Recommendations for sealing van floor

[Relay]

Hi all

I’ve just removed the rust from the floor of my van (it’s being converted into a camper). YouTube tells me to coat with kurust and then red oxide primer but now I’m not convinced.

As most of the rust has been removed (see photos), would I be better off going straight on with an epoxy primer without using any rust converter. How well will this adhere to the surrounding painted areas?

And, if so, any recommendations for a readily available epoxy primer to use (UK based).

Thanks in advance for any help.

 

[Misterg]

Looks like a fairly recent van (X/290 ?) - Aren't they supposed to be galvanised?

Hello, btw

 

[Relay]

That's correct it’s a 2020 Citroen Relay. I think whatever the previous owner was loading into the back scratched the paint up pretty nicely in places, plus a few dents for good measure, and that’s where the rust had started to form.

I actually went with some Rustoleum Hard Hat Cold Galvanising Zinc paint (https://www.brewers.co.uk/product/BN48502205Q), straight onto the bare metal in the end.

Now I just need somebody with some expertise to reassure me that this was a reasonable choice

 

[barracuda816]

give it all a scratch up with some scotchpad and a degreasing then roll on some epoxy like jotun 87. it will also give a good surface for the battons to adhere to when you are building up the insulation and plyboard

 

[barracuda816]

Sorry. Just read the above comment

Sounds ok. But I’m not a huge fan of rustoleum in general.

 

[arther dailey]

Hi all

I’ve just removed the rust from the floor of my van (it’s being converted into a camper). YouTube tells me to coat with kurust and then red oxide primer but now I’m not convinced.

As most of the rust has been removed (see photos), would I be better off going straight on with an epoxy primer without using any rust converter. How well will this adhere to the surrounding painted areas?

And, if so, any recommendations for a readily available epoxy primer to use (UK based).

Thanks in advance for any help.

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you have made a good job of that

 

[barracuda816]

Also for what it’s worth you were right not to trust YouTube. I wouldn’t paint over a kurust type product and red oxide doesn’t really exist now. Usually it’s a single component acrylic, coloured red.

 

[Misterg]

I actually went with some Rustoleum Hard Hat Cold Galvanising Zinc paint

I was going to suggest some sort of zinc-rich paint (I've had good results from Zinc 182 over the years).

Thought I recognised the floor - I converted a 2018 Relay.

 

[Relay]

Thanks for all your feedback, glad to hear I wasn’t too far off the mark with this. I gave it a good key with some 150grit and then white spirit to degrease before putting the primer down.

As far as top coats go is there something better I should use over hammerite?

 

[qwakers]

if you want a single coat brush or roll on paint, tractol is way better than hammerite. if you want to do it right with a gun, a guy sprayed a mercedes with a 2k non iso paint that slips my mind right now, but that would be perfect. im sure someone will be along in a moment to point you to the thread.

 

[Turbo]

If its going to be covered anyway roller on any decent epoxy primer.

 

[qwakers]

if you want a single coat brush or roll on paint, tractol is way better than hammerite. if you want to do it right with a gun, a guy sprayed a mercedes with a 2k non iso paint that slips my mind right now, but that would be perfect. im sure someone will be along in a moment to point you to the thread.

Nisocoat 2. took me a while to remember

a good epoxy primer is a good start either way.

 

[hotponyshoes]

If it's a camper conversion I wouldn't worry too much about the floor. Just cover it with 'something' so there is no bare metal. Ideally something tough enough that you won't scratch it off as you install the floor.
I'd just sikaflex the lot after painting it and lay the insulation over the top.

The one to worry about is the roof.
That's where all the condensation wil sit and condensation is corrosive (problem with horseboxes as horses breath a lot of air)

If you put in any roof lights or glands for solar etc that's where you want to concentrate on the metal protection.

 

[8ob]

I would wax it, its never going to see the light of day and wax will outlive any coatings.

Bob

 

[sako243]

I've been pretty impressed so far with POR15, again intended to go over rust but I cleared all the surface rust off the Defender radius arms and it's held up pretty well to the abuse and knocks that takes.

Probably overkill for what it's going to be used for

 

[knighty]

I spray van floors/walls with underseal before I box them in and fibreglass them

I've had old vans I've stripped out and the ones I've done like that are always spot on behind the wood

It's getting covered anyway so you don't care what it looks like, and it's flexible so a bit of movement doesn’t bother it

 

[Smallfry]

I wouldn't have used that ............

 

[barracuda816]

Each to their own, but I think POR15 is terrible stuff. Yes it is hard, but it has no adhesive properties. It's like powder coating, as soon as there is any damage It will just flake off. I have wasted a lot of time with POR15, I have tried it over epoxy mastic, and on bare sandblasted steel. Maybe it was just me, but a quick review search suggests not. It not firmly in my do not use list.

I know you have done the job but, pretty much the best in my opinion (especially for the money) is Jotun 90A followed by Hardtop AX. If you wanted a factory colour finish but with texture then Jotun 90A followed buy UPOL raptor followed by your chosen colour topcoat.

But POR15, Hammerite and any black rubberised single component underseal, I would stay well clear of.

 

[Shedendman]

I spray van floors/walls with underseal before I box them in and fibreglass them

I've had old vans I've stripped out and the ones I've done like that are always spot on behind the wood

It's getting covered anyway so you don't care what it looks like, and it's flexible so a bit of movement doesn’t bother it

I use bitumen paint,2 coats allow to dry/cure and go from there

 

[roofman]

Its the other side that should be getting all the love