint especially made for that purpose. Later on, in the mid to late ‘60’s, Airstream started using the vinyl that you have in yours. In more recent times, Airstream has used other types of interior treatments for the walls.

The problem with the vinyl is that it is difficult to both clean and then re-coat. There are many threads on both zolatone and vinyl wall cleaning/painting. I’m not at home right now, but could point you to several good posts that I have saved over time. I’ll try to remember to do that next week when we get back home.

Jim

[tslanier]

Thx Jim,
I would appreciate your help. I don't care for the vinyl I have in mine. I'm looking for the best options for a cleaner, simpler finish.
Stewart