RV remodel UPDATE 6 months and 4,000 miles later - why our RV office desk needs REDOING
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 6 ต.ค. 2024
- It's been 6 months since we did a HUGE remodel on our RV to paint the walls and custom-build an ergonomic office. In this video, we update you on how it has held up 4,000 miles later.
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We are Matt and Diana and we are young, full-time RVers on a quest to explore ALL the #nationalparks. We love #roadtrips and being outdoors. We believe in living life the #adventurousway.
Filming dates: January 2021
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Matt, I know you have ORV's ear so hopefully they will realize that there is a whole demographic out there that wants lighter interiors. Keep up the good work. Thanks.
Shortly after we did the remodel we stopped in at Outdoors RV and showed them the trailer. We had previously discussed a lighter interior with them and it had been left as an "agree to disagree" topic. While I couldn't make them commit to anything, I think seeing the lighter interior helped them see how it could work without turning it into a sterile white box.
Home Depot, give them the dimensions and order Formica. That will prevent any water damage to the desk and it’s light in weight.
That's a good tip, I didn't know Home Depot does custom counter tops.
This is exactly what I was going to recommend. There's so many options and it's so affordable you can update your look if you fancy.
Consider laminating the desktop and edge with Formica. Eliminate all paint.
second that! Formica laminate is very easy to contact-cement on top/sides of the wood surface and it is condensation-proof and abrasion resistant (but...edges might chip with significant impact)
I'm glad you didn't paint the cabinets. So many people don't understand that paint on the RV cabinets will never hold up except on the doors. Most of the other wood on RV cabinets is vinyl covered wood.
I'd live to get plans for your desk / workspace setup. I'm eventually going to sell my 24RLS and downsize to a 21RWS I think. I'm kind of kicking myself for getting a rig as big as the 24RLS. It's so overkill for a solo traveler.
Drop us an email (www.adventurousway.com/contact) and I'd be happy to share the desk plans with you! I did it in SketchUp - it was my first time using it and I did make a few tweaks during the build that didn't get added back into the designs, but it should give you a good starting point.
'Rubberized Paint' will not hold up if it isn't commercial grade. Idea: repaint with same color, light sand areas first that need touch up. *Cover with adhesive 'clear vinyl strip'* of which you can find any size, length or thickness. Best is self adhesive *"PMMA caulk stripping"* which will bend around the edges and keep your wrists and forearms more comfortable. You will find more uses for it in your TT.
White walls are not a problem for grownups! If you have kids-that's different! I liked all of your remodeling, it looks great!
Haha, so true!
Very much enjoyed these remodel videos.... I have been a cabinet maker for 40 + years...you impressed me with the quality of work in the desk build & trim work...kudos...
I am currently in Spokane & have a toy hauler set up with a small shop in the garage, but as of yet haven't been able to get on the road because of covid. I hope to be able to "odd job" my travels & help others achieve what you have done here.
Safe travels ...have fun, hope to see you on the road sometime.
Wow, that’s very kind, thank you! It was a really fun experience and while the end result may not be perfect, it does exactly what we wanted. I definitely learned a few things and am itching to try more things like this in future. I’m sure our house build will give me plenty of opportunity! Safe travels!
Thanks Matt and Diana. Your remodel video did inspire my wife and me to work on our Outdoors RV 20FQ (no slide). We have painted the walls to brighten things up and are going to get some grey roller shades for the windows. We are keeping our U-shape dinette but will recover all of those brown cushions. Will share some pics when we are done (just weekend work for now so it is taking longer than we had hoped). Stay warm.
That is awesome, nice work! As we said in the video, the roller shades are nothing super special but they're working really well for us.
I dont think there's anything wrong with your prep or the paint but its probably the oil from your skin and moving your arms rubbing the paint off. You could try some automotive paint protection film, it's clear and thin and very durable. Also I love the dinette renovation. My dinette is wildly uncomfortable to the point I don't even use it. I want to do the same as what you did.
Haha, who are you saying has greasy arms ;-) Lol, I think you might be right, but even so, I'm surprised that the paint has been this poor. It's an enamel paint and we were under the impression that it would be much more durable!
For a more durable finish on your desk/table, use a two-pry epoxy paint. It’s nasty, stinky stuff, but it will give you a very durable finish.
That sounds like pretty serious stuff. Maybe once we have somewhere where we can paint the desk that's not in the RV, we'll take a look at that.
I have put a lot of effort into convincing Noni that we need decent mobile office space. Thanks for showing us a really good idea that we can probably adapt and run with.
