How to paint paneling
premington
I have an old house with one small bathroom. It has dark brown paneling. Can I paint the paneling to brighten it up or are there other solutions? Also, any suggestions how to update tub/shower. The tub is very old and the tile is in bad shape. I am on tight budget, but need to make it look cleaner and more updated. Thanks for your help!
ju-ju
I personally haven't painted paneling, but, I have painted finished furniture pieces, and have found that the key to a good paint job is getting the primer and paint to stick well with a thorough cleaning and a light sand. Invest in a really good primer and a good quality paint (probably better in a satin finish since it is in a bathroom). Paneling that isn't prepped well, will just end up getting it's paint scratched off the wall without much of an effort. As far as the bath goes, have you considered removing the tiles and installing a one piece tub surround?
Jean E
My parents recently painted their dark and outdated paneling using a paint from the hardware store especially made for paneling. It was slightly more expensive but looks great.
catwoman708
I have painted paneling before. You have to prep it and prime it good for it to stick good, especially in a bathroom where there is high humidity.You'll need to take off any varnish or glossy finish by sanding or a chemical "sanding" product. Sweep/dust it, then wipe it off with a damp cloth to get all the dust and residue off. For a bathroom it's best to use an oil based primer and paint. It's a pain to clean up, but it will last for years.Other than retiling, or replacing the tiles with vinyl surround panels, there's not really a good cheap fix for old tiles. If they're not cracked, you could try a good thorough cleaning, bleaching the grout, and re-caulking. You can also try buffing the tiles and tub with an electric buffer. If you do remove the tiles, you should probably replace the sheetrock behind them with "wonder board" (water resistant, treated sheetrock, or concrete board) before retiling.
grose
I LOVE the painted paneling look! It gives a room a fresh country look that can be quite sophisticated if you work it right. Primer, primer, primer is a must. I learned this the HARD way! If you forego the primer---the paneling color bleeds through and you have to apply way more coats than you would have. Also, there is a chance that the paint wont even "stick"
ladytopaz
I just bought a house . The previous owners had paneling up and it painted it looks nice.
wll663
When we bought our house the walls were all completely wood paneling. It was so dark and dirty looking..so we primed & painted it. So much better but I still hate it. Hubby is drywalling room by room..one year later..still on the first room!! haha. Needless to say I told him for Xmas he can just finish our back room finally!
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