Caravan Diaries: Paint

Exterior Improvement: peach tones to happy brights..but which one?

Our wee man says blue, yellow and green. My default setting is red, though would this look to seasonal with the green Ranger details? 

I needed to start by finding out how to paint the outside of a caravan. My assumption (and a family penchant for car improvement programs) led me to think I would need acres of car spray paint- at £7 a can, this would cost more than the van, but look good. Also, fumes for a preggers lady arent good.  So, as was suggested by the nice man in Halfords, I Googled it. (As an aside, when did that become okay terminolgy to use in advisement settings? My doctor in consultation even recommended this recently- is it a sort of 'i havent time to explain / you seem capable of researching this further / i dont really know #tag) .

Here is a lovely blog The Happy Caravanner, that has helped me..and our budget. Sometimes a job can feel monumental and you just aren't sure how to get it done.. I now know how to begin.. wet and dry sandpaper + primer + gloss (whichever colour we choose). 



She says: 
'Painting the exterior is quite a big job and I have had lots of practice to get a good finish however if you are having a go then preparation again is all important!

Wet and dry sand paper with plenty of water.
Good quality exterior paint (several coats) and lots of time and dry weather!
I use a short haired or sponge roller and small brush for the edges.

Time consuming but rewarding I would say that if you want to see a fast result then you will get fed up very quickly, by just painting the interior walls and putting a few crochet blankets over seats brings speedier results.'

Ideas: 

Trad. green + shop inspiration blog here!

Interior of Nicole Caulfield's gallery

ps Check out this Off Grid blog

Azure blue

'Fiat' red...

as an aside, 

it would really suit us to have a tattoo / Memphis Belle style design on the side; possibly my shop logo but possibly a Reitveld style lady.

and now the hard work begins...

Phase 1: Primer. 

Following the experienced advise of The Happy Caravanner, I went against my own grain and prepped the van first. I dont like faff and I tend to plan then plough-in however, this time I thought it would be less costly to do it properly first time- rather than risk a flakey paint situation in 2 years time. Primer went well, though the bumpy surface meant the process was more curcular brush-strokes than Mr Miyagi.

Phase 2: Decision made...yellow!

SO, it turns out there isn't the widest selection of exterior gloss paints available in DIY/trade stores. People apparently want red, green. navy, black or white front doors etc. The most unusual colour- cheery and bright, was yellow. Et voila! ....However, 'Hot Mustard' from Sandtex was a little less sunshine, a little more signage than I hoped. Chipper yes, but also seemingly the colour of little choice for other quirky folk starting caravan-based businesses. Two issues that I have struggled with, so I puzzled-it-out on the front driveway to see whether we were 'sticking or twisting' colour-wise...

The answer... we TWIST

Hubbies off the buy 'teal' from the same paint range this evening. Homebase price-match B&Q who stock different Sandtex colours, so hopefully one £14.99 can will go over and 2nd coat the van. The yellow was a runnier paint than I expected but turns out thats brilliant! Went on  3 panels within an hour. That's how we roll. I think cost-wise, the white areas will stay white until August, when they may go grey, but teal and white has enough tradition whilst complimenting a skandi-bright interior and my work neon logos, Always keeping in mind, is the van visible from the road for attracting custom? 

P.S. just seen these, 

Colour chalk-board paint for the interior doors

Interior NEON gloss paint range

 UM Yes please!

Next post: Final colour and starting on the interior.