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pegster82435

Wood Panelling

pegster82435
14 years ago

I have dark wood panelling throughout my MH and I don't know if it would be wise to paint over it or remove it and completely redo the walls. I'm mostly looking at the living room and kitchen and maybe just leaving the bedrooms as is. Any suggestions? And I might add I'm a single mom with a single income and I will be the single person doing all the work ;-) Thanks!

Comments (5)

  • desertsteph
    14 years ago
    last modified: 9 years ago

    oh my - that's a lot to take on! I'd suggest you just paint it then. you will need to wash it down with something special (maybe someone will post what that is - tho the hdw store will know) then prime it before painting. that'd be easier than tearing out and drywalling it.

    maybe you could post a pic of the walls? tho, I just think painting is the cheapest and easiest for you to do!

    maybe someone here has some painted walls they can post to show their 'after'?

  • pris
    14 years ago
    last modified: 9 years ago

    Try the link below for suggestions to your paneling problem.

    Here is a link that might be useful: MH wood panel paint

  • pris
    14 years ago
    last modified: 9 years ago

    Or you could try this: (I left the product info at the bottom fyi. I have no affiliation with this or any other company or product)

    This segment demonstrates a process that allows a homeowner to replace and refinish an old wood-paneled wall while avoiding the mess and trouble of removing the wood paneling. Instead of removal, well cover the paneling completely with "liner paper". ThatÂs a soft, heavy paper with a felt-like texture that, once applied, will serve as a new fresh surface for any type of future wall treatment (a new coat of paint, wallpaper, etc)
    Product: Pat-Wall Heavy-Duty Wall Liner (also called liner paper, a thick felt-like paper manufactured on rolls like wallpaper)- paper supplied by SeaBrook
    TOOLS
    Level
    Tape measure
    Rollers
    Brushes
    Putty knife
    Disposable straight razor
    Straight edge
    MATERIALS
    Rolls of uncut liner paper (comes both pre-pasted and non-pasted; our segment featured non-pasted paper)
    Trisodium phosphate for cleaning panels
    Rubber gloves
    Eye protectors
    Sizing to be applied to cleaned panels before liner paper applied (similar to sealer or primer)
    Tabletop for cutting, wetting & folding liner paper ( at least 8Âlong if possible); spring clamps to hold paper in place
    Water tray
    Sponges
    Paste for unpasted liner paper
    Clean the wood paneling with trisodium phosphate  mix the Trisodium phosphate (TSP) with water; apply with a sponge to clean paneling. TSP is a safe, inexpensive household cleaner, easy to find at any hardware store. We used a TSP substitute thatÂs more friendly to the environment. TSP is greatfor removing mold & mildew, cooking grease, smoke and other substances that can build up on wall surfaces over the years. Allow the entire wall to dry about 30 minutes before applying sizing. Wear rubber gloves and eye protectors while handling TSP since itÂs a very mild acid.
    Apply Sizing to entire wall of cleaned panels with rollers and brushes, just like paint. The sizing could require up to two hours to dry, depending on temperature and humidity. When youÂre done, the wood paneling will be coated with a layer of white sizing that acts as the "tacky" surface that the liner paper will adhere to.
    While the sizing dries, Measure the wall to find the number of paper strips needed to cover the wood paneling. You can use a tape measure, or take a roll of paper and use it as a "yardstick" (our roll was 26" wide) to count the number of strips needed.
    Cut liner paper into enough strips to cover the entire wall of paneling (cut each sheet 2ÂÂ longer than the height of the wall for trimming later during the application process).
    Wet pre-pasted liner paper sheets using a water tray; fold & allow paste to react with water until sufficiently adhesive (approximately 2 or 3 sheets at a time). Fold the pasty side onto itself, then fold again so only dry sides touch. Set the paper aside and allow the adhesive to "cure" Â that means it needs time to react with the water to create an adhesive surface. The folding and curing process is called "booking" by wallpaper hangers. Proper "booking time" is about five minutes. Let two or three sheets of paper "book" at once so you can apply one after the other
    Apply Paste to non-pasted sheets; fold and allow paste to react with paper as above. Paste is sold in buckets and applied just like paint. Apply a smooth even layer of paste. "Booking" the sheets will help make sure the layers of paste are even and complete.
    Apply and trim sheets of liner paper to wall (2 or 3 at a time before preparing the next few sheets), just like normal wallpaper. Wallpaper application is a tricky and difficult process. Start by choosing a start point on one end of your wall. Use a level and pencil to draw a vertical "anchor line" onto the wall. Apply the first sheet of liner paper, making sure it comes flush against the vertical mark of this anchor line. If this sheet istruly vertical, and every sheet applied from this point on is matched to the vertical of the sheet applied before it, then the entire papering job will remain truly vertical.
    As you apply paper and round corners, let the sheets of paper extend beyond the corner. Do Not cut paper to match corner edges because you will lose the vertical line you established with the application of the first piece. Wrap paper sheets around outer corners. Use a putty knife to shove paper sheets snugly into inner corners. Use a straight edge to smooth bubbles of paste from underneath as you apply paper sheets to the wall. Use extreme care when working and trimming sheets of paper around window frames, doorframes and other irregular shapes.
    Allow liner paper to dry for at least 48 hours (longer if needed in humid climates).
    Once the liner paper dries sufficiently, treat the wall as a fresh clean surface, ready to accept any wall application you desire (like a new coat of paint). Even if you want to apply wallpaper to this wall, put down the liner paper first, so your wallpaper (which is usually thinner than this liner paper) wonÂt get sucked into the grooves of the paneling underneath. Remember, ample drying time is key to insuring that your new wall application lasts along time.
    PRODUCT PROVIDED BY:
    Sherwin Williams Paints
    Seabrook Wall Coverings (901) 320-3500

  • ladymojo
    14 years ago
    last modified: 9 years ago

    I have painted many panelled walls in MH's. First step is to wash with TSP solution, (follow instructions on package). Next, prime with an oil-based primer ( I have used Zinsser and Glidden with great success, not so with BM Fresh Start for some reason) and then paint 2 coats with quality paint.

    One thing I did down the narrow hallway was to fill all the cracks with poly filla. Took forever, and I needed to do more than one coat because of shrinkage, then sanding, then the priming and painting, but it really does fool the eye into thinking it is a bigger and wider hall.

    Good luck!

  • barbcollins
    14 years ago
    last modified: 9 years ago

    Yes you can paint paneling.
    I use Preprite primer. It adheres and covers the dark paneling well. I do not try to fill the cracks and smooth it out. I think it looks better with the original texture.

    Here are some pics of rooms I have done.

    BEFORE

    AFTER


    AFTER

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