How to Paint Real Wood Paneling

You can paint over real wood paneling if you prepare properly.

Painting over real wood paneling is an easy way to lighten up a room. Paint offers much more decorative flexibility than does real wood paneling, and many people find that the relatively dark color of real wood paneling can make a room difficult to light properly. The key to painting over real wood paneling is proper preparation. Fortunately, the project is much easier than removing the paneling completely. With the right materials and preparation, you can paint over real wood paneling in two days.

Things You'll Need

• Liquid sander/deglosser
• Sponge mop with handle
• Towels
• Water
• Oil-based primer
• Acrylic primer
• Short-nap rollers
• Angled brushes
• Dropcloths
• Tarps
• Spackling compound
• Sandpaper
• Latex paint

Instructions

1. Move all furniture out of the room to be painted, or slide it to the center of the room and cover with a tarp. Lay down dropcloths to protect the floor.

2. Apply liquid sander/deglosser to the real wood paneling to remove any dirt and previous varnishes or finishes. Allow the liquid sander/deglosser to dry, and then rinse with a sponge mop. Use rolled towels along the bottom of the wall to absorb the water from rinsing. Allow the walls to dry thoroughly.

3. Apply a coat of oil-based primer to the paneled walls, beginning with the hard-to-reach areas around the edges of the walls and around doors and windows. Use a brush to reach these areas, and a short-nap roller to prime the large surfaces. Allow the primer to dry for two hours.

4. Fill any nail holes and cracks with spackling compound, and allow the compound to dry for 30 minutes. Sand the patched areas smooth.

5. Apply a thin initial coat of paint, beginning with an angled brush for the wall edges. Roll a thin coat of paint onto the large surfaces with a lamb’s wool short-nap roller. Allow the first coat to dry overnight.

6. Apply a slightly thicker second coat of paint in the same manner, beginning with the brush. Minimize brush lines when painting the edges and trim—these may show through the final rolled-on coat. Allow the paint to dry for two weeks before exposing to moisture.

Tips & Warnings

• Always ensure adequate ventilation when working with liquid sander/deglosser and with oil-based primer.

References

• House-Painting-Info: Painting Paneling