{"id":2884,"date":"2018-10-21T06:42:22","date_gmt":"2018-10-21T06:42:22","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/artwethereyet.com\/blog\/?p=2884"},"modified":"2022-03-11T06:23:55","modified_gmt":"2022-03-11T12:23:55","slug":"painting-patching-bus-floor","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/artwethereyet.com\/blog\/painting-patching-bus-floor\/","title":{"rendered":"How to Paint &#038; Patch a Skoolie Floor"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Patching the holes and painting the school bus floor is another long process.&nbsp; Many skoolie conversions do this step differently.&nbsp; Here is how we did it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In hindsight, we would have done a few things differently. We&#8217;ll walk you through both, what we did and what we wish we had done.  Hopefully this will save you the time we spent learning!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"video-container\"><iframe src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/gfv0oF14we4\" width=\"760\" height=\"415\" frameborder=\"0\"><\/iframe><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h5 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Required Tools &amp; Materials<\/h5>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\"><li>Primer (we used <a href=\"https:\/\/amzn.to\/3r3Ib5u\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Rustoleum Rusty Metal Primer<\/a>)<\/li><li>Paint (we used <a href=\"https:\/\/amzn.to\/3yEGyxm\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Rustoleum Enamel<\/a>) &#8211;<em> we used the metallic color but later wished we had used one of the glossy colors<\/em><\/li><li>Rollers, brushes, paint pans<\/li><li>Your chosen patching materials.&nbsp; We used: <ul><li><a href=\"https:\/\/amzn.to\/3hwgmQ1\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Epoxy resin<\/a> and fiberglass (we used <a href=\"https:\/\/amzn.to\/2T16QL9\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">mat<\/a>, though <a href=\"https:\/\/amzn.to\/3hyk6Ag\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">cloth<\/a> may have worked well too).&nbsp; To apply you&#8217;ll need rubber gloves, tweezers, a scraper, a container to mix the resin.<\/li><li><a href=\"https:\/\/amzn.to\/3k5TckY\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Loctite PL<\/a> (do yourself a favor and buy this in bulk to save in the long run).&nbsp; To apply you&#8217;ll need a caulk gun and a scraper. <\/li><\/ul><\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group\"><div class=\"wp-block-group__inner-container is-layout-flow wp-block-group-is-layout-flow\">\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator is-style-wide\"\/>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Full disclosure guys, some of these are affiliate links, so we get a commission if you buy something from the list.\u00a0 As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases.\u00a0 Not much, but something.\u00a0\u00a0<strong>This is really important<\/strong>: we\u00a0<em><strong>only<\/strong><\/em>\u00a0link to tools and materials we actually used and\u00a0highly\u00a0recommend. We do these guides completely for free, so these links are the only way we get a little something back (except for the satisfaction of knowing we helped\u00a0<em>you<\/em>\u00a0build your dream skoolie, of course!)<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Don\u2019t have Amazon Prime yet?\u00a0<strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.amazon.com\/tryprimefree?ref_=assoc_tag_ph_1427739975520&amp;_encoding=UTF8&amp;camp=1789&amp;creative=9325&amp;linkCode=pf4&amp;tag=artwethereyet-20&amp;linkId=74f461080ddf921de48118000bf197db\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Here\u2019s a link for 30 days free.<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator is-style-wide\"\/>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Okay, so first we are going to lead you through what we did.&nbsp; Then we&#8217;re going to tell you what we wish we&#8217;d done differently.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h5 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Step 1 &#8211; Apply the Primer<\/h5>\n\n\n\n<ol class=\"wp-block-list\"><li>Use a brush and rollers to apply the primer.<\/li><li>Let it dry the required amount shown on the can, then apply a second coat if you like.<\/li><\/ol>\n\n\n\n<h5 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Step 2 &#8211; Plug the Holes with Loctite PL<\/h5>\n\n\n\n<ol class=\"wp-block-list\"><li>Apply a little Loctite PL to each hole, then smooth it over with the scraper so that the plug is flush with the floor.&nbsp; You do not want a bunch of little nubs sticking up all over the floor!&nbsp; You want the floor as flat as possible so that your insulation (and later subfloor) can lay flat.<\/li><\/ol>\n\n\n\n<h5 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Step 3 &#8211; Patch over the Loctite Plugs with Epoxy and Fiberglass<\/h5>\n\n\n\n<ol class=\"wp-block-list\"><li>Have two people ready to work together on this, because the epoxy hardens fast.<\/li><li>Cut the fiberglass mat into small squares<\/li><li>Mix the epoxy, in a small amount only!<\/li><li>Apply a thin layer of epoxy over the plug, in the shape of the fiberglass mat squares<\/li><li>Use tweezers to lay the fiberglass down, then use the scraper to gently push the fiberglass into the epoxy.&nbsp; The fiberglass has to be completely &#8216;wet&#8217; with epoxy.<\/li><li>Allow the epoxy to harden completely.<\/li><\/ol>\n\n\n\n<h5 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Step 4 &#8211; Apply Another Layer of Primer<\/h5>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">We applied another layer of primer, so that the enamel had a complete layer of primer to adhere to.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h5 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Step 5 &#8211; Apply the Paint<\/h5>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Apply your paint.&nbsp; We used Rustoleum Enamel, the metallic color.&nbsp; We wish we had used one of the glossy colors, because the metallic didn&#8217;t have a hard, enamel-like feel to it when it dried.&nbsp; It felt more matte, and when we rubbed our finger across it, a slight amount of silvery powder came up with it.&nbsp; It didn&#8217;t feel like a hard, enamel cap on top of the primer.&nbsp; So if we could go back, we would use one of the glossy enamels.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator\"\/>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Okay!&nbsp; So that&#8217;s what we did.&nbsp; We feel like the floor is well protected against future rust, and&nbsp;<em>nothing<\/em> is getting through those holes.&nbsp; So we don&#8217;t feel we did anything wrong, but we do feel we went a <em>little overboard<\/em>.