painting over paneling?

Question

just bought a home that has great potential. several rooms are paneled all around. can you just paint over it? one wall has a fireplace on it and that is the one I would like to paint. it would really open up the room and I don't have alot of money to spend. HELP!

Answer 1

Of course you can paint over paneling. It's quite simple really. First though, you must decide is if you'll be keeping the little crack lines all around that are usually a part of the paneling. If so, you'll need to fill in the cracks with polyfiller, which you can get at any hardware store. If you aren't filling them in (and you don't have to), skip to the next step.

You must first apply an oil-based primer on the paneling. If you don't, the paint won't stick and sooner or later (usually sooner), it'll all peel off and look really messy.

Once you have applied the oil-based primer, you can paint on top with any kind of paint... oil, latex, emulsion, etc. I vote for latex... sooooo much easier.

And since it's winter, I suggest you buy the low odor quick drying oil based primer...

Answer 2

The house I moved into a few years ago was paneled and had already been painted. I have found a few flaws that I can help you avoid. If possible apply a 1/4 inch dry wall. Painted panleing just screams cheese. If not in the budget, then...
If its the smooth 'printed' type sand lightly and prime with a good primer. The home center guy/gal can help, and be prepared to apply at least 2 coats. Possibly more if you use white or another light color.

If it has the routered grooves to simulate individual planks you may want to fill them first. But if the grooves are too shallow the filler may fall out, without enough mass to hold it in.
Most importantly use a good primer to help conceal the pattern og the grain.

Answer 3

Yes you can definitely paint panelling. Is it the fake wood kind or real wood. If it's pine for example then the knots will bleed through and you have to shellac those areas before you can paint. I speak from personal experience on that. I recommend a product called Fresh Start by Benjamin Moore for the first coat and then paint it in whatever finish you want. I probably wouldn't use Semi Gloss - prefer a matte finish which doesn't show imperfections as much.

Answer 4

Yes you can definitely paint over paneling. Although first I would scrub it down with a slight amount of degreaser and warm water.
I use a long handled window scrubber (the one that is wide with the plush cover to scrub windows before using the rubber squeegee). It allows you to reach to the ceiling and floor with reasonable ease. I use it for shower and other tile walls.

If there were smokers in the house you have to get rid of the smoke that has settled on the paneling to allow the paint to adhere better.

I painted a small amount of tile in our living room and it worked perfect.

Good Luck with the painting. Latex worked fine for me.

Happy New Year!!

Answer 5

yes, We just bought a home and the paneling has been painted over and really brightened the rooms . Keep track of the paint number and brand in case later you need touch up! Its almost impossible do otherwise!

Answer 6

Yes you can paint it. First you will need to wash the walls so that they are free of any oils or dirt. Allow them to dry then apply a primer paint. Then the regular wall paint should stick to it.

Answer 7

You might want to paint the paneling with clear shellac first to completely seal the paneling and avoid any bleeding through the paint from the paneling.

Answer 8

Yes you can, But if the paneling has large cracks in it you will have to use speckling to cover them up first

Answer 9

if you put primer on the paneling first it will hold paint

Answer 10

Paneled?? Is it a trailer?? Yes, You can paint it.