Get rid of those ugly paneled walls!
Many houses, especially if they are older houses, have a large number of panels. Whether it’s quality knotty pine or just cheap-grade panel board, it’s not considered fancy these days and much of it is downright ugly. Some houses have full walls and some half walls with chair rail trim. This is one of the most common interior decorating dilemmas that older home buyers run into; what to do with paneling that won’t cost a fortune or involve a complete makeover of the room.
Should I just rip it?
You always have the option to rip it all out and install drywall or drywall. These solutions involve quite a bit of expense. Not only that, these are complicated and time consuming solutions. If you live in a home where these products are being installed; when it comes time to sand and finish the joint compound, the dust is amazing. It will get into every crack and crevice in your home no matter how many plastic sheets you use. Months after the job is complete, you’ll still find dust in every nook and cranny.
So what do you do to solve the problem?
Where there is a will there is a way, and the solution to this problem is extremely simple. Simply paint that old panel any color you like! There is some preparation involved in this solution, but nothing as much trouble, time, or mess as the other options.
The solution!
The first consideration is the height of the walls. If the sheets of standard 8 foot panels were butted together at the top or bottom, you will have a horizontal trim strip covering the crack. If the panels were installed correctly, the pattern of wide and narrow planks will match where they meet. If not, it will be necessary to replace the smaller sections that do not match, so that all the patterns are correctly aligned.
At this point, remove all decorative strips covering the seams, including the corners and around the windows. Check all panels and make sure they are tight against the wall. Add finishing nails to secure them where needed. Clean the panels with vinegar and a mop to remove dirt and oil. Seal all cracks well with painter’s putty. Be sure to use your finger to leave the putty indented on the vertical lines separating the individual faux boards, so they look like the rest. If you have a horizontal crack, the caulk should lay flat on the surface of the boards and bleed into the vertical seams.
It doesn’t matter what color or how dark the panels are; it will easily take the paint. First you want to paint everything with Kilz; 1 good coat will do. Choose a good quality paint, such as Behr paint and primer in one. Satin finish paint works and looks best on panels. Yes, Kilz is a primer, but if you want to use only 1 coat of Kilz and only 1 coat of paint, you need a really good paint with primer included.
Stand back and admire your new look
You will be amazed at the fantastic looking results. In fact, you’ll wonder what was so disappointing when you found out you had paneled walls. After proper preparation and paint treatment, the walls will be elegant and beautiful. They will also follow whatever design style you want to use in the room.