The interiors of mobile homes can vary greatly in material. Some interior walls are made of artificial wood paneling, ceramic tile, drywall and plaster, but the most common one of all is vinyl.
When painting mobile home walls and adding a touch of color, it is important to figure out what kind of material you are dealing with in order to know the best type of paint for it.
In this article, we will be focusing more on the most common material for wall panels, which is vinyl coated walls.
Below, we discuss the type of paint mobile home walls need and a quick guide on painting walls the right way. Trust us, there is much more to it than it seems!
What Kind of Paint Do You Use on a Vinyl Mobile Home Wall?
There are different kinds of paint for different kinds of surfaces. When dealing with vinyl, we highly recommend going for acrylic latex paint.
This works best because it is lightweight and effectively clings well onto vinyl. By choosing a type of paint of which the viscosity is too thick will only lead to flaking.
Moreover, choose a low-sheen or flat acrylic-based paint since these are much better at hiding minor imperfections. However, high-gloss versions would look great for kitchens and bathrooms wherein the walls would usually need to be washed more often.
How to Paint Vinyl-Panel Walls in Manufactured Mobile Homes?
Painting your walls, or any household fixtures for that matter, is no easy task. It can be very time consuming and physically demanding because it involves much more than just spreading color over the surface.
There is a more accurate and efficient way to paint your walls, and we are here to guide you along the way.
The Materials You Will Need
First, equip yourself with the right set of tools to paint walls of your manufactured home This means getting the following ready:
- Painter’s tape
- Dish detergent mixed with water for cleaning solution
- Fine-grit sandpaper
- Acrylic Low Sheen / Flat Paint
- Acrylic Low Sheen / Flat primer
- Tarps
- Paint Brush and rollers
- Rags and sponges
Before Your Begin
Vinyl walls are usually made of drywall with sheets of vinyl applied on top, otherwise called Vinyl-On-Gypsum (VOG). Instead of using tape to cover the seams as what is done with regular drywall, VOG seams are covered with plastic strips called battens.
Before you start painting, you first should decide if you want to leave the battens on the wall or remove them.
The latter choice will result in a much cleaner and high quality job, but it will be somewhat of a tedious task. If you decide to leave them on, you can simply start painting over them.
Removing Mobile Home Wall Battens (Optional)
If you have decided to remove the battens, take a small thin pry bar and slowly take them out. Once you have all the battens off, you are done with the easy step.
Next up, apply a thick layer of drywall taping compound over the seams between the panels. After which, you need to cover the wet compound with strips of drywall joint tape and press firmly into place with a drywall knife. Once this is in place, you need to apply another layer of joint compound and let it all fully dry.
Similarly, you can use caulk to fill in the gaps by squeezing in an even bead along the gap and quickly smoothening it out.
You may need to repeat the process until there is enough caulk to fill it all up. Once done, carefully remove any excess from the sides with a wet rag. Allow it to fully dry up.
The Materials You Will Need
Preparing Your Walls
Now it is time to prep the surface of your wall so it is at its most optimal state to be painted on. We advise that you cover the floors and furniture with tarps or drop clothes at this point for an easier clean up.
Next, take your cleaning solution, which can simply be dish detergent mixed with some water. Dip a sponge or rag into the solution and gently brush over the surface of your wall. Make sure you get all corners, and then wipe it down with a fresh cloth that has been dampened with clear water.
Wait for the walls to dry up and then take your painter’s tape. Apply it on the edges along the trim, ceiling, and the floor. This ensures you paint straight lines all the way.
If you find that parts of the walls have been damaged, have holes, or any cracks on them, simply fill them up with spackle and sand over to smoothen it out. Be extra careful when sanding in order not to damage the vinyl coating.
Apply Primer On Your Walls
In order to have your surface accept the paint much better, you first need to coat it with a quality acrylic primer. It is quite similar to any paint job as you take an angled trim brush and cut the primer along the edges of the wall. Then you may spread the primer across a wider surface area using a roller.
We recommend two light coats, ensuring that it fully dries in between each application.
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Painting Your Vinyl Mobile Home Walls
It is important that you first wait for the primer to fully dry up. Once it is set, apply two coats of high quality, low-sheen, acrylic-based paint. Just like you did with the primer, start off with an angled brush on the edges and finish off with a roller for the rest of It. Wait in between applications for each coat to fully dry as well.
Now you may remove the painter’s tape to reveal that clean finish.
Add Texture to Vinyl Walls in Mobile Homes
If you prefer not to keep your walls plain and smoothened out, you can opt to add texture and spice things up a bit!
