Is there anything I can do to change my early 1980's paneling in my basement?
Answers:
I saw a neat thing on HGTV where they used brown paper and stain to make it look like leather. It was way cool.
Other answers:
Take it off. Why wouldn't you? I know you can afford new paneling, since you've already asked if you can put new paneling on top (which is a really white trash solution, by the way).
Take it off. Why wouldn't you? I know you can afford new paneling, since you've already asked if you can put new paneling on top (which is a really white trash solution, by the way).
I have covered paneling with joint compound using the skip mud technique. This is simple putting the compound on sort of thick with a trowel and not trying to smooth it completely out going back to the top of the wall and skipping the trowel down to the baseboard. It give the wall an old world look. I love it for any wall. A cheap easy solution to your problem. You just paint after it is well dried.
you can paint it, or take off a small piece in an un noticeable area to see what underneath. allso light sand with a very fine sandpaper then re stain with a rag. that might work. if all else fails and u have the time and the money, u can get OWENS and CORNING finished basement systems.
link here
http://www.owenscorning.com/around/bfs/index.asp?showFlash=false
You can sand and prime, then paint over it. Using a paint technique such as glazing, sponging or other, and it will look great! After priming, you can try different techniques on a small space to see which one you like the best.
We painted our paneling and it looks very pretty.Use a good primer first.Then paint.The more coats you paint it,the better it will look(more depth)I think you will be happy with it.We lived with dark paneling for many years and didn't know we could change it so dramatically.Use a good quality paint like American Tradition in a Satin Finish.Another option is the heavy textured wallpaper that goes over paneling.They sell it at Lowes and Sherwin Williams.It will really change the whole look,however,more expensive.
i had the same type of paneling in my bedroom. before my dad remodeled the room, it was painted at one point with regular semi gloss house paint. i suggest just getting rid of it though. it can hold the paint fine but its still as unsightly painted as it is not painted. its a tough job but a fun one. who doesnt like tearing apart a room!? have fun!
If you want to leave it for installation, then prime it and paint it. This is done all the time. A lighter color will make the room look larger and brighter also. Then you can decorated the walls with your decor. I am not sure how wall paper will look especially if the panels have space between them. This may be a little difficult to accomplish and look good to the eye.
There is an interesting wallpaper on the market called Paper Illusions. This is not your typical wallpaper, rather it is paper you tear into different size pieces, wet and put on your walls. I have used it in two of my bathrooms, and a bedroom. It is quite pretty, it gives the appearance of marble on the walls. No matter how you tear the pieces, the paper just blends. At the Paper Illusions website, there was an article about someone that covered over their wood paneling with this product. They say it bridges the gaps in the paneling to create a smooth, even surface.
Before I used this product in my bathrooms, I purchased wallpaper paste designed especially for bathrooms and rolled it on the back of the paper. Now, even with the humidity present in the bathroom, I don't have to worry about the paper trying to peel off the walls.
Paper Illusions comes in a lot of different colours, I am sure you could find something that would brighten up your dark basement area...it certainly is a lot less work than taking paneling off walls or putting up new paneling!
I have painted paneling many times because it's all over my house! I've used about three different techniques that all work well:
1) sand, prime, paint, glaze - this gives a classic look and makes it so that you can hardly see the grooves.
2) prime, fill in grooves with all purpose joint compound & let dry, then use the joint compound to create a textured plaster look. You have to let this dry a few days and then you can paint over it - preferrable 2 coats. Use an eggshell or satin finish paint - then you can put a glaze over top and it will look great.
3) prime, fill in grooves with all purpose joint compound & let dry, they cover liberally with elastomeric textured knife grade using a large puttyknife. This gives the look of stucco indoors. I used it for a medditeranean feel in a hall bath. You need to paint over it - 2 coats.
It's impossible to completely fill in paneling grooves and hope for smooth walls. After you fill in with the joint compound, it naturally shrinks as it dries. But I think that plain painted panelling can look great with the right paint color, furniture and accessories - definitely shabby shic.
Good luck!
EASY SOLUTION..
they make a textured wallpaper just for this purpose. Its made to go over paneling. you put it on and then you paint it. it looks like textured walled.
Paint it with KILZ primer maybe 2-3 coats and pick like blues and greens to cover. My house had paneling and the previous owner just painted over it. Our main areas used like the stairs now have some chips, but we have lived here 5 years with 3 boys, a dog and cat. If its in your basement, traffic wont be as hard I assume.