View Full Version : painting over wood paneling
Superfluous_Nut
09-09-05, 02:45 AM
okay, so i've got my office that i'm converting into a nursery. the office has this really dark wood paneling. not like the 70's wood paneling, but large 4x8 single sheets with seams that are not meant to be seen. there's a bit of a grain to them, tho, so i'm affraid if they're painted, the grain might show thru. and of course they're sealed with something, so i dunno how good paint would stick anyway...
so what's the best bet to knock down the grain and make this stuff look like "normal" wall? sand it down? grain killer? plaster? a couple coats of primer?
the garage is almost done. i'm acid staining the concrete and it looks pretty good. i gotta finish tomorrow and then seal it. hope i don't fuck that part up cuz that would really suck. i'll post a thread of start to finish once i'm done...
McFly41
09-09-05, 03:35 AM
That shit is a bitch to paint over...looks good for a while, then it starts pealing the first time you bump into it. You could try to sand the surface, nothing big, just scuff it to give the paint something more to adhere to.
When I was a painter, we did some jobs where we painted over paneling and usually levt the deep grooves thier intended color. When using white, the contrast looks kind of nice.
In the end, you'll wish you'd just ripped that shit down and gone with drywall or some other form of prefab paneling. SOme of the designs on the prefab stuff can be pretty cool and it's cheap. You can get panels that look like various wallpapers or even knoty pine.
Village Idiot
09-09-05, 06:50 AM
take it down brother
Southern_Yankee
09-09-05, 08:10 AM
smear it with a thin coat of quickcrete and paint before it dries :woohoo:
Birdhunter
09-09-05, 08:15 AM
Sand it enough where paint will adhere. Then put on TWO coats of Kilz and then paint.
I agree with the light sanding and kils. Using spakling in the groves and sanding will hide them - but that is very labor intensive. But then again, so is taking down the paneling and puting up sheetrock. You might look into wallpaper liner - heavy sheets of white wallpaper. The liner will cover the paneling and then you can hang regular wallpaper or paint.
You could also think about dividing the wall in half - adding a chair rail and using the liner on the top half and just paint the bottom half after sanding and priming.
chipshot
09-09-05, 09:04 AM
painted panelling with grooves still looks better than panelling
THE GUTTER
09-09-05, 09:07 AM
Put some shag carpet and make pron movies instead.
gridfaniker
09-09-05, 09:15 AM
Sand it enough where paint will adhere. Then put on TWO coats of Kilz and then paint.
that'll do it. are you planning on putting a wallpaper border around the perimeter of the room? If so, you'll have to fill the grooves and sand smooth. we did this with my daughter's nursery. never again. If I'd had to do it over again, I'd tear that shit out and put up drywall. Either that or not use the border (wasn't an option).
some people simply put there babies in a large dog cage. Hang a couple fuckering mobiles and keep the water dispenser filled with formula. Hey, if that's all they know, it won't bother 'em one bit. Plus you can move this "portable nursery" from room to room.
builder
09-09-05, 09:26 AM
invest in a commercial grade orbital sander.
Superfluous_Nut
09-09-05, 01:05 PM
the wood paneling isn't the type with grooves (if it was, it would have been gone LONG ago) so that whole nightmare isn't an issue. i read something about liner paper, but it sounded a bit labor intensive -- essentially adding a step of wallpapering to the deal. i don't have the grooves to worry about, just a couple seams...
what is a good grain killing primer? i think sanding and priming is the way to go.... maybe...
here's a photo:
outofstate
09-09-05, 01:54 PM
Well the pic don't look bad....why do you want/need to paint it? just asking....
Superfluous_Nut
09-09-05, 02:04 PM
Well the pic don't look bad....why do you want/need to paint it? just asking....
yeah, it's not horrible. but it's a lot darker in person (that photo is with a flash).
the thing is, it's just too dark for a nursery. right now, it's my office so it's fine.
it's in really good shape for how old it is (i think it's original to the house -- 1936 which is ancient by california standards) so it'd be a shame to totally rip out. plus that'd be more work. i figure painting can be undone is somebody REALLY wants to restore it for some reason.
gridfaniker
09-09-05, 02:38 PM
yeah, it's not horrible. but it's a lot darker in person (that photo is with a flash).
the thing is, it's just too dark for a nursery. right now, it's my office so it's fine.
it's in really good shape for how old it is (i think it's original to the house -- 1936 which is ancient by california standards) so it'd be a shame to totally rip out. plus that'd be more work. i figure painting can be undone is somebody REALLY wants to restore it for some reason.
yeah, you can lightly sand that and then put up two coats of primer and a couple coats of paint and it will be fine. if you do put up a wallpaper border, don't forget to 45 the corners.
dollface
09-10-05, 02:34 AM
Painting over wood paneling is not a very good idea.
first house I bought in Charlotte had dark wood paneling in a small room with almost no natural light so we had a professional paint it for us He pickled it so it looked whitewashed. I know he did a variation of sanding and priming and it took him several coats/applications but it looked awesome after. You could still see all the grain, knots, gtooves through it and it never peeled or anything.
