The grooves in paneling present a painting challenge.
Many older homes have paneling rather than drywall. The combination of dark paneling with low ceilings makes a room appear smaller and sometimes dreary, and looks nothing like the open, high-ceiling architecture in many newer homes. If the paneling is firmly attached to the wall, and the cost or trouble to remove it and refinish the wall is out of your price or talent range, then you can fill the grooves on the paneling before painting in order to achieve the smooth finish of drywall.
Instructions
1. Wipe down all the paneling with a damp sponge to remove dirt and dust. Allow the paneling to dry completely.
2. Scoop drywall mud out of the container using a plastic putty knife.
3. Press the drywall mud into the top of one of the grooves and drag the knife down the groove to continue pressing mud into the slot. Continue this process until you fill every groove. You may have to make more than one application per groove to completely fill the slot.
4. Allow the drywall mud to dry completely. Drying time depends on the temperature and humidity in the room, but the mud will change to a lighter color as it dries, making it easier to determine. Allowing the mud to dry overnight is usually enough time, except in cases of high humidity.
5. Sand the walls with fine-grit sandpaper. While you can sand the walls by hand, the most efficient method is using an orbital sander. When sanding, pay close attention to the grooves. Make sure the entire wall is smooth to the touch.
6. Wipe away the sanding dust with a microfiber cloth.
7. Prime the wall with interior primer and paint the wall with the color of your choice.
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