We love seeing what others do to their RV. Thank you for sharing!
- Jay & Jessica
I appreciate your 6 month update. Great to know so many of your ideas worked. Maybe I’ll considering painting my walls a lighter color. I thought they’d get too dirty
Desk Area, Look very Nice Painting in winter needs ventilated Warm almost hot room. Ya Paint shop good idea.
For your table. Consider a clear coat. They make a water based polycrylic. You probably don’t want gloss? They make it in satin. Comes in blue can (minwax) at your big box store. Two coats will do it! I really enjoy your channel!
There will be a collective groan for this one, but always wanting to do the most cost effective and least problematic solution, I would suggest a very tasteful vinyl tablecloth you can tack down under the table. It cleans easily and has enough slip on the surface to move your things around seamlessly.
I figure $20 and 20 minutes. 💡
I'm all for creative short term solutions! Realistically, while we're living in the trailer and it's covered in snow outside, stripping and repainting the desk isn't an option. My only concern with a table cloth would be getting it to fall nicely on the T-shape desk - plus there isn't really anywhere to tack it down on the cabinets either side. Might be worth a try though. Thanks for the idea!
For the tabletop you could try dc fix marble contact paper. It’s only $20 on Amazon.
Thanks for the idea! That seems the easiest short-term solution.
You did such a good job on the remodel and the follow up too! Thanks
Thank you so much - I'm glad you liked it!
What about a plastic sheeting or vinyl tile over the painted surface.
Do you know any product names of plastic sheeting? For vinyl tile, are you thinking like floor tiles?
@@AdventurousWay I was thinking of floor or wall tiles like you used in the kitchen but looking more like wood. Vinyl sheeting I was thinking floors. You can cover the edge by using trim. Or laminate like for counter tops. Don't use contact paper. You'll have same problem as with paint.
Camper looks great.
Paint the whole table with a coat of flex seal. It will be water proof and hard to peal.
Flex Seal would peel worse than the paint. The rubbery textured surface would be annoying on a tabletop.
I would LOVE to see a video on home you did your home automation in your RV. Thank you for the great videos!
Yup, that's on our list of videos to create! Stay tuned.
You can buy sheets of laminate at home depot. It's not that hard to make your own laminate counters. I'm sure there's a TH-cam video that would walk you through the process. When we had our boat, we redid all the counters in the boat with new laminate.
No doubt you'll get lots of comments on the desktop finish...stripping the old finish will be the first step regardless of what you choose. The comment about laminate is a good one that requires minimal tool purchases and would be very durable, but your rounded top edge would need to be square for good adherence. If you want to refinish, try Target Coatings pigmented lacquer - EM6500 bright white. You can get it tinted at Benjamin Moore paint stores. It's low VOC and water based. I've finished a lot of cabinets and furniture with Target coatings and they always perform well. Thanks for another great video!
Very nicely done ! On your desk / table... After painting maybe a couple of coats of clear acrylic. I did this(about 6-8 coats) on my wife's sewing table about 45 years ago and its held up very well. It will give it a hard glassy smooth finish as well. You can use a satin finish as well. OR, maybe a Formica type top laminated (glued) to the surface would work for you. Both are easy to do and will take care of the water & paint issues..
Thanks for the suggestions, Herb!
Looks amazing!👍🏻
if you had a primer- paint and sealer paint combo- it's a misconception that the combo is going to be the proper sealant for some projects. there are a couple of things I'm guessing here. 1. if you used a water base paint- without a topcoat/sealer- you'll have problems with the oils and moisture from your hand and any water sitting on the table. 2. because of #1 you'll have wearing issues.
you can do a light sanding, paint the top again, let dry 24 hours and put a kitchen cabinets high gloss clear sealer-2-3 coat with a light sanding in-between. you could do an epoxy pour over the table- get a professional do help as they can be a mess and takes days to dry. when in doubt / Google it out.
Nice improvements! Here's an idea for your desktop: Daich Stone coat. I just refinished our kitchen countertops with this product and it is amazingly durable. If you decide to use it I suggest you round the edges to help it adhere. $125 at Home Depot, online only. You will not be disappointed. Wait for the weather to be warmer and remove your desktop to do the job outside your home, as the smell while it's drying might be overwhelming in such a small enclosed area. Best wishes.
How does it feel to the touch? Does it feel cold like a real stone countertop? Just wondering, because for me, it's not that comfortable to work on a computer for hours and hours if my hands feel cold. -Diana
Don't buy expensive valances. You can build the base out of a sturdy cardboard, glued together to make the corners, then covered with any fabric of your choice or simply painted.