&nbsp; <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Here&#8217;s what we wish we had done:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\"><li>Skip the Loctite step and go straight to fiberglass patches.<\/li><li>Then we would have used the angle grinder to smooth the patches down to be more flush with the floor.<\/li><li>Then we would have primed with the same Rustoleum primer.<\/li><li>Then we would have painted with a glossy Rustoleum paint.<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator\"\/>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Next, <a aria-label=\"removing the side panels! (opens in a new tab)\" href=\"https:\/\/artwethereyet.com\/blog\/2018\/10\/25\/remove-school-bus-side-panels\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">removing the side panels!<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group\"><div class=\"wp-block-group__inner-container is-layout-flow wp-block-group-is-layout-flow\">\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-css-opacity is-style-wide\"\/>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">&lt;&lt; Back to the <a href=\"https:\/\/artwethereyet.com\/blog\/skoolie-bus-conversion-ultimate-guide\/\">Skoolie Conversion Ultimate Guide Homepage<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-css-opacity is-style-wide\"\/>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:100px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"2896\" height=\"310\" src=\"https:\/\/artwethereyet.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/art-we-there-yet-skoolie-bus-travel.png\" alt=\"art-we-there-yet-skoolie-bus-travel\" class=\"wp-image-5344\" srcset=\"https:\/\/artwethereyet.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/art-we-there-yet-skoolie-bus-travel.png 2896w, https:\/\/artwethereyet.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/art-we-there-yet-skoolie-bus-travel-1536x164.png 1536w, https:\/\/artwethereyet.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/art-we-there-yet-skoolie-bus-travel-2048x219.png 2048w, https:\/\/artwethereyet.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/art-we-there-yet-skoolie-bus-travel-1170x125.png 1170w, https:\/\/artwethereyet.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/art-we-there-yet-skoolie-bus-travel-1920x206.png 1920w, https:\/\/artwethereyet.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/art-we-there-yet-skoolie-bus-travel-585x63.png 585w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 2896px) 100vw, 2896px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"so-you-re-building-a-skoolie-huh\">So you\u2019re building a skoolie, huh?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">We feel your pain, my friend! We also know how good it feels to finally make a dream reality.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><a href=\"https:\/\/artwethereyet.com\/blog\/skoolie-bus\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Our skoolie<\/a>&nbsp;took 9 months and $28,000 to complete. We documented the entire build and are slowly building<a href=\"https:\/\/artwethereyet.com\/blog\/skoolie-bus-conversion-ultimate-guide\/\">&nbsp;a series of guides<\/a>&nbsp;on every step of the bus conversion process.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">We spent a&nbsp;<em>crap ton<\/em>&nbsp;of time figuring out how to do this and that. We also could have saved a few bucks along the way.  We hope our tutorials help save you some time and money!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"our-top-5-bus-conversion-tools-materials\">Our TOP 5 Bus Conversion Tools &amp; Materials:<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/amzn.to\/3v7iFjJ\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">5-in-1 Painters Tool<\/a> (you will use this a MILLION times)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/amzn.to\/3LSJ2Qj\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Impact Driver &amp; Drill Combo Kit<\/a> (there won\u2019t be a day you won\u2019t use this)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/amzn.to\/3IeX1gX\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">100% Silicone<\/a> (buy in bulk to save a LOT of money!)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/amzn.to\/36y3vtA\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Angle Grinder<\/a> (get used to using this ALL the time!)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/amzn.to\/3513I7Z\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Table Saw <\/a>(it will be nearly impossible to complete your conversion without this. It\u2019s WORTH the investment!)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><em>This\u00a0page contains product affiliate links. We may receive a commission if you make a purchase after clicking on one of these links.<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Patching the holes and painting the school bus floor is another long process.&nbsp; Many skoolie conversions do this step differently.&nbsp; Here is how we did it. In hindsight, we would have done&hellip;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":5667,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"video","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[12],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-2884","post","type-post","status-publish","format-video","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-school-bus-conversion-tutorials","post_format-post-format-video"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/artwethereyet.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2884","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/artwethereyet.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/artwethereyet.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/artwethereyet.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/artwethereyet.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2884"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/artwethereyet.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2884\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":5669,"href":"https:\/\/artwethereyet.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2884\/revisions\/5669"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/artwethereyet.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/5667"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/artwethereyet.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2884"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/artwethereyet.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2884"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/artwethereyet.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2884"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}