Painting outside of van

[Dotplus6]

Hi - I’m going to start painting the outside of my motorhome. Part is raw aluminium & the rest the original paint. Can anyone recommend what I should use as a primer on each surface. The final coat is going to be Farrow & Ball Exterior Eggshell hand painted with a high density foam roller. The van is almost 30 years old so I’m happy with this type of finish as not prepared to pay a couple of thousand +++ to get a professional job done. I’ve painted a sheet of thin cardboard with F&B Ext & was sblle to bend it in 1/2 without it cracking. Happy to experiment & I think it will look way better than it does now.

 

[Dotplus6]

 

[jockaneezer]

I think you need an "etch" primer for aluminium, but I'm sure someone will be along shortly who will know for sure ?

 

[Bonsaiman]

I'm no paint expert but can you paint aluminium with a household exterior paint?

Aren't F&B paints all water based and I always thought acrylic or oil based paints were best on metal

You will definitely need a degreaser and some form of etch primer on the bare aluminium

 

[Gellyneck]

I'm no paint expert but can you paint aluminium with a household exterior paint?

Aren't F&B paints all water based and I always thought acrylic or oil based paints were best on metal

You will definitely need a degreaser and some form of etch primer on the bare aluminium

Agreed, needs descaling, degreasing, appropriate primer and an oil based topcoat.

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[Dotplus6]

I'm no paint expert but can you paint aluminium with a household exterior paint?

Aren't F&B paints all water based and I always thought acrylic or oil based paints were best on metal

You will definitely need a degreaser and some form of etch primer on the bare aluminium

 

[Dotplus6]

Yeah - you definitely need a different primer for aluminium but once the primer goes on (providing it’s suitable) the F&B can go over it. Hubby is suggesting to just leave the aluminium unpainted & do the rest

 

[Dotplus6]

Agreed, needs descaling, degreasing, appropriate primer and an oil based topcoat.

Can you even get oil based paint anymore? Surely providing the primer is for aluminium, and is a primer that you can paint with water based paint, it should be fine - the water based won’t be touching the aluminium.

 

[Gellyneck]

Can you even get oil based paint anymore? Surely providing the primer is for aluminium, and is a primer that you can paint with water based paint, it should be fine - the water based won’t be touching the aluminium.

The best topcoat would be automotive paint however if "your just wanting to throw something on" I'm a fan of Zinnser paints. Never used them on vehicles but, MAYBE, their Allcoat Exterior Satin MIGHT work.

 

[PeterCarole29]

Just looked and it seems Farrow and Ball advertise paint for metal so would suggest you have to put an etch primer and contact the tech department of Farrow and Ball
Farrow and Ball is a lovely paint

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[BouncyBoatFolk]

A RAL/ BS coloured paint used for overhead opening loading doors would be suitable. Bedec make some excellent paints for metal applications. Any deep coloured paint will oxidise after about 10 years.
Mike.

 

[Winger]

Take a look on YouTube for Paul Glover aka Derbypub, he repainted his Talbot with quality mini rollers and paint. He did a nice job

 

[Phill D]

Another vote for bedec multi surface paint

 

[pappajohn]

Aren't F&B paints all water based

If it is it'll be cracked and flaking by next summer.
Worst invention ever as far as paint goes.
I used it on a gable end timberwork and black gloss on the decorative border.
The black is still glossy but what's left of the white water rubbish is flaked and dull.
Save money, use oil based gloss or enamel.

 

[BouncyBoatFolk]

There are many types of acrylic paint( water based) the automotive industry and construction industry in the warehouse sector have been using it for decades. Correctly applied it is guaranteed for 25 years, think Kingspan industrial sheeting manufacturers. I have seen it fail, but Kingspan quickly came out and repainted it situ.
Mike.

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[Dotplus6]

If it is it'll be cracked and flaking by next summer.
Worst invention ever as far as paint goes.
I used it on a gable end timberwork and black gloss on the decorative border.
The black is still glossy but what's left of the white water rubbish is flaked and dull.
Save money, use oil based gloss or enamel.

If it does, I can just paint it again . I want to put it to the test…

 

[Dotplus6]

Take a look on YouTube for Paul Glover aka Derbypub, he repainted his Talbot with quality mini rollers and paint. He did a nice job

Thanks for this - checked out a few of his posts. Very similar project to us only we stripped the entire inside of the van & put new insulation through out because of damp. The boys used a chisel to take insulation off (like him) & managed to damage the panels on the outside, hence the new aluminium sheets on both sides. But we’re nearly there (4 years later) and only 56k on it so hopefully we get a few years for all the work & expense put into it.

 

[pagey]

use an etch primer first so you have a key then i would use repaint (google) for a good finish use a roller or brush its good stuff

 

[oldiesontour]

Etch primer and synthetic top coat,similar to oil based gloss been used on vehicles for many many years,available in any vehicle colour and cheap(as paint goes) eBay agricultural paint

 

[Gellyneck]

Bedec make some excellent paints for metal applications.

Zinnser for us but Bedec for the house door steps, etc.

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[Carpmart]

NATO paint, in grey (battleship) or green would be my approach.

I’ve always fancied a duck egg blue vehicle. Seems very ‘en vogue’ as a colour now, kind of like stop painting after the primer!

 

[PeterCarole29]

While we are on the subject of paint has anyone used what they call Raptor paint

 

[Spriddler]

Bedec for the house door steps

Painted door steps? How bizarre. Is that an oop North thing?

 

[Gellyneck]

Painted door steps? How bizarre. Is that an oop North thing?

Way back when they used to get "red leaded".
This was the most popular colour, Cardinal Red.

ps they're back to delivering milk in glass bottles again!