-we paid way too much money but he knew what he was doing and wasn't probably any more than the cost of yanking the paneling and trim off, fixing/replacing sheetrock and painting.
Derbygal
09-10-05, 11:06 AM
Is that a good sized room SN?
If so, and the lighting is good, and the paneling looks good otherwise - house value-wize, I would consider just using decor to brighten the room for a baby rather than going over the rich wood paneling. Kids grow & change rather quickly, it could be like a grounding constant if you catch my meaning.
The possibilities even there are endless.
I take back what I said - the paneling looks like it might be mahogany and a valuable connection to the era in which the house was built. I agree with Derbygal - leave it alone and devise some means of creating a nursery feel with temporary solutions.
If you do insist on painting - light sanding and then Kils as a primer. Perhaps two coats of the oil-based. I would then use a high quality flat latex paint. The graining shouldn't be noticable.
Is that a good sized room SN?
If so, and the lighting is good, and the paneling looks good otherwise - house value-wize, I would consider just using decor to brighten the room for a baby rather than going over the rich wood paneling. Kids grow & change rather quickly, it could be like a grounding constant if you catch my meaning.
The possibilities even there are endless.
I agree with this too. A girlfriend of mine totally changed a bedroom by using fabric on the walls.
Superfluous_Nut
09-10-05, 03:55 PM
the room is only 10 x 12 or so. my original intention was to keep it for the very reasons mentioned -- it's original, in really good shape for being 70 years old, and works very well with the rest of the room. i'd LOVE to figue out a way to brighten up the room without destroying it. but the wife feels otherwise.
we're anticipating moving "soon" (like when it makes sense -- under a year, hopefully). the paint idea doesn't totally remove the possibility of a restoration by a future owner. houses don't get much older than the 30's out here so having original stuff in one is good for value.
i gotta make a decision soon, tho. like monday or tuesday. any other thoughts?
the room is only 10 x 12 or so. my original intention was to keep it for the very reasons mentioned -- it's original, in really good shape for being 70 years old, and works very well with the rest of the room. i'd LOVE to figue out a way to brighten up the room without destroying it. but the wife feels otherwise.
we're anticipating moving "soon" (like when it makes sense -- under a year, hopefully). the paint idea doesn't totally remove the possibility of a restoration by a future owner. houses don't get much older than the 30's out here so having original stuff in one is good for value.
i gotta make a decision soon, tho. like monday or tuesday. any other thoughts?
Again, I would suggest something other than paint - painting over stained walls can and will be difficult without sanding, a couple of coats of Kils and then two coats of paint - all of which would be a real mess to strip off in the future if someone was interesting in refinishing the original walls. If you are only going to stay in the house for a year - I say live with it. Baby nursuries are better dark for sleeping purposes anyway.
Can you redo the window treatment to let in more light? How about bright furniture, bright drapes and bed linens, light floor covering, and additional lighting to brighten the room?
Derbygal
09-11-05, 11:54 AM
any other thoughts?Everything you just said inspires me even more that you should leave that paneling alone.
A girlfriend of mine totally changed a bedroom by using fabric on the walls.Nugget of gold from Patti here. Talk to the wife about this. Tons of possibilities, can cover the paneling without taking it away, can be used temporarily until the house sells. Trojan also has a point about the painting. Too many coats for anyone to want to mess with stripping later, would you? Loses it's value painted.
Southern_Yankee
09-11-05, 12:18 PM
rip the shit down and throw up some pavers :woohoo:
McFly41
09-11-05, 12:28 PM
DUDE! Don't you DARE paint over that! That's one of those "pop" things that can really help sell your house quick. If your moving soon, you can make the room a nursery without destroying it's oroginal beauty. Tell the wife to think long term...the baby isn't going to remember the room.
Everything you just said inspires me even more that you should leave that paneling alone.
Nugget of gold from Patti here. Talk to the wife about this. Tons of possibilities, can cover the paneling without taking it away, can be used temporarily until the house sells. Trojan also has a point about the painting. Too many coats for anyone to want to mess with stripping later, would you? Loses it's value painted.Yeah, she just got a boat load of cheap fabric and draped it down the walls. She folded it over and made pleats. She secured it with tiny staples at the top. I don't remember if she stapled the wall or the crown molding at the top. She did a great job.
Edit: I think she secured it at the bottom too, to hold everything in place and keep the pleats neat.
