Painting Wood Paneling

Wood paneling was an integral part of interior design during 1970s and 80s. It was used to beautify the walls and floors, that changed the whole appearance of the room. However, some people with older homes may find wood panels for walls outdated and may want to get rid of the dark wooden paneling in their homes. It darkens the room and makes it look out of style. This may leave them with the option of remodeling or reconstructing their homes which can be quite expensive. The easiest way to get rid of the outdated look, is by painting over wood paneling. Painting wood panels is a fairly simple job that can be done by the homeowners themselves.

How to Paint Wood Paneling?

Things Required

• All purpose cleaners
• Brushes
• Sponges
• Wood putty
• Putty knives
• House paints
• Joint compounds
• Sanding blocks
• Sandpaper
• Spackle
• Buckets

Directions

Step 1: Before you begin painting over wood paneling, you will have to clear out all the furniture from the room. You could also assemble it all in the center of the room if you can't move it out. Remove the wall fixtures if any and cover your floors with plastic drop cloths. Tape off all those areas, you do not want to paint.

Step 2: Now, that your room is all set for painting, start by cleaning the wood panels. Wipe the wall panels with a cloth dipped in warm water, to remove all the grease and grime that has set on it over years. You could also use cleaning agents like TSP (trisodium phosphate), to get rid of the stubborn stains.

Step 3: Once the wooden paneling of your room is clean, lightly sand the paneled walls, using a grit sandpaper. This is done to smoothen the wooden surface. Wipe down the wooden panelings, with a damp cloth or a sponge, to remove all the dust from sanding, so that it does not mix with the paint.

Step 4: Check the panelings for grooves or cracks. If you find any, fill them up with Spackle. Push it in the grooves properly, with the help of a putty knife. Allow the first coat of putty to dry properly, only then, go for the second one.

Step 5: When the putty dries completely, sand the wood again with the help of a fine grit sandpaper. Once you are done with sanding, use a damp sponge mop to remove all the dust.

Step 6: Your wall is now ready to take the paint, after all the cleaning and sanding. Start by applying a bonding primer on the wooden panels. A stain killing primer, tinted to the approximate color of the finishing coat, would be just perfect! Allow it to dry completely.

Step 7: Finally, paint your wood paneling with the color of your choice. You could choose from various acrylic paint colors, as acrylic latex dries quickly. Moreover, as it is quite flexible, the chances of peeling and chipping are reduced. Two coats of paint may be needed to give a better finish.

Step 8: Now that you are done with painting the wood paneling, you can replace the wall fixtures and furniture of the room.

Wasn't it simple? Painted wood panels need regular cleaning and maintenance. Dusting the walls and wiping them with a damp sponge, is all that is needed to make them look great!