Can you paint paneling walls

If you have gorgeous, solid stained wood paneling that you love, leave it! Wood accents in a home are warm and earthy, and totally in style.

But, if your paneling is more of an eyesore than an accent, it may be time to paint it. In addition, sanding wood paneling will make your space dusty, creating a lot more work for you. In addition, I always have a concern for asbestos in any home products that were made before You can do your own research on this, but suffice to say, for this reason and the ones listed above, I do not recommend sanding wood paneling prior to painting it.

But, there are some exceptions to this. Painting paneling is one of them. I always recommend using a primer before painting your wood paneling. First, primer has special adhesion elements in it that stick to the wood paneling better than paint does. If you were to just apply paint to your wood paneling, the paint would likely peel off easily if it were scratched with a fingernail or other hard object toy car, furniture, etc. Second, primer will block out any stains or dark color from the wood from seeping through the paint.

This ensures that the color of the walls is consistent. Third, using primer will enable you to use less paint. Wood paneling sucks up a TON of paint if it is not primed first. Last, if you want to be able to paint your wood paneling without sanding it first, you need to use a primer. Once you have primed your wood paneling, you can use any kind of good quality latex paint to paint it.

I tend to use Sherwin Williams Super Paint for most of my wall painting projects. I like the coverage it gives and it acts just like paint should. If your paneling has fairly shallow grooves, you may be able to just paint the whole wall with a roller.

Remember, the deeper the groove on the paneling, the higher nap roller is necessary to reach inside the groove. Now, I have painted some wood paneling where the groove is just too deep for a roller to reach.

In those cases, you have to use a paintbrush. Brush all the lines, and then roll the rest. It takes much longer to do it this way, but sometimes there is just no choice. Since it takes much longer to paint the paneling with a brush and a roller, I would suggest trying to paint the paneling with a roller first.

Be sure to select a primer that is made for slick surfaces. This will help to ensure that your paint has good adhesion to the wood paneling, and will reduce the likelihood of the paint peeling off when scuffed.

As I mentioned earlier, painted paneling lends itself particularly well to a cottage, shabby chic, farmhouse or even coastal styled home. Accordingly, I would recommend painting the paneling in a light shade.

Good paint color options for painted paneling are white, light gray, yellow or pale blue. For more ideas on paint colors for wood paneling, check out these posts:. White Paint Colors. Blue Paint Colors. Coastal Paint Colors.

Here is my living room before I painted the paneling. It had very dark wood paneling on two of the walls, and beige wallpaper on the other two. Plus, it has lots of trees outside, blocking the sunlight. Top with your chosen paint applied in the same manner as described in Step 4.

Lightly sand the surface between coats, and expect to do two or three in total leaving adequate dry time between each. Disclosure: BobVila. You agree that BobVila. All rights reserved. Expert advice from Bob Vila, the most trusted name in home improvement, home remodeling, home repair, and DIY. Follow these simple steps to achieve a professional-looking, up-to-date finish. Don't want to do it yourself?

Get free, no-commitment estimates from pro painters near you. Find local painters. If the paneling has old paint that was likely applied before , do not sand the paneling unless you have the paint tested to confirm that it does not contain lead. If old paint tests positive for lead, skip the sanding and simply apply a good primer to ensure the paint job will stick. Begin by making sure the paneling is clean. A damp rag will remove most of the dust, dirt, and cobwebs.

If there are layers of grime, use a solution of TSP trisodium phosphate, a heavy-duty cleaner or a TSP substitute which can be less toxic and water to get it all off. It will also look low-grade because the paint will pick up clumps of dirt, making it impossible to get a flat, clean look. Apply wood putty with a putty knife to fill any holes or cracks and allow to dry. If desired, lightly sand all of the paneling, along with trim and moldings, with grit sandpaper.

The idea is to take off the sheen and create a lightly gritty surface so the paint will adhere. Try not to get carried away and sand too hard. When you're finished, wipe it down with a slightly damp cloth to remove all the dust. Note: Sanding is optional and often is not necessary. Using a good primer that will stick to the old finish usually means you don't have to sand the wood. Just keep in mind that if the primer doesn't stick well, neither will the paint. Sanding always improves adhesion.

Some paneling that appears to be wood may just be a faux melamine finish. If it is, sanding and a primer are recommended.

Check with your paint supplier for the proper primer. Apply caulk to any gaps between paneling planks, between the panels and trim, and around the windows and doors.

Make sure to use "paintable" caulk. Allow the caulk to dry, as directed by the manufacturer. Use a foam sponge roller and a brush or just a brush alone to apply a thin coat of primer to all of the paneling. Make sure to cover the entire surface, including any trim. These will prevent any grease or wood stains from coming through and ruining your paint job. When painting knotty pine, use a primer formulated to cover knots, which can bleed through several coats of paint if not properly primed.