Portray vinyl partitions in a cell house is time-consuming and irritating due to the shiny floor and people blasted battens overlaying the seams.
Older cell houses normally have fake wooden paneling, in order that they aren’t as irritating to color. However manufactured houses constructed after the early eighties are likely to have partitions comprised of panels of pressed gypsum with a shiny floor on one facet. The shiny floor is normally comprised of paper or vinyl.
Vinyl on gypsum (VOG) panels are utilized in cell houses as a result of it repels water, are inexpensive, and are tremendous straightforward to put in. This coating, nevertheless, makes portray vinyl partitions in cell houses tough.
On this article, we’ll cowl the most well-liked choices to replace and paint vinyl partitions in cell houses. In case your cell house has wooden paneling, you’ll need to learn our information to wooden paneling in cell houses.
What are VOG wall panels and why are they utilized in cell houses?
VOG stands for Vinyl on Gypsum (or vinyl over gypsum). Gypsum is calcium sulfate dihydrate, a gentle and light-weight white or grey chalk-like mineral.
Vinyl on gypsum panels is usually 5/16″ thick with a shiny paper coating. They don’t have tapered edges, so installers use battens, or strips, to cowl the seams the place two panels meet. These battens are infamous inside the cell house world – most owners dislike them immensely.
VOG panels are used as a result of they’re light-weight, water-proof, straightforward to put in, clear, and keep.
Under you may see the fashionable low-gloss vinyl wallboards utilized in a manufactured house:

Luckily, fashionable manufactured house builders are starting to make use of totally different wall supplies. It might nonetheless be made with gypsum, however the high coating doesn’t have the excessive gloss coating or the rapidly outdated patterns.
You’ll be able to be taught extra about gypsum panels utilized in manufactured housing on the Manufactured Housing Gypsum Development Information.

The Most Essential Step Earlier than you paint vinyl partitions in a cell house
Portray is the best and most cost-effective technique to replace cell house partitions. A single shade, versus an outdated sample, can replace a room rapidly.
Portray is particularly straightforward in the event you depart the battens, or strips, that cowl the seams alone and paint over them.
Right here’s the identical lavatory proven above after the room was painted a stable shade:

Information to Portray Vinyl Partitions in a Cell Dwelling
Portray the vinyl-coated partitions in a cell house is a little more tough than most notice. The shiny paper coating on the partitions requires extra preparation than a normal sheetrock wall.
Luckily, many cell householders have painted their partitions with nice success and we’ve collected useful recommendation and suggestions from them. Right here’s the method they really useful:
Step 1: Wash the Partitions
Paint and primer won’t stick with soiled partitions.
Smoke from cooking, dander from pets, and airborne particles from the furnace and air conditioner naturally stick with partitions so that you want a detergent or non-abrasive cleaner to get the partitions as clear as attainable.
Each inch of the wall must be wiped with the cleansing agent, allowed to dry, after which wiped once more. Repeat if mandatory.
You need the primer and paint to bond to each a part of the wall.
Step 2: Use Excessive-High quality Primer and Paint
The suggestion we obtained most was to purchase the best high quality paint and primer you may afford.
The paint trade constantly improves their recipes so chances are high you can see an ideal primer and paint (or mixture primer+paint) in the event you stick with the better-known manufacturers. Ask your native house enchancment retailer for the most recent suggestion.
Sadly, higher paint expertise means greater costs so count on to spend a minimum of $25.00 per gallon.
See the part under for high model solutions.
Step 3: Use Excessive-High quality Brushes and Rollers
Utilizing high-quality brushes and rollers is one other widespread suggestion from householders which have painted their cell house partitions efficiently.
Excessive-quality brushes and rollers switch the paint to the partitions higher and provides a extra uniform end which is strictly what you want.

Step 4: Use A number of Mild Coats
All portray professionals will inform you that it’s higher to color partitions in a number of mild coats as an alternative of 1 or two heavy coats. This permits the paint to dry sooner and the end will likely be extra uniform and clean.
Above is a picture of two mild coats of Kilz Primer carried out by Geneva at MyHeartsSong.com.
Extra Data that Can Assist
Figuring out which firm manufactured your own home’s VOG panels will aid you decide their really useful paint and primer. Sadly, not all householders have entry to that info so somewhat guessing is required.
CDS, a big VOG producer, recommends an oil primer with two coats of alkyd or latex semi-gloss enamel paint:
- Two coats of alkyd or latex semi-gloss enamel.
- Oil primer with a end coat of oil paint or flat latex.
- Two coats of flat oil paint.
Different gypsum board producers have launched their very own suggestions and suggestions:
- Decrease sheen paints bond higher than gloss or semi-gloss paints.
- An acrylic based mostly primer ought to work effectively in most cell houses.
- Utilizing a great high quality primer helps reduce shade and floor variations and offers a extra uniform profile for any floor overlaying (supply).
- Apply a high-quality latex primer/sealer suitable with the completed product previous to ornament (supply).
- high quality, white, latex drywall primer formulated with greater binder solids, utilized undiluted, is usually specified for brand new gypsum board surfaces previous to the appliance of texture supplies and latex wall paints. An alkali and moisture-resistant primer and a tinted enamel undercoat could also be required underneath enamel paints. Seek the advice of with the end paint producer for particular suggestions (supply).
Associated: Create an Superior Gallery Wall for Much less Than $50!
High Paint and Primer Suggestions for Vinyl Partitions in Cell Properties
Selecting which primer and paint (or mixture product) to make use of on your cell house partitions might be the trickiest a part of the entire job. Go to three totally different paint shops and you’ll hear 3 totally different opinions.
Under is an inventory of merchandise which have labored effectively on cell house partitions (they’re listed in no explicit order) based mostly on bloggers and readers which have had nice outcomes when portray vinyl partitions in cell houses:

Greatest Primers to Use on Cell Dwelling Partitions:
- Kilz Primer
- Zinnser 123
- Gliddin Gripper
- Xium Uma
- Valspar Bonding Primer
Greatest Paint Manufacturers for Vinyl Partitions in Cell Properties
- Behr Premium Plus Extremely
- Glidden Efficiency Edge Fill + Prime + Paint
- Sherwin Williams

Paint, Wainscoting, and New Trim
The homeowners from the picture above painted the partitions, added wainscoting on the decrease third of the wall, and changed the factory-installed battens with 1″ trim. This provides the house a complete new look with out the trouble of eradicating the battens.
Associated: Utilizing Accent Partitions in Your Cell Dwelling
Conclusion
Many individuals have painted, textured, and papered their vinyl partitions in cell houses and you’ll, too!
The trick is to get the most effective bond attainable and that’s made attainable by cleansing the partitions effectively and utilizing a great primer.
As at all times, thanks a lot for studying Cell Dwelling Dwelling!