Finding Some Leaky Windows

With the floor insulation down, the couple's next challenge saw them use plywood to create the subfloor of their new home on wheels. And while this required a huge amount of attention to detail, it was encouraging to see the school bus come together. But that's when they realized that "we were having leaking issues with the windows." They knew this was something they needed to fix as soon as possible.

In the end, they decided to remove all of the windows, clean them up, and then reinstall them using an extra-strong sealant. But then Priscilla confessed that "after all that work, they continued to leak." They just didn't know what to do.

Recycling Just Wasn't an Option

Although Priscilla and Robbie originally wanted to reuse and recycle as many of the school bus's original features as possible, they soon realized that this wasn't practical. So, they opted to replace all of the windows with new ones to ensure that they had a watertight home. They also forked out on a new type of foam-insulating material for the walls to keep them warm and cozy during their adventures.

Robbie was tasked with spraying this foam, with Priscilla stating that "He was miserable in that suit. It was so hot, and it was so much work." But when it was done, they could move on to the exciting part.

Bringing Their Plan to Life

With all of the practicalities of the school bus conversion completed, the couple could move on to the layout and the design of their new home. Instead of simply winging it, they decided to map out a frame using plywood. By doing this, they could map out the different sections or "rooms" within the bus, as well as construct frames for large pieces of furniture like their bed and their couch.

Within just a few days they had mapped out their living room, bedroom, kitchen, and even a full bathroom. This made them even more excited to see the finished product.

Turning a Bus Into a Home

With a full plan in place, Robbie and Priscilla moved on to the next stage of their plan; turning their bus into a home. They were conscious that they didn't want their school bus to look and feel like a school bus. They wanted to make it cozy, homey, and comfortable - and they knew that this would be all in the small details. For example, they knew they wanted their ceiling to be a centerpiece.

In order to cover the original steel roof and the extra insulation, the couple opted to clad the roof in cedar wood. Priscilla loved this part of the build, as it made their bus smell "wonderful."

Starting on the Bedroom

Priscilla and Robbie couldn't wait to finish their bus renovation, but they needed to be smart about their plan. Instead of working on different projects at once, they opted to work room by room - and their bedroom was first on the list. They continued the cedar theme in this room, cladding the ceiling and even using the same wood to clad the walls. Then it was time to construct the bed.

With limited space at their disposal, the couple made their bedroom into a versatile space. They used their DIY skills to build a platform for their mattress, and underneath they made sure to build all-important storage space.

Brick by Boring Brick

Up until this point, Priscilla and Robbie had largely focused on the practical side of their motorhome. They'd made it watertight, they'd insulated it, and they'd mapped out their layout. But they wanted to start adding their own personal touches to the bus, which is why they decided to start thinking about the aesthetics of their home. More importantly, Priscilla wanted to start working on the fireplace she wanted so much!

To create the perfect backdrop for Priscilla's dream fireplace, they chose to install half-inch brick veneers on the wall. This offered a real "wow" moment and gave them even more inspiration for the next step.

Settling on the Storage Space

When the brick fireplace backdrop was completed, the couple decided to focus on building out the custom closet next to it. Although they were planning to keep their house in Florida during their adventure, they knew that they needed somewhere to store some of their clothes while they were on the road. So, they noted that "we had to really go through our closet at home and pick only our favorite pieces."

Priscilla explained that "this was our time to do our yearly cleaning and donate what we no longer needed or used." But they were careful not to construct a huge closet, as they needed space for their full bathroom.