The most commonly used compound for adding texture to vinyl walls is drywall compound. Not only is it one of the most affordable options out there, but it is also highly accessible, easy to work with, and easy to clean up!
Before applying the drywall compound, you want to first prime your walls in order to get a proper bond. One to two coats of primer should suffice, always ensuring that each coat is fully dried up before the next application.
Once the primer is set, you can start adding your texture to the wall. Don’t know where to start? Here are the top 7 types of wall texture that you can add to make any wall stand out.
The Comb Texture
The comb texture is the perfect design to add a sense of motion to the room and keep it from looking a little too idle.
You can achieve it by getting a toothed trowel with wet drywall compound. Swiftly start combing over the wall in a rainbow-like arc, repeatedly across the entire surface.
If you are not a fan of the classic rainbow arc, you can also try for swirls, waves, stripes, or even zigzags – anything that you can accomplish with a combed tool, really!
The great thing about this design is how fun and creative yet classic and minimalist it can seem, making it the best complimentary texture for almost any room.
The Popcorn Texture
This design hit its peak during the 1970s but remained a steady option throughout the decades. Some may be more familiar with its other name, the acoustic ceiling. It got its name due to the sound-dampening properties it offers, making it more than just a decorative texture but a functional one at that.
You can achieve the popcorn texture by taking drywall compound and small polystyrene chips that expand when in water. This creates the popcorn effect once the mixture is sprayed onto the walls.
One thing to note about this design is that it can accumulate dirt in between its lumps over time, which could make cleaning your walls a more tedious task.
The Orange Peel Texture
This is one of the go-to wall textures to date. It is most known for its smooth, dimpled design, which inspired its nickname. It is by far one of the easiest textures to apply and rather affordable to procure.
All it takes is two coats of drywall compound. Once the first layer is applied and dried, gently sand it down before applying the second coat. The second coat must be applied with a compressor and sprayer, and then rolled over to create gentle bumps.
It is such a subtle look that helps disguise wall flaws. Moreover, it is fairly easy to maintain except when applied to heavily used areas such as the kitchen or bathroom.
The Knockdown Texture
This option is for those who have a keen eye for the rustic theme. You can usually find this design along Mediterranean like properties, and is similar to the stucco finish.
To try this design out, it is a similar guide to the orange peel texture except with an added step.
After applying the roller in the last guide, use a wide trowel to knock down the bumps into a flattened out surface. You would be surprised just how much volume and dimension it can still bring to the room.
The knockdown design can definitely add much depth and character to your space.
The Sand Swirl Texture
The sand swirl texture is the perfect choice for those who love anything to do with the ocean and feel at ease with the slightest hint of it.
This texture is achieved using perlite primer and actual sand. Once this is thoroughly mixed, you can then apply it to the wall’s surface and create a smooth swirling pattern using a thick bristle brush.
We recommend structured rows of half fans or maybe even a casual, freestyle of interlocking C shapes and arches. This texture exudes a much softer and subtler finish than other kinds, and is also rather easy to maintain.
The Slap Brush Texture
The slap brush texture has many other names such as the stomp brush, crow’s foot, or stipple ceiling texture. It refers to a series of asymmetrical sunburst-shaped imprints that are created using the brush’s fanned-out bristles.
Once the wet drywall compound has been applied with a roller, slap more compounds on the surface with the brush in a random succession.
This creates an impressive effect of overlapping patterns in varying thickness. Overall, it brings more energy to the space, which makes it great for living rooms and entertainment areas.
The Skip Trowel Texture
This design results in a rather distressed and uneven finish, which is perfect for those who love the rustic vibe. You can achieve this look by applying drywall mud using a curved blade trowel and playfully skipping it across the surface of the wall.
It is somewhat similar to the knockdown texture except that the texture is a lot more spaced out, and you have the freedom to decide just how much white space you want in between in order to create different vibes.
Top Paint And Primer Recommendations For Vinyl Walls In Mobile Homes
The primer and paint that you use on your vinyl walls can make or break your project. Everyone has got their own opinion as to which is the best for which material, but it all boils down to the products that have been tried, tested, and approved by homeowners.
Below are some recommendations by real homeowners, bloggers, and customers, in no particular order:
The Best Primers For Vinyl Walls In Mobile Homes
- Kilz Primer
- Zinnser 123
- Gliddin Gripper
- Xium Uma
- Valspar Bonding Primer
The Best Paint Brands For Vinyl Walls In Mobile Homes
- Behr Premium Plus Ultra
- Glidden Performance Edge Fill + Prime + Paint
- Sherwin Williams
You’re All Set!
Now it’s time to upgrade your home’s value with a fresh paint job and impressive textures!