Superfluous_Nut
09-12-05, 02:54 AM
my original thought was to do something temporary. i even thought of throwing up sheets of foamcore and painting on them (perhaps even doing some kind of mural or something kiddie oriented). but the wife is a graphic designer and very keen on aesthetics.
i think it's going to be sanding, priming, painting. the wood will be there still should somebody who cares wish to restore it (it would certainly be a bit of work, but still possible).
but maybe i'll try to sell her on tacking up some canvas or something. she doesn't see the value the room has because to her it's ugly, so it'll be a tough sell...
Honeygirl
09-12-05, 06:01 AM
Yeah, she just got a boat load of cheap fabric and draped it down the walls. She folded it over and made pleats. She secured it with tiny staples at the top. I don't remember if she stapled the wall or the crown molding at the top. She did a great job.
Edit: I think she secured it at the bottom too, to hold everything in place and keep the pleats neat.
I thought of doing this at one time, but worried about cleaning it and it seemed to be a bit of a dust trap of sorts. I'd be interested as to how she gets around this issue...I still love that idea :).
Nut - I love the wood panelling...it's such a nice, classic touch - rarely seen these days. I agree with Derby and Trojan about possibly modifying it - but not totally removing it. Good luck with your decision - you've got so many good possibilities there :).
I think the French use a lot of fabric on their walls - stretched on a form with batting of some sort. Stayed with friends in a town north of Paris and their dinning room had fabric instead of wallpaper. Not a bad idea, better insulator than wall paper and seems easier to change out.
I thought of doing this at one time, but worried about cleaning it and it seemed to be a bit of a dust trap of sorts. I'd be interested as to how she gets around this issue...I still love that idea :).
It would be a lot like drapes I guess as far as dust goes. You could vacuum them with an attachment as long as you wouldn't tug on them too hard and pull them down.
flyfisher
09-12-05, 02:28 PM
Strip the wood and then bleach it. :twocents:
Strip the wood and then bleach it. :twocents:That sounds like a really tough/messy job. I would say it'd be easier for him to rip it out and drywall.
Shrapnel
09-12-05, 02:37 PM
Have you ever thought about just painting it?
builder
09-12-05, 02:42 PM
Have you ever thought about just painting it?
I wasn't gonna mention it but that seems like a good idea.
Honeygirl
09-12-05, 03:13 PM
I think the French use a lot of fabric on their walls - stretched on a form with batting of some sort. Stayed with friends in a town north of Paris and their dinning room had fabric instead of wallpaper. Not a bad idea, better insulator than wall paper and seems easier to change out.
You and Patti peaked my interest enough to Google it. Wow - there are some stunning examples out there, but I think it's one of those things where you either do it well, or perhaps give it a miss. Yes, the batting seems to hold it in place better - and let it hang smoothly. Patti - I think you're on to it with the vaccume idea. Still, I have visions of me getting out there and sucking up half me wall in an effort to get a spider's web. I might leave this to the French :(.
You and Patti peaked my interest enough to Google it. Wow - there are some stunning examples out there, but I think it's one of those things where you either do it well, or perhaps give it a miss. Yes, the batting seems to hold it in place better - and let it hang smoothly. Patti - I think you're on to it with the vaccume idea. Still, I have visions of me getting out there and sucking up half me wall in an effort to get a spider's web. I might leave this to the French :(.
My friend didn't want hers real tight against the wall. She let it sort of just hang there because she was covering up a wall that wasn't in real good shape. I don't think she even thought of or knew of the foam and batting. Besides she was just wanting a quick and cheap fix.
Honeygirl
09-12-05, 03:35 PM
My friend didn't want hers real tight against the wall. She let it sort of just hang there because she was covering up a wall that wasn't in real good shape. I don't think she even thought of or knew of the foam and batting. Besides she was just wanting a quick and cheap fix.
I was going to do that at the beach house, but thought with the wind and all, I'd end up looking like I was either living in an Estee Lauder advertisement, or (more likely) on board the Cutty Shark :mad:. Still, I like the idea for a quick fix solution that's not too permanant.
I wanna do it on my walls now :weeping:.
Superfluous_Nut
09-12-05, 03:42 PM
Strip the wood and then bleach it. :twocents:
that was a thought i had today.
after closer examination, i don't think i can really pull out the wood and replace it with drywall. there's already a small portion of the room that's lathe and plaster and the wood is flush with this part. the wood panels are only 1/4" and drywall is 1/2". which means it would no longer be flush next to the regular wall.
i think what i'm going to do is move my stuff out of the office once the garage is complete (later this week). then, i'll just see how the room looks with the baby furniture we've already got.
I was going to do that at the beach house, but thought with the wind and all, I'd end up looking like I was either living in an Estee Lauder advertisement, or (more likely) on board the Cutty Shark :mad:. Still, I like the idea for a quick fix solution that's not too permanant.
I wanna do it on my walls now :weeping:.
Yeah, it's a good thing to try especially if you are in a rental and can't or don't want to spend the money to tear out and re do.
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