Oooh, I like that idea! I was thinking of waiting until we have our home base and then building some slimline wood valences, but I think the cardboard approach (or maybe even foam-board) could work really well. Thank you for the suggestion!
@@AdventurousWay Thank you both for all the ideas you give us for our own Outdoors RVs. Your channel makes it seem like we're all on this Outdoors RV adventure together. 😀
Excellent update! Happy New Year!
Happy New Year to you too!
Great to see this update. Sorry to hear about the table top paint. I think you are right. There is likely a particular kind of paint that would be ideal.
Love your renovation!!! Some ideas we may consider doing in our ORV!!! Thanks for sharing!!!
Great video! Glad you are happy with the changes and most of all, they look amazing! We did buy our own ORV Anniversary model last summer - yes, all the way to and back to get it in the Canadian Rockies, and we reviewed all your mods videos - we will as well paint the table area, and modify the back with a lounge seating idea...still working on the design! Glad to see the winter isn’t too cold, and that its working out for you! Stay safe...and ski as much as you can! Remi (Québec)
That's a long drive - glad you made it safely! As well as our videos, we have many more mods on our website if you're interested: www.adventurousway.com/category/rv-mods
Great update! Sounds like your upgrades have held up well. We’ve done a tiny bit of updating of light fixtures in our ORV this fall. We removed the over-the-headboard double bright light and ran power to and replaced with two individual reading lights on either side of the bed. We’ve added an entry way light that we can reach in and turn on before entering the trailer. And DH added some extra outdoor lighting to include backup lights and under-trailer blue lights (similar to what you see on some airstreams). Next we want to change out the over dinette light. I’ll be looking for a link to your light fixture and check it out.
That's a nice mod to split the above bed light into two reading lights! Our blog post has all the links: www.adventurousway.com/blog/rv-remodel-ergonomic-workspace
Liked your review, consider adding some magnets to the bottom of the shades to secure them during travel.
I bought a pack of neodymium magnets during the remodel for this exact reason! I never bothered to install them though - maybe I should, lol!
Two part epoxy for your desk would eliminate your problems and have endless design and colors. I used this stuff to refinish kitchen counter tops.
How does epoxy feel to the touch? For example stone kitchen countertops feel cold to the touch and are not comfortable to me for hours and hours of computer work every day.
@@AdventurousWay temperature is very similar to a laminated countertops.
2k enamel. Order from Amazon. Think automotive finish.
Nice upgrades, well done guys
Thanks!
For the table top, I would have used marine varnish. Put a hard coat over the paint that is almost impossible to damage, water proof and it is a little shinny, but I don't mind the shine. Otherwise great video, liked the idea about the light, might try something like it in my motor home.
A little shine would be fine! The paint we used is a semi-gloss enamel, it just hasn't turned out anything like we expected - I thought the enamel was going to be a hard finish.
I think you can probably find a quality laminate that is virtually the same color / finish as your paint on the surface of your work table and install that (or have it installed) instead. I would router the edges of it for durability as well as appearance. If you keep a wood end below the routered edge, I would prep and stain it (light color is fine), maybe with some clear coating as necessary for protection, rather than painting it. Altogether, that should increase the durability to be more like a standard countertop. Just my two cents...
We were seriously considering going with laminate, but I couldn't work out how to do a roundover on the edges. I've since seen people do a chamfer which they claim doesn't chip. Maybe we'll try that next time!
@@AdventurousWay I would never say never, but I have seen quality laminates that have been in higher-end homes for many years with heavy use and no chipping. They did all have a beautiful routered edge of some kind, and usually clear coating covering the wood-to-laminate transition as well. RV’s are a pretty brutal environment, so I would also research the best possible adhesive and process to keep it from coming loose from the substrate in any temperature and humidity extreme. It’s especially hard on material when the substrate doesn’t expand or contract at the same rate that the covering does, depending on conditions. With those caveats, it’s probably your best long term performance-per-dollar option, especially that doesn’t add much weight.
17:05 - I remember your video when you first changed the hardware, when you mentioned the bar style handles "reaching out and grabbing" your cargo shorts in the summer... LOL. Same thing happens to me in my 24RLS.
Haha, right?! Those things are brutal! No more torn shorts in this trailer! Funnily enough, Diana were chatting after filming and I think in retrospect, we would leave the bar handles on the upper cabinets, particularly near the door. It turns out we really miss being able to use those as temporary hooks to hang things, especially when preparing to head out.
