Is there any way to paint over paneling without it looking like you painted over paneling?
Answers:
http://interiordec.about.com/od/paintoverpaneling/
Other answers:
We had to paint panelling too, and I thought of the same thing, just filling the cracks in, but it really would be VERY time consuming and hard to make it smooth. So, we just painted the panelling, and really, it looked nice. I was really impressed with how it turned out, and it's a cheap way to improve the look of panelling until you can afford to replace it with drywall (sheet rock). Or, of course, you could just drywall now.
We had to paint panelling too, and I thought of the same thing, just filling the cracks in, but it really would be VERY time consuming and hard to make it smooth. So, we just painted the panelling, and really, it looked nice. I was really impressed with how it turned out, and it's a cheap way to improve the look of panelling until you can afford to replace it with drywall (sheet rock). Or, of course, you could just drywall now.
It would be time consuming but you could get textured paint and make it look like a rendered wall. Id just replace the panels it will save you money and look better
fill in the dips with a putty or filler than put a base coat then paint , make sure you sand down the putty
One way is to fake it! Paint the paneling with your base color. Then tape off vertical stripes of equal distance and paint with an alternate color. It will give the look of bead board, instead of fake paneling. (The problem with the wood paneling is the black groove at random widths, this painting technique should make that less visible)
they make special paint for paneling- just remember to use the right primer and to rough up the walls with sand paper to help the paint adhere more- and be careful for the first month because
paint tends to scrach
I've seen paneling painted white and it looked REALLY good, kinda shabby chic.
One other suggestion is to buy 'textured wallpaper' that is paintable and put it on your paneling. Then paint walls your favorite color.
You can take paperbags crumpled up and modge podge them on, it will give a venecian plaster look. Then you can paint over it.
There is a filler ,I can't think of the name, you can get at any hardware store or Walmart.You mix it with water and use a putty knife to spread it.Let it dry for several hours or overnight and sand it.Then paint. The filler is called spackle.
We painted our paneling and it looks great! We added wainscot with chair-rail trim from the floor to 36" up. The focus is taken off from the walls themselves to an overall look, no one knows it's paneling unless I tell them.
TIP: Use KILZ primer! It will take 3 primer coats + 3 coats of paint if you have dark paneling and depending on the type of finish it has on it. I lightly sanded off the shine. Ours was dark oak and it soaked in the paint like a sponge so dont get in a rush, add more primer and several top coats if needed otherwise the stain will bleed through.
Good luck!
If you get cable try watching the HGTV channel, there are always remodeling, and home improvement shows on, you really can get some great ideas. Good ones that they do amazing things especially on a budget are Design on a Dime & Debbie Travis' Painted House, You can also ask for tips on HGTV.com
Yes, time consuming to do a good job but you can finish it so it looks just like drywall. Use the standard drywall joint compound. Fill every grove with it and sand smooth. It will take a couple of coats as the drywall joing compound shrinks when it dries. (Water evaporates out of it) Be sure to tape the joints where two panels meet. Just like you would drywall. If you don't take and finish the joints the will crack and show thru your paint in no time. Remember, spread with a putty knife, let it dry and sand with a fine, 150grit sand paper, fill again, sand again check to see if you can see any indentions. If you do fill and sand again and again until you can not tell where the groves or joints are. Incidentally, when you are sanding it is good to lightly sand the entire paneling;. It will make your paint adhere better.