Mobile salon vans for Washington State

How does Washington's climate change from west to east?

West of the Cascades, from Bellingham through Everett, Seattle, Tacoma and Olympia, winters are mild and wet. Rain is the normal state from November to March, temperatures usually stay a few degrees above freezing, and snow or ice arrives a few times a winter and is gone within days. For this side of the state ProVanWorks uses about 16 mm (5/8 inch) of insulation in the walls, roof and floor, the same as our vans for the Lower Mainland of BC.

East of the mountains the weather turns continental. Spokane, the Tri-Cities and Yakima get colder, drier winters with real snow and cold snaps well below −10 °C (14 °F), then hot, dry summers that often pass 30 °C (86 °F). A salon van for Eastern Washington gets much thicker insulation, set for each build, and a battery bank sized for long days of heating in winter and air conditioning in July.

On both sides, a small diesel, gas or electric heater under the seat warms the floor and walls through pipes, heat exchangers spread the warmth, and a thermostat holds the temperature. The heater runs with the engine off. The front fan of the two in the cargo area also runs the air conditioning.

Which Washington cities have their own salon van page?

We have pages with local climate, routes and rules for four Washington cities:

• Seattle, the closest large US city to our shop.
• Bellevue and the Eastside, across Lake Washington.
• Tacoma and Pierce County, further south on I-5.
• Spokane, on the eastern side of the state.

We also build for stylists and technicians in Bellingham, Everett, Olympia, Vancouver (WA), the Tri-Cities and everywhere else in the state.

Where do mobile salons work across Washington?

In the Puget Sound cities, mobile salons go to condo and apartment towers, offices, seniors' residences and people recovering at home. In the suburbs and small towns, they park in driveways and serve families who would otherwise drive half an hour to a salon. Weddings bring work across the state: wineries in Woodinville and Walla Walla, barns in the Skagit Valley, lodges in the Cascades and resort towns such as Leavenworth and Chelan.

The San Juan Islands and Whidbey Island add a ferry to the trip, so a van carrying its own water and power is useful there. For markets, fairs and events where you stay at one site all day, a mobile beauty salon trailer is worth comparing with a van.

What water and power does a Washington salon van need?

A ProVanWorks salon van has a fresh water reservoir, hot water to a shampoo bowl, pedicure basin or hand-wash sink, and a grey water tank the same size as or larger than the reservoir. Tank sizes are set around your appointments. The battery bank charges at Level 2 EV chargers (J1772), from shore power through the 50 A inlet (30 A available) or the 20 A, 120 V inlet, and from solar panels or a generator as add-ons. In the Puget Sound area public chargers are easy to find; on rural routes east of the mountains, a generator or a larger battery bank makes more sense. The hair salon van page explains power for dryers and hot tools.

Who regulates mobile salons in Washington?

Check with the Washington State Department of Licensing about cosmetology licences for you and your services. For health and sanitation rules, check with your local health authority: Public Health - Seattle & King County in King County, the Tacoma-Pierce County Health Department in Pierce County and the Spokane Regional Health District in Spokane County. Check with each city about parking and business licences before you book clients there.

How do salon vans cross from Langley into Washington?

The Langley shop is minutes from the Aldergrove, BC / Lynden, WA crossing. From there, I-5 runs south through Bellingham, Everett, Seattle and Tacoma, and I-90 leaves the Seattle area eastward over Snoqualmie Pass toward Spokane. Seattle is about 190 km (120 miles) from the shop and Spokane about 620 km (385 miles).

You can pick up the van in Langley and drive it home, have ProVanWorks drive it to you, or have it shipped on a vehicle transport carrier. Washington customers can have their quote in USD or CAD, and we'll walk you through the border paperwork when you order. Read how delivery works.

Can I have a salon van built to my own design?

Yes. ProVanWorks builds every salon van to the customer's own specifications, or you can choose one of our already designed systems and change what you need. See the mobile salon vans page for layouts for hair, nails, lashes and massage.

Frequently asked questions

Can I visit the ProVanWorks shop from Washington?

Yes, by appointment. The shop in Langley is a short drive from the Lynden crossing, about 45 minutes from Bellingham. Email info@provanworks.com to book a visit.

Can I pay in US dollars?

Yes. Quotes come in USD or CAD, whichever you prefer. Email info@provanworks.com with your city, your services and what you plug in.