Great job. Love you additions. Love the desk and backsplash most. Thanks for sharing. Now I would like the same !!😊
Thank you :)
Great job on your review, I've been wondering how those changes have held up for you. For your table, peel and stick countertop paper would be a quick, non-permanent fix, or maybe a Rustolium or automotive paint? Did the desk, drawers and buckets add extra weight to your slide compared to the dinette? A final suggestion, the wall behind your bed is such a blank space, if it were mine, I would put something there like an upholstered, tufted board or one of those peel and stick murals that look like a window with scenery outside. Anyway, something with some color would really finish it off. 😘
I think the countertop paper or something similar might be the way forward, at least in the short term. Repainting just isn't an option while we're living in the RV - particularly when it's freezing outside!
I'm not sure exactly how the weight changed with the remodeled slide, but my best guess is it's pretty similar. The old dinette and bench seats weren't light, and I constructed the cabinets in a way to make them as light as possible. I also sent the design to Outdoors RV before we started construction to see if they had any concerns about the weight and they were happy with it.
It's funny you mention the space behind the bed. Our original plan was to do some peel-and-stick tile or mural wallpaper or something back there, but we just couldn't decide. We figured we'd just paint it for now and then we can add something later when we've decided on something. We still haven't decided, lol! A splash of color would be really nice, but on the flip side, the white wall really reflects the light nicely from the light above the bed!
@@AdventurousWay I'm impressed, I would not have thought to ask my manufacturer about my modification plans, that was very wise. As for the other stuff, you two are smart people so you will find good solutions.
BTW, I'm interested to know how your winterization efforts have been working out for you, especially the siding. Would love to hear an update at some point.😘
@@t.l.b.7131 thank you! Winter is going really well for us so far, and we'll be doing an update video at some point on all the things we've learned. In the meantime though, you might be interested in this blog post we published last week: www.adventurousway.com/blog/winter-rving-january-update
Your paint didn't cure right, could be from humidity. I would use an epoxy to recover the table but make sure you use a dehumidifier to control your humidity for cure out. Also try using some alcohol wipes to take to paint of your chairs. As always try it in a small area. Until you get the table fixed grab a couple of old towels and cover the chairs when pushed in.
As a complete non-expert in paint curing, it certainly feels like what I would imagine improperly-cured paint would. We followed the instructions precisely though - it sat for days in our friends' dedicated painting booth to cure. They paint all their cabinets, etc in there and have never had an issue. Something doesn't feel right about it though.
Thanks for the tip with alcohol wipes on the chairs - will definitely give that a go! We've been using towels on the chair arms for travel since we did the remodel and that works pretty well. We also took out the warranty on the chairs when we bought them so we can replace them at any point free-of-charge. We might consider that once the paint situation has been addressed!
Just love your renovations...excellent! I think you received some bad paint.
Thanks! I'm honestly really confused about the paint. We have a photograph of the paint can we used, and it's a semi-gloss enamel paint. Yet this paint is so soft I can scrape it off with my fingernail and roll it into a ball. It feels more like latex than what I thought enamel would be like. I expected enamel paint would be hard and would chip if anything. Maybe I'm completely wrong!
Thanks for the update video--watched your earlier videos of the updates when you posted them, nice to see the ling term review. Looks like we have a weekend of messy weather in VT coming up--too much rain and not enough snow :-( Hope you can still up into where the snow is! Be well.
The forecast seems to change every time I look at it. One minute it was rainy and warm, the next it had given cold weather again. We're going to wait until after the holiday weekend before skiing again, but it sounds like Killington is doing OK for snow and they've just opened more terrain.
Great! Enjoyed the catch up.😀
Glad you enjoyed it
For your desktop paint issues the problem is that paint is just too soft to hold up to scuffs and continuous wear. What you need to do is put a protective clear coating over the paint, and every few years you'll need to reapply it. Assuming you used a latex paint on the desk, this stuff from Minwax would be good: www.minwax.com/wood-products/clear-protective-finishes/interior/minwax-polycrylic-protective-finish#overview. For a desk, you will want the gloss or semi-gloss finish because they form a stronger outer film that will last longer than satin or matte do. You'll need to sand the worn areas of the desk, repaint the desk then apply 3-4 coats of the clear polycrylic.
We used an enamel paint, but you're right, it really looks and feels like a latex paint. I'm honestly not sure what happened. Maybe they put the wrong paint in the can? We double checked our photos and it definitely said enamel semi-gloss on the can!
