To paint or not to paint?

[Anita]

I really wanted to paint all the wood doors in the little house as I am calling it. However I can't get the hubby on board. This is the only mod we have agreed on so far.........well besides the LED lights.

[Anita]

Originally Posted by Anita

I really wanted to paint all the wood doors in the little house as I am calling it. However I can't get the hubby on board. This is the only mod we have agreed on so far.........well besides the LED lights.

Not sure why I can post all the pics I uploaded to this thread but this is what we replaced the white cutting board with. Trying to match the wood doors.

[bpfick]

The title affords the possibility of "not to paint". We certainly see a lot of painted doors and this is to the taste of the owner. That's all fine.

Our taste is 100% your other option offered in your title. No painted doors. We much prefer the look, warmth and durability of real wood doors. Ditching the MDF/fiberboard doors altogether was what we did on our '02 and what we would do with any FBRV trailer we would keep long term. Personal choice.

[Henry Smith]

Doesn't painting help to protect the underlying fiberglass from the sun and weather?

[bpfick]

Originally Posted by Henry Smith

Doesn't painting help to protect the underlying fiberglass from the sun and weather?

huh? You lost me.

[Burro Bill]

One of the first things I did to my Burro was replace the MDF doors with birch.
I love the look of the natural wood it has so much character .
That being said a lot of owners paint their doors. That's the fun part of owning these campers. Make it your own!

[bpfick]

Yup, virtually the first thing we did on this one as well.
Less than $55 for the whole thing, including a few new pulls and hinges that matched, straight from Lowe's. Go figure.

I know the OP seeks support for her "Paint 'em" position, sorry.

[Uplander]

Paint the doors white and pretend you are at the doctor's office.

[Kai in Seattle]

Originally Posted by Anita

Not sure why I can post all the pics I uploaded to this thread but this is what we replaced the white cutting board with. Trying to match the wood doors.

That is a VERY pretty cutting board! If I find something like it, I'd want to get it for our trailer!

As per all the good advice advice--the two of you need to both be at least moderately comfortable with any changes...

Have you considered "reverse staining" the wood? That is, you sand it back to take off as much of the old stain as you want, then re-stain it with WHITE stain and buff it back. Seal. It used to be called "pickling" and gives a lovely, light-colored effect, and yet still looks like wood.

We did it to all those nearly black brown doors in our house (from the early 70s) and will probably do it to much of our trailer furniture, since neither darker wood nor paint seem quite right.

Just a thought...YMMV (your mileage may vary).

Best on whatever the two of you decide--again, LOVE that cutting board!

Always good to read all the different ideas! Love your photos.

(And--I think we have the same fabric as your curtains, though we'll be using it on the gaucho couchos when we get to that point.)

[Jay H]

Your post made me chuckle. Our Boler came with painted doors and I strongly disliked the look, however my wife didn't see what the fuss was about and wanted to keep them. The opposite of your predicament.
Much to my surprise I actually prevailed and we replaced all of the cabinet doors with maple.

[mszabo]

Use Formica and cover them. Any color, pattern.
Will look better and holdup.

[bullfrogeh]

True - - - 'YMMV' prevails ! 'To each his own..., etc.'
My very first reno was to remove the MFD or 'particle-board' doors, whose 'laminated' skin had sadly deteriorated over 42 years. I will be replacing them with either 'cherry, or ash' frames, with veneer centres. - 'Yes My Mileage Varried'.

[Henry Smith]

Originally Posted by bpfick

huh? You lost me.

Whoops! I thought we were talking about painting the outside of a fiberglass trailer, i.e. the shell. Sorry....