Monday, October 12, 2020

RV Wallpaper Removal and Faux Paint Wallpaper Pattern



This is the bathroom after faux painting.



I used a different top coat color in the bathroom because the color I used in the other rooms looked too orange.  Remember the same color paint is going to look different in each room and maybe on different walls in the same room.

Main area
We bought a fixer upper motorhome that had a lot of water damage. Most of the walls needed the paneling replaced which required a creative approach to removing the remaining wallpaper and painting to disguise the seems in the paneling.
To remove wallpaper, you will need a warm day, at least 70 degrees or warmer.  If it is colder than 70 degrees, the wallpaper just tears in small pieces.  Use a razor blade to cut around any cupboards, windows, etc.
Then use the razor blade to cut the wallpaper vertically in 1.5- 2 inch strips.  I tried removing strips that were  wider than that and it just tears.  It releases much easier and goes quicker by doing narrower strips.
Use the razor blade to lift a corner at the top and then start pulling.
For faux painting you will need:
blue masking tape
paint tray and roller
2" paint brush
2 buckets of water and a couple of rags
plastic dish scrubber
2 colors of paint. One lighter base coat 
and a darker top coat that you will texturize.
I used Snowy Pine base coat (Marquee with primer from Home Depot) 
and the top coat is Sudan Tan Beige Glidden Diamond with Primer).  
I believe they are both Satin finish.
A cool day or working air conditioner in your RV

Just your basic economy 2 inch brush.


Tape off any edges and areas that you normally would when you paint and roll on the base coat.
The temperature for painting is the opposite for the wallpaper removal.  You don't want a warm day that is going to dry your paint to quickly before you can work with it.  At least start early in the morning when it is cooler. 
Once the base coat is dry, get your rag dripping wet and wipe down a section of wall measuring about 15 inches by 30 inches.  Wetting this down will give you a few minutes to work with the paint and get the pattern you want.  You will need to work quickly top to bottom, left to right in columns.  If it doesn't look the way you want, use your wet rag and wipe off the top coat and reapply.
Dip the brush in the paint so the paint is half way up the bristles and shake a little bit so the big drips fall off then brush on the wet section of wall quickly.

Then using the plastic dish scrubber, start as close to the top of the wall as possible and pull down removing some of the paint in a stripe pattern, continue left to right until that section is complete.
 I like to divide a 15 inch wide column in three sections.  Now repeat on the 2 remaining sections below in this column, trying to keep a wet edge on the bottom edge. On the lower two sections, you will want to use the plastic scrubber in an upward motion so you are blending the fresh paint into the section you previously did and hopefully it isn't too dry so it blends well.
In this picture I am actually making upward strokes with the scrubber and trying to blend into the previous section.


This didn't blend so well.
This did blend well.  You will probably want to plan on practicing this technique and have your water and rags ready to wipe of the paint and give it another try until you think you have mastered the technique.
You may want a few plastic scrubbers on hand since they fall apart if you are doing a large area.
After completing each column, you may want to quickly swish the brush to partially rinse and then flick it a few times in the bucket to remove excess water.
the same goes for the scrubber.
Finished Wall

















 

Saturday, July 18, 2020

DIY Curtain Rods and Upgraded Thrift Store Curtains

These curtains have casings and I wanted to get the pleated look without the pleat. I also didn't want to spend a lot of money on curtain rods that are kind of flimsy. By using galvanized electrical conduit, you get a sturdy rod for a few dollars!


Materials and tools needed for curtains:
Thrift store curtains
sturdy light weight fabric
thread color matching curtain panel
sewing machine
yard stick
scissors
pins

Materials and tools needed for curtain rod:
10 ft length of galvanized 1/2 inch electrical conduit
1 1/4 inch dowel
1/2 inch dowel
scrap of stick on craft foam
spray paint
gorilla blue
2 molly bolts
2- 1/2 inch curtain brackets
pipe cutter
chop saw
measuring tape
screw driver

Begin by cutting a strip of fabric 2 inches wide.


Begin at one end of fabric strip and fold over each edge to the center.

Then fold in half. 

Stitch 1/8 inch from edge down the length of the strip.

This will be used for making loops for the rod to go thru.

Measure casing and add 1 inch.  Cut lengths of the loop strip you just sewed.

Measure width of curtain panel and divide by 5 or 6 inches (this will be the width of the pleat). You will need to adjust the pleat width depending on the width of the panel.

Mark loop placements with pins.

Sew a loop to the casing at the top and bottom of the loop after folding ends under.

Continue sewing loops along the entire panel. Complete the matching panel in the same way.

For curtain rod, measure window and add 4-6 inches on each side. You may want to add more depending on how thick your curtain is and how much it will bunch up on rod.

Mark the conduit with a permanent marker and cut the length with the pipe cutter.

Make finials by cutting 2 pieces of 1 1/4 dowel for finials beween 5/8 inch to 3/4 inch and sand cut edges slightly.  Cut 2 pieces of 1/2 inch dowel 1 1/2 inch long. Use gorilla glue to attach the dowels together.  When dry, spray paint the finials and the conduit.

Cut a strip of craft foam and stick to the 1/2 dowel so it will be snug inside the conduit.


Thread the loops on the rod and place the other finial on the end.

Arrange pleats.

Attach rod brackets with molly bolts.  I only used 1 anchor per bracket because I only wanted one hole in the wall per end. I got these heavier brackets at Home Depot.


You did it!  Beautiful!