Out with the paint, in with the birch

That is fantastic. Perhaps the most amazing part of the story to me is 1/8 birch at $2o a sheet. Were they 4' X 8' size?

Ya that's pretty cheap. I usually pay anywhere from $27 to $32

Thanks for the kind words everyone.

A series of unplanned circumstances and help from great people, led to an outcome better than I could  have imagined.

First happy circumstance....The day my trailer showed up on Craig's list 15 minutes from our home, it was pouring rain, so my farmer husband could be convinced to jump in the car and race to see her. I really wanted a wood interior, but hey, for $600 I wouldn't mind a cute paint job.  

Sagging ceiling panels begged for replacement, but Wow, hard board panels covered with vinyl were $60-70 each.  Next idea, put up Luan and paint.  Lowes price was $15 which I thought was too high.  Looking on the web, I hit on Toledo Plywood (30 min drive).  A plywood store? who knew? (Not me)  1/8x4x8 birch for $20.  Too good to be true? Well, they only had 10 sheets and I needed twelve.  Solution, they had shop grade birch plywood, a little thicker, for $15 for a 4x8 sheet.  As you could guess, these have some blemishes, but nothing I couldn't either hide or live with.

I was one of those "I'm gonna work from the inside" newbies until I realized the ceiling panels were sandwiched between the walls and ceiling.  Next happy circumstance---- I found VTT and all you wonderful people.  You have helped me every step of the way.  Especially with working up the courage and determination to "do it right". (Can't say enough about Mobile Tech's videos too) I also got help from my sister who sewed all the curtains and cushion covers and helped me reinstall the skin, and her husband who put down the flooring, helped me finish the 110 wiring and helped install the big front window.

My local lumber store (not big box) ripped boards for my framing, the perfect size to replace the originals for cheaper than the, close but not quite, 2x2 pieces at the big box. I also found that we have an insulation store just 15 miles away that has a mind numbing selection of foam. (cheaper than big box stores) They even showed me the proper way to cut it!  Dollar General let me trade in the old propane tanks for new ones. $20 filled. 

Latest happy circumstance----my trailer refused to let me keep the painted cabinets. The paint peeled off every time you touched it.  (PO had not prepped the slippery fake paneling) So, she got new birch doors.  I still have the septic tank, range and stove hood, in case I change my mind and want to put them back in.  

I need to sit down one of these days and figure out the total cost so far, but guessing on the high side, it's less than $2000 including purchase.  The exterior has been resealed and all screws replaced, but she is ready for a new roof and outside paint, and we are replacing the brake assemblies, so more $$$ to spend, but we have used her close to home for two years, and when the brakes are done, she will be ready for her first real trip.  Hopefully mid Oct.  So, we're still coming in way below the cost of that new Shasta. 
 

Absolutely beautiful! It's wonderful to see a newer trailer that had the "fake wood" paneling re-paneled with birch. Congrats on your re-do! Now go camping and let everyone fall all over each other to get a look inside. Or do what we do... make sure everything is neat and clean and leave the curtains open when we leave for a hike or whatever, so the looky-loos can get their fill!

Sparkle, I like paint and have seen many super cute paint jobs, and I would have been happy with paint. The fiber board ceiling was just nasty from years of water leakage. Replacing that sent me down the road of no return.

 However, now that it is done, there is something about the shellacked birch that makes me just want to sit in her.  Kind of strange.  She smells good and is so warm and cozy.  I just step inside and I feel good.  I just can't explain it I have been converted, infected however you want to look at it.