Are you tired of the old wood look in your home? Dark wood paneling seems to make a room small and dungeon like. You should consider painting over the panels to brighten up the dismal space. Here are some guidelines that will help you take on this simple home improvement project.
Instructions
1. Clean out the room. It is easier to work in a room if it is clean. Remove all furniture and anything that may get in the way--window coverings included. Wash down the paneling with a sponge dipped in a mixture of dish-washing liquid and water. Let the paneling dry.
2. Ventilate the room. Always have proper ventilation because you will be working with some smelly stuff. Open windows and doors if possible, and be sure to have a fan going. Apply painting tape to the areas of the wall that you do not wish to paint over.
3. Inspect the paneling for nails. If your wood paneling has any nails sticking out, you will want to tap those flush with the wood paneling so they will not show. If you plan to re-hang a picture or decorative piece on a certain nail, you can leave it alone. You also need to inspect the walls for loose paneling. You may need to nail the panel down so it will no longer move.
4. Lay floor covering. Avoid spilling paint on the floor by covering it with a drop cloth or a plastic covering. If you plan to replace the flooring in that room, go ahead and take the old carpet or flooring up so you do not have to worry about covering anything.
5. Prime the wood paneling. Place your bucket of primer in the room. Mix it well before applying to the wood paneling. Apply the primer with a paint sprayer or with a roller and paintbrush. Let the primer dry. Evaluate the wood once the first coat is dry. If you can still see the wood color well through the primer, you may have to add another coat of primer. If so, wait until the first one is dry and then add a second coat of primer. Let this dry before applying anything else.
6. Caulk cracks. Smooth the caulk over cracks and in joint areas to keep them from being noticed. Paint can make them more evident. You may also want to use spackling and a putty knife to smooth over small holes and imperfections in the walls. Let this dry.
7. Paint the wood paneling like you would a regular wall. Mix the paint. After priming, apply the paint just like you would a sheet rock wall. You can use a paint sprayer, paintbrush or roller. Let the paint dry. Clean all of your painting tools immediately so you can use them again in the future.
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