You’ve done your homework and have found pictures of RV graphics that appeal to you. You’ve narrowed it down to three or four colors you really like. The next step is finding a paint shop that can make your dream a reality. And finding one that specializes in painting RVs is going to take a little more homework.
If you let your fingers do the walking, you’ll find that the Yellow Pages have hundreds of auto body paint shops listed, but only a handful of them mention RVs. The ones that do mention RVs will most likely not have a building large enough to fit an RV, let alone a paint booth big enough to paint in. Take heart; there are shops out there that have the building and the equipment to do the job right, and it’s worth the effort to find them.
Let’s assume that you’ve found the right shop. You’ve met the staff and inspected the facility. You’re now ready to get down to basics. The shop should take scaled pictures of your coach and overlay the graphics you selected and insert your colors. This can take two or more trips to the shop to finalize your new paint job.
Next, comes the contract. This needs to be detailed. It should include the graphics and samples of the colors chosen. It should include any bodywork or modifications to the exterior. There should be a performance schedule included, and a product and workmanship guarantee.
The paint job consists of a number of steps:
• The tear down, where all external parts are removed from the coach. Parts that cannot be removed are covered. Old graphics and paint are removed.
• The RV is then moved into the paint booth and primer is applied where necessary, followed by the base coat, the individual graphic colors, and the clear coat.
• The RV is then moved out of the paint booth and allowed to cure fully. It’s color sanded and polished. After a final cleaning, it’s ready to be returned to the customer.
A quality, full-body paint job is very labor intensive. On average, labor is 80 to 90 percent of the cost of a paint job. Selecting the right paint and body shop is the best first move.
Final Touch Coach Works is located at 28532 Livingston Avenue in Valencia. For more information, please call 661-775-8375 and visit www.finaltouch-usa.com .