For some people, this part of the process is the most fun part. For others, it is the most stressful. But don’t worry, CDI has been helping out with design and color for 45 years, so you (and your coach) are in good hands. We are going to start with collecting some basic information about your coach. Year, make model, VIN#, etc. Mostly the basics. We will also ask for some pictures so that we can begin to acquaint ourselves with your coach. 

Our customer care team will also ask some questions more specific to your tastes. Light colors or dark colors, swirls or straight lines, earth tones or vibrant colors… you get the picture. Our goal is to get as much pre-work done as possible so that we can get your coach back to you in a timely fashion. But we also recognize repainting your RV is a big decision, and frankly, sometimes you need to immerse yourself at our campus to land on a final decision… And that’s okay. 

In the end, the most important step in the process is that you are 100% comfortable with the choices you make. Sometimes you just need to see actual color samples next to one another to see how the colors play together. Once we land on a design and color scheme, CDI will make as many of the necessary preparation steps as possible for your visit to North Iowa.

Upon your arrival, you will be showered with some good ol-fashioned midwestern hospitality. “Iowa Nice” is a real thing, and we don’t apologize for it. Our team will do a thorough walk around in your unit with you so that we can ask questions of you about your coach, and you can also ask questions of us. The end goal of this process is to make sure all ambiguity is removed. After all, we are going to transform one of your most prized assets, so when you get it back, we want to exceed your expectations.

So on that note, our goal for a full repaint is about 3 weeks, but depending on the age and condition of your coach, it may take a bit longer. Production timelines will be discussed with your customer care consultant when you walk around the coach together. In the end, we want to deliver a showroom quality finish, and don’t believe saving a day or two is worth compromising quality. 

The first production phase in the process will be to strip your coach’s exterior back to as close to its original form as possible. Old caulk and sealants will be removed. If your unit has decals and film they will also be removed, along with awnings and toppers. And then our “prep” team will get to sanding…lots and lots of sanding. The prep phase is critical to get correct as it sets the stage for a high quality final product. Your coach can be in the “prep” or “pre-production” phase for up to a week. That’s how strongly we believe in getting your coach ready for its glorious rebirth. 

After prep, your coach will go through a series of steps that all take about one day each and are critical to the success of your finished coach. Final Prep Inspection is Day 1/Step 1. Main Base is Step 2, and is the first color that is added to your RV. Day 3 is our Layout Phase. Think of this phase as the “paint by numbers” step in the process. Layout creates the diagram for our painters to follow. Day 4 is what we call Secondary Colors. Aside from the main base color, this stage applies all of the rest of the colors. The swoops, swirls, splashes, the blues, the reds or metallics all get applied here. YOur design finally starts to come to life. Day 5 is Clear Coat Day, or more appropriately, the “shiny stuff.” This phase brings the shine back to your unit, while also protecting it from the sun and other natural elements. Day 6 is Parts and Awnings. During this phase we start to put your coach back together. Awnings, mirrors, lights and ladders all find their way back on your coach. At this point in the process, your coach is starting to look like its old self, just now with a fantastic new paint job that you helped design. During Day 7, or Detail, your coach goes through a series of sanding and polishing steps to get it looking its best. We have a pretty clean shop, but that doesn’t mean we are impervious to slight imperfections. Small chunks of dirt will easily sand out, and a thorough set of buffing and polishing will get that clear coat shining its brightest. Day 8 is our final finish day, where we painstakingly review every inch of your coach to make sure it's ready for pick up. And if it’s not, final finish will fix it.