The first real demolition work in our American school bus has begun. And it feels good! Yesterday was all about screws, screws and more screws.

Hundreds of screws later.......
Never thought a bus could contain so many screws. The ceiling doesn't consist of panels that you can just pry loose. No, each panel is fastened with dozens (maybe even hundreds?) of screws. But after some initial trial and error, we finally got moving with a power drill and an old-fashioned Phillips head screwdriver.

What's behind that ceiling?
Of course, I'm not removing that ceiling for nothing. I want to know what's behind it – how the wiring runs, what the condition of the roof is and most importantly: how and where can I best insulate later. The view behind the first panel was good: no nasty surprises, no rusty conditions, just a solid foundation to build on.

The heating removed: a piece of cake
Beside the ceiling, there was another task that I was initially hesitant about: removing the original heating in the bus. Fortunately, I found a great YouTube video that explained step by step how to safely disconnect the heating from the engine. Then drain the coolant. Close off the hoses. Disconnect the heating unit and lift it out of the bus. In one of the photos below, you can see the result: a pile of material that was the heating system until recently.

A good start
Demolition work may not be the most beautiful part of a renovation, but it does give satisfaction. After all, this is how the foundation is laid. And the best part is of course when this proceeds without major setbacks. As has been the case so far. On to the next task in the bus – and that will probably be stripping the ceiling further and then the side walls. Until the next update!

Peter de Martines

Follow our renovation viawww.glampingaandemaas.nland onInstagram. We aim to open the doors of the bus in May 2026 for the first guests.