Give Your Used Bus a New and Attractive Look with a Bit of Paint!
After buying a school bus for a conversion, you stripped it clean, refurbished it and created a cozy mobile home. Congratulations! Although, you are probably not done just yet. Your bus needs a fresh coat of paint to make your vehicle unique and more distinguishable from commercial buses out on the streets. To create a home you love, follow these basic steps for a look that will thrill you and your family!
Evaluate the Situation
Before you start, take a good look at all the surfaces you planned to paint and search for rust, dents, badly painted nooks and crannies, dirty spots and so on. This examination will help you assess correctly what you need to fix and which tools you will need to do it.
Buy Materials
Do your research and ask around about different types of paint before you buy. Look for rust resistant and non-toxic paints, and don’t forget to buy sandpaper, painters tape, gloves, rags, brushes, and rollers.
Prepare the Bus
Sand the entire vehicle with a 120-grit sandpaper in order to remove old paint, rust, and dirt. Clean the surfaces well. Search for possible dents and scratches that need fixing, fill them with a repair kit and then sand everything again to get even surfaces. Clean your vehicle anew because you want to remove all the tiny bits and pieces of dirt that could get trapped under the new coat of paint and later damage the paint layer. Prepare the windows, bumpers, wheels, mirrors, handles and other parts you do not plan to paint by covering them with plastic and painters tape.
Paint your Vehicle
Apply a coat of paint on larger surfaces with a roller, but pay attention to possible air trapped underneath the paint. Eliminate any bubbles with a dry roller to smooth out the paint. Use a smaller brush to apply paint on areas around the windows, door knobs, etc. Be patient and wait for at least 8 hours before applying the second coat. We highly recommend that you sand the first coat of paint with a finer 220-grit sandpaper for an even smoother second layer. Don’t forget to clean the sandpaper dust with alcohol before applying the next coat. Remove all the plastic and tape and enjoy your new bus!
If you have questions about how to choose the perfect bus for a conversion, contact Colorado/West Equipment, Inc for help. Browse our online store for an exclusive selection of used buses.