Old paneling is dark and sometimes scratched and dented.
You no longer need to remove paneling from the walls to update the decor in a room. Paint paneling in a mobile home to freshen the look of the room or to cover dark paneling with a more contemporary color. As a do-it-yourself project, a single room or hallway can be painted in a weekend for a professional-looking wall.
Preparing the Walls
Wood paneling has cover strips running between the seams of each piece of paneling that must be removed to give the wall a smoother surface. You can tack down any bulging seams with brad or finishing nails. Countersink the nails into the wall so they are hidden from view when painted. An easy way to countersink the nail is to put the shaft of one nail on the head of the other and slowly tap on the head of the top nail until the bottom nail is slightly below the surface of the wall.
The walls must be free of grease, grime and dirt before you paint the surface. Wash the walls with a good degreaser or use a solution of trisodium phosphate and water. Mix the trisodium phosphate according to the package instructions. Rinse the walls and allow them to dry before applying anything else.
Paneling has a glossy finish that keeps paint from sticking to the surface. You can either sand the entire wall to remove the finish or apply a deglosser. Certain brands of trisodium phosphate have a deglosser in the cleaning agent that eliminates the need for a separate chemical application. The deglosser may leave the wall slightly tacky, but that is to help the new paint adhere to the surface.
Spackle and Primer
Cover the grooves in the paneling by applying a thin layer of drywall mud to the surface. This skim coat is to cover any imperfections like gouges or scratches and does not need to cover the entire wall. Lightly sand the drywall mud after it dries. Fill nail holes with Spackle and sand smooth when the Spackle dries.
Apply a coat of primer to the walls before painting to ensure a strong bond between the wall and the paint. A primer also helps cover the dark color of the paneling, and thus fewer coats of paint are required.
Painting
Measure the height and length of the wall you are painting to determine square footage. Each can of paint lists how many square feet the contents cover. This helps when you are doing a large job and need to calculate how much paint to buy, or if you need a special color that requires tinting.
Use a short nap roller on the smooth surface of the paneling. The smoother the surface, the shorter the nap on the roller.
Determine the painting technique you will use before you start painting. Some techniques require the paint to be wet and other techniques require a completely dry surface. You don't want to try applying a glazing technique to a dry wall, nor do you want to dry-brush the wet wall.
Related posts
Dark paneling can make a room seem uninviting, dark and depressing. To brighten up your rooms and give them new life, you will want to paint over your dark paneling. Painting over dark paneling is...
No longer stuck with a brown paneled wall, painting allows the homeowner to choose from a variety of colors.Painting paneling is an inexpensive way to transform an outdated room into a modern livi...
Giving the walls a fresh coat of paint can enliven an entire room.Choosing to paint your indoor walls can mean an interior design transformation that is much cheaper than renovation but can still...
Painting is an easy and affordable way to dramatically change the look of a room. If you are looking for a change from white, cream or beige walls, consider going for dramatic, dark and deep color...
Old paneling provides a somber atmosphere in a mobile home.As a mobile home ages, its wood paneling may fade and lose its luster, providing a somber environment for anyone occupying the home. It u...
