How To: Paint Wood Paneling

In my 10 plus years as a contractor I have received many a call to paint wood paneling. Mainly do-it-yourself folks are thrown off because of the challenge that presents itself when it comes to the stain bleeding through the paint and trying to achieve proper bonding. I would not say this is a project for a beginner; however,careful planning and knowing what to do will enable most folks to paint their wood paneling with professional results.

Paneling is a product of the sixties and seventies that was used instead of Sheetrock because of it's ease in installing and was much cheaper. Today it is dark, dull and outdated however like the past most folks would rather paint it than tear it out to be replaced by Sheetrock, which would be very expensive. Painted paneling can look very sharp, especially with other decor in the room.

Materials needed:

1/2" nap paint roller Paintbrush Goggles Stain Blocking primer B.I.N Painter's tape Quality latex paint Spackling Drop cloths Rags Paint tray Deglosser Painters Tape

De-glossing

Wood Paneling has a gloss over it's surface and in order to paint wood paneling so it bonds properly that surface needs to be de-glossed. You can of course use some sandpaper and lightly sand the surface; however, I have found this method to be a bit quicker and easier but still producing excellent bonding.Using a rag, degloss the paneling with the de-glossing chemical by working in small sections of the surface. Once a section has been completed then roll the primer over top of the area you just de-glossed. The reason for this is the de-glossed section will only be good for a short amount of time, so it is important get the primer on before the time expires. De-glossing will provide a good surface for the the primer to properly adhere to. Be sure to have the room properly vented, you may even want to invest in a respirator that has a chemical filter on it.

Priming

The best primer to use would be B.I.N. It has stain blocking propertie in it which will keep the satain from bleeding through the paint. Use the brush to cut in the edges and wherever the roller will not get to. Sometimes you will need to brush the crevices, especially where the molding and panel meet, you will need to push the primer into the gaps where the grooves are going along the molding. This can be tedious so patience is required here. The rest will just be rolled out as stated in step 1.

Surface Prep

Here it will be up to you just how far you want to go with surface prep. You can fill all the crevices and joints with spackle then smooth it out before painting. I would highly suggested this if you are going to be installing wallpaper the wood paneling but wallpaper is a topic for another article.

Painting the Wood Paneling

You may use any color to paint the wood paneling, as well as any brand or type such as eggshel or flat finish. I suggest Benjamin Moore because of it's vibrant colors and ease of use. Thier products do not spit paint as much when rolling and provide a smoth leveling that you just do not get with some other brands. If you are going with a darker color you can even have the B.I.N primer tinted.

Good Luck Folks!

By Jeremy Berger