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Can You Paint Aluminum RV Exterior?
The simple answer is yes, you can. Painting the aluminum exterior of an RV is a feasible task that can significantly enhance its appearance and lifespan. It requires careful preparation and suitable paint products designed explicitly for aluminum surfaces.
- Cleaning the RV Surface: Thoroughly clean with a pressure washer.
- Sanding the Surface: Use 120 to 180-grit sandpaper for better adherence.
- Applying Primer: This is an essential step for painting aluminum surfaces.
- Paint Application: Select exterior-grade paint that is resistant to the elements.
- Optional Clear Coat: Consider adding a clear coat for a glossy finish.
When RVs are new, they look shiny and ready to conquer the roads. But after two or three years, they start looking rusty, old, and about to break down.
This is because RVs are built for the roads and off-grid living; they are not made to be frequently covered using an RV cover or parked in a nicely shaded parking area.
Since RVs are built for the road/ for the RV life, RV owners usually travel with them for days and park them in areas where they get exposed to all types of weather elements, allowing nature to take its toll.
If your RV looks old, rusty, and about to die, you do not need to upgrade to a new one. Of course, you can, but it will be costly. You need to get it serviced and then apply a fresh coat of paint on it.
It will look like a new RV because of the paint job and move like a new RV because of the servicing.
In this article, I will share information about how to paint an aluminum RV exterior. I will give you all the tips to paint your RV so that anybody who sees it thinks it is new or a professional has painted it.
So, Can You Paint An Aluminum RV Exterior?
Of course you can! I know I let the cat out of the bag in the previous paragraph, but it is what it is. You can paint an aluminum RV exterior, and I will show you exactly how in the following sections.
RV owners are afraid of painting aluminum RV siding because they think their paint jobs will look bad or they could make costly and irreparable mistakes.
However, there is no need to fear painting your RV. This is because there is nothing wrong with doing so, and it is a relatively straightforward thing to do.
How to Paint Aluminum RV Siding
The key to painting the aluminum body of your RV is first to buy a paint that can stick to aluminum. After doing this, you should thoroughly wash your recreational vehicle to remove all dirt that could make your paint look funny.
After doing this, you are supposed to cover the RV’s lights and everything else you will not need to be covered in paint. It is easy to do so using a tape.
Then, you are supposed to rough up the old paint using sandpaper. The next thing you need to do is apply an aluminum oxide primer and then apply the paint you bought.
The above is just the summary of the aluminum RV siding painting job. Below are all the steps you must follow to ensure your paint job looks brilliant.
1. Prepare Your RV
To avoid damaging screen doors, light fixtures, and awnings, you must remove or protect them from damage. It would be best to withdraw any slide-outs to make your work easy.
If your RV has an external kitchen, you need to clean it and lock it back into your RV’s body. Next, you need to close all doors and windows.
2. Wash Your RV
To ensure your paint job looks professional and not amateurish, you must give your RV a good wash. I cannot stress this enough.
If you do not wash your RV properly and you paint it over, you will regret how it looks when it dries up. So thoroughly wash every external part of your RV.
Use a pressure washer if you have one, or take your RV to a car wash to ensure it gets clean.
3. Wait for Your RV to Dry Up
After washing your RV, you are supposed to let it dry. So give your RV thirty minutes or one hour to ensure it is scorched.
4. Cover Everything Up
Cover everything up with tape after watching your RV dry (no need to watch it dry). This may seem like an unnecessary step, but it is essential.
You are supposed to tape up everything you do not need to cover with paint, e.g., the windows of your RV, the braking lights and adjacent lights, and any rubber designs on it. The best tape to use is the painter’s tape.
5. Rough up Your RV
This step is unnecessary but a good step if you want great results. You are supposed to rough up your RV’s aluminum siding using soft grit sandpaper. Roughing up and RVing is usually challenging work but also provides brilliant results.
