How to Paint Wood Paneling

If you're tired of the wood paneling in your home, you might want to consider painting it. While painting paneling isn't hard to do, proper preparation is important to allow the paint to adhere well.

Start by wiping the paneling clean with a damp rag to remove any dust or dirt. If grease or other problem stains are present, remove them using an appropriate cleaner, then wipe with a clean, damp rag.

Putty any nail holes or other imperfections with spackling compound. Allow to dry, then sand the spackling flush with the surface.

Sand the paneling with 100 grit sandpaper using a pole sander, sanding block, or orbital sander. This will take the sheen off the finish, which will allow the paint to adhere to it better. Don't get carried away and sand the surface down to the bare wood -- just enough to rough up the existing finish.

Lightly hand sand the wood trim, such as baseboards and door and window facings, to allow the paint to adhere to it. Once everything has been sanded, go over the walls and trim with a clean, damp cloth to remove any sanding dust.

Apply caulk to any cracks and gaps where the paneling meets the baseboard or around doors and windows. Allow the caulking to dry thoroughly before painting.

Cover the floor with drop cloths, and mask any areas you wish to protect with painter's tape.

Use a roller with a medium nap to paint the paneling. It should have a long enough nap to fill the vertical grooves in the paneling, but short enough to leave a smooth surface.

Prime the paneling with a latex, stain-blocking primer. To improve the hiding ability over the dark wood, tint the primer with colorant so it is similar to the finished paint. Once the primer has dried, topcoat it with two coats of latex wall paint.