Painted-over dark brown 25-year-old paneling.
Painting over glossy wood paneling will save you time and money versus removing it, which includes repair, and sometimes even replacement of the drywall under it, in order to end up with a smooth, paintable surface. The construction of this type of paneling is pressed board with a vinyl-like finish, and is normally glued and nailed onto drywall.
Painting over the paneling will offer a beautiful look in your choice of color and finish, such as flat, eggshell or semi-gloss.
Instructions
1. Wash down the paneling thoroughly with a cleaning solution that will remove stains and oils that have built up over time. Paneling should be absolutely clean.
2. Tap down any nail heads sticking above the panel surface using a nail tap and hammer, then fill over with spackle. Also fill in any scars or cuts found on the paneling. You may also apply spackle into the corners where the panels meet each other and also between any sheets of paneling that may have gaps. Now is also a good time to add finish nails if the paneling is not as stable and flush as it should be to the wall under it. As an option you may also fill in all the vertical seams on the paneling with spackle if you want to eliminate them, but this will entail much more spackling and sanding. It is common to leave the seams evident.
3. Sand over any areas to which you applied spackle to a smooth finish using your sheet sandaper or flexible block sander.
4. Tape off all areas around the paneling you do not want to paint, such as along baseboards and the ceiling edge. Also lay out your painters' drop cloth on the floor below the panels to be primed and painted.
5. Stir the primer well, and put on a face-mask if it is oil-based, so as not to inhale the fumes. Then, using your paint brush apply the primer over all the vertical seams on the paneling, and also use your brush for priming the edges and into the corners of the panels that your paint roller will not reach.
6. Roll out the primer completely over the paneling and allow sufficient time to dry. Oil-based primer will take longer than water based. One good coat of primer is normally sufficient, even though it may not appear to dry evenly. The key is not to miss any areas with the first coat. No harm in a second coating.
7. Stir your paint and then apply with your brush along all edges and into the corners, the same as with the primer, and then roll the paint over the paneling, covering it completely.
8. Apply a second coat of paint after the first one has dried, typically within 30 minutes. When using quality paint, two coats will do quite nicely. Remove your masking tape and enjoy your new painted paneling.
Tags: into corners, over paneling, your paint, edges into, edges into corners, glossy wood