If you haven't seen our original 3-part RV remodel series yet, watch it here: th-cam.com/video/aldvPprpuvQ/w-d-xo.html
Hello- re: your desk issue. Did you not topcoat it with a polyurethane product after you painted it? I think that would have prevented it maybe. Topcoats are important for high use surfaces.
That was our plan, but we were told by staff at Home Depot that we couldn’t put a coating on top of this paint because it’s an enamel paint. They assured us this would be an incredibly durable surface for a desk.
Half the fun (for me anyway) is upgrading things in the RV, but it's not an easy process when you are full timing in it and using it as your work space.
Oh yes, Matt loves doing mods and upgrades too :D It's for sure much harder while living in it. -Diana
I’ve read the comments below where people are suggesting formica or laminate for your table. I would, of course, remove the current paint, re-prime and repaint but I would add a few coats of polyurethane to finish and seal the table. I like the painted look but the polyurethane would give it a hard, cleanable finish.
Yeah, we asked in the store whether we should add polyurethane on top of the paint, but they said that the enamel paint is very durable with a hard finish and doesn't need a top coat. Maybe we got the wrong paint in the can.
@@AdventurousWay hmmm. Like you said, you probably got a defective paint, bad advice, or both, I think. My husband builds furniture as a hobby and has done many projects with paint on wood items. We’ve both learned that polyurethane is the best way to protect the finish...especially on high use items.
Whatever you do next, I’m sure it will work better. I love your workstation design and we are thinking to do something similar to our dinette space. The cubbies under the table and extra outlets would definitely make working on the road much more feasible!
@@lauragarmon6969 I think you're right. I was originally planning to put several protective coats on it - maybe a polyurethane or polycrylic. But the staff at Home Depot told us we couldn't apply it over the top of the paint. There's not much we can do now it's in our RV, but once we have space and tools, I think I'll rebuild a new desktop using a high-quality cabinetry-grade plywood and polyurethane, leaving it as natural wood rather than painted.
there is a stone type epoxy that gives and acts like a stone top
That sounds pretty cool! Not sure if it would fit the decor of our trailer, but it sounds sweet!
I don't know what kind of paint you used. I would have used an oil based floor paint. It is a lot more durable, and comes in lots of colors.
We used Behr Alkyd Enamel which I thought was going to have dried to a hard, almost glass like finish. It’s so soft I can scrape it with my fingernail.
@@AdventurousWay there has to be something wrong with the paint.
This is probably a useless comment now that you´ve move on to other things, but have you tried a gaming mat on your desktop? A large 1200x600x3mm one from Amazon has really made my dining room table comfy enough to work at during the past little while.
We hadn't considered that. Do you move it somewhere else before eating? Or is it fine to put plates/mugs on it (with inevitable food spills)?
@@AdventurousWay Now I mostly eat in the kitchen to avoid moving my monitor but if I am working through lunch I'll put down a placemat. When I forget, I have found it fairly easy to wipe down.
If you want to try paint again, try epoxy paint.
Thanks for the suggestion! After this experience with enamel paint though, I'm a little nervous. Either way, repainting it isn't going to be an option any time soon.
New subscriber here. Great video. I'm new to the RV life and hope to start enjoying it full time but have some concerns about condensation control in a travel trailer, especially in colder climates like you guys have in Vermont. Does Outdoors RV have a vapor barrier or ventilation built into their attic and wall construction to deal with condensation or how is it controlled, and have you had any condensation issues with your trailer or recommendations on how to control it? Thanks in advance.
A very timely question - looks like you've seen our latest video, so I guess that's your answer :-)
@@AdventurousWay Ironically, I wrote this comment yesterday (during my previously mentioned research on this very issue) before I watched your brand new video on your mold issue.
We saw the comment but figured we'd hold off on replying as today's video would probably give you the answers you were looking for!
s†one coat 2 part epoxy for the desk
4:45 having separate cold and hot water is so, so wrong! What's wrong with the brits?
Lol, well first it's an American designed and built RV, and we replaced the faucet with one of the same style it originally came with, so no idea what British trends have to do with that! Also, when trying to conserve water, the individual handles are much easier for controlling the flow than a mixer handle.
@@AdventurousWay yes, it's a single(mixing) pipe, sorry - I was thinking about two pipes with separate taps, typically british, either cold or hot
@@r3v0l98 haha, no worries! Yeah, those two-tap things are pretty old school. We have a single mixer handle faucet in the kitchen, and it can be a pain to turn it to a really low flow, hence why the separate taps (but single mixer pipe) are preferable.