6. Apply a Coat of Aluminum Oxide
Roughing up your RV’s aluminum siding makes it easier for aluminum oxide primer to adhere to it. You can apply a coat of primer using a brush, a roller, or a sprayer.
In my opinion, rollers are the best for priming aluminum/metal surfaces. After applying a coat of aluminum oxide, wait for the siding to dry completely.
7. Apply a Coat of Aluminum-friendly Paint
After priming your RV using an aluminum oxide primer, it will be ready for painting. The best aluminum paints are acrylic latex or oil-based paints. Ask your RV dealer if you are not sure.
The best tool to apply paint on aluminum siding is a sprayer. After painting your RV aluminum siding, give it time to dry.
After it dries up, notice the areas that need more paint and apply a second coat. For the best results, use the paint evenly.
8. Wait for Your Aluminum Siding To Dry, and Then Remove the Taping
After painting your siding, you are supposed to give it plenty of time to dry before you remove the taping.
9. Watch Your RV Dry
Watching the paint dry is essential, especially if you have kids or pets around. They could touch the wet paint and destroy everything you have done. So sit somewhere outside your RV and wait for everything to dry.
10. Enjoy Your Brand-New Looking RV
If you follow all the steps above, your RV will look brand new when it completely dries up. When it does so, get it serviced and go to Florida, California, Montana, Yellowstone, Acapulco, British Columbia, or anywhere else you’ve always wanted to visit or camp.
The Best Paint for Aluminum RVs
The best paint for applying on aluminum RV siding is any paint designed for use on aluminum.
Experienced RV owners usually apply car paint on their RVs. This is because such paints are designed for application to aluminum-body cars. So, they typically work well on RV aluminum siding.
People also apply house paint designed for house aluminum siding.
So, use automotive paint or aluminum-friendly house paint. However, before buying anything, consult with your RV manufacturer or local dealer.
Send them an email and tell them precisely what you want to do. They will tell you the recommended paints or recommend somewhere where you can go to get the help you need.
What Roller is Best for RV Paint?
When considering the roller best for RV paint, a standard roller with a 3/8″ nap is often the ideal choice. This type of roller is effective for ensuring smooth and even coverage on the flat surfaces of an RV.
The 3/8″ nap size can hold a substantial amount of paint, which reduces the number of times you need to reload, thus speeding up the painting process. Notably, such rollers are readily available and reasonably priced.
To Repaint or Replace Aluminum Siding
If your aluminum siding is damaged, painting it is of no use. You need to buy and replace the damaged part or parts before considering any repainting.
If your RV looks old and rusty and its siding or frame is undamaged, you should just paint it. It is of no use to replace a part or parts of your RV’s aluminum siding or frame if nothing is damaged.
Most RV owners prefer repainting their RVs over replacing their aluminum siding. This is because replacing a part or parts of an aluminum RV is almost always much more expensive than painting an aluminum RV.
Moreover, the chances of making a costly mistake, such as damaging a window, are high during replacement and minimal during repainting.
In short, if your RV has not suffered any damage, repaint it. It is the best thing to do.
This video has been included to clarify the topic. Credit goes to SMG
Wrapping Up
It is possible to paint an RV’s aluminum exterior, transforming it from a dull, weathered surface into a bright, appealing facade. The first step in this process is thoroughly cleaning the RV’s surface.
This can be accomplished using a pressure washer, effectively removing dirt and debris and ensuring a smooth paint application.
Sanding the surface is recommended for better paint adherence and following the essential step of applying a primer. This serves as an intermediary layer between the aluminum surface and the paint, enhancing the durability and appearance of the paint job.
The subsequent step involves the actual application of paint. It is crucial to select an exterior-grade paint that is resistant to various elements and fluctuating temperatures.
This type of paint is specifically designed to withstand harsh outdoor conditions, ensuring the longevity of your RV’s new look.
Consider adding a clear coat after the paint has dried. This optional step adds a layer of protection to the painted surface and enhances the shine and color depth of the paint.
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