Painting Interior

[Greg]

I am about to move into my first mobile home. Its a 1996 double wide, and at the moment brand name escapes me. It has the wall panels on the inside that are cover'd with like a vinyl wall paper. It has thin boards that cover the seams between the panels. The ceilings are sheetrock. In one of the bedrooms, the walls have been painted, but it really doesn't look that good. All the carpet needs replacing as well as all the vinyl flooring. Now...I have built my own home before, was is now my ex wifes house...so I have some knowledge but know NOTHING about mobile homes. In the bedrooms for now I want to just paint the walls, but I would also like to remove the strips between the panels and fill them in with something, is that possible? Also how is the best way to paint the walls because they have a vinyl like covering. In the living room I would like to install sheetrock, but don't know if it will be able to support it. I can replace the carpet but would like install the new locking cerimac tiles in the kitchen. Because I love to cook and spend alot of time in the kitchen it will be last and will get a complete makeover. I wonder if the walls will be able to support kitchen cabinets built like for a regular home. Anyone have any advice?

[bill]

Greg, the strips between each vinyl panel hides the butt joint. If you remove the strip, you'll have to mud (plaster) the seam two or three times, sanding between each coat of mud. Alot of work. I suggest you paint over the strips, the easy way out but in the long run probably better than trying to plaster each seam which I would guess is every four feet. Note: The plastering job is a mess and unless you are really experienced could look worse then the strip when the job is complete.
Kitchen cabinets will work fine, just make sure you screw them into studs which should be on 16'" centers.
Good luck. Bill

[Kim]

We are currently remodeling our 1993 double wide. We are in the living room now. We take two walls at a time, remove the seem covers and the waynes coating. Mudd/tape and paint the walls. We've done this in our daughters room and her bathroom, we textured those walls. We just finished the kitchen (flat walls). It looks better without the seem covers. Our double wide is looking more and more like a regular house and with the colors we want. Now I just have to figure out how to paint that plastic front door. Any ideas? Thanks!

[David Oxhandler]

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[harvy lake]

kim,,,,go to an MAB..paint store,,,they have spray can paint made for plastic,,color's may be limited,,,but they work very well

[Richard]

For the "plastic" front door; lightly scuff the surface with a fine grit sandpaper. Clean the surface and then apply a primer/sealer such as BIN or KILZ. This stuff sticks to anything! Let the primer dry and apply 2 coats exterior acrylic latex.Good Luck! Richard

[Dale]

I removed the strips, coated all the walls with Zinsser 123 primer, put fiberglass mesh tape over the joints, and used lightweight joint compound. It's been over three years, no cracks.

[Lana Testa]

Hi there..we have painted the living room, dining room and kitchen in the Manufactured home we bought this past March..it is located in TheVillages in LadyLake Florida..all our rooms had the strips removed between the seams except for one wall in bedroom and as another said..it can be easily made to look like a regular home..
the methods mentioned work fine..we chose all earthy colors..such as soft mustard, and sage..and my Uncle helped my husband put down wood laminate flooring throughout most of the house..
When we return in Late Sept my husband is going to take up the kitchen flooring...and will most likely have to replace some of the subflooring..and reinforce some of the floor joists as they feel soft
It is a 1986 dbl wide so I guess almost 20 yrs ya have to expect some things need replacing
We too plan to do the kitchen completely over..if anyone wants pics of what we have done so far I am glad to share them.
good luck..and if anyone out there knows a contractor in LadyLake area that can do my kitchen cabinet for me...please let us know
Lana testa
[email protected]

[Susan]

Where can I find replacement vinyl boards, most have an awful flower pattern and we really want to change them, but I can't find anywhere to go. Any suggestions?

[Les]

Susan - there's really no need to replace your interior panels with the same material. Sheetrock (drywall) is inexpensive and can be worked and finished in any way you want - paint, wallpaper, venitian plaster - the possibilities are endless! You can make your manufactured home look and feel like any site-built home using the same building materials. I did!