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Covering Paneling. Wallpaper?

69STINGRAY | Posted in General Discussion on November 14, 2005 02:33am

Hello everyone.  My mother wants to cover the paneling in the den of the her house.  When the house was built in 1972, the dark, fake wood paneling was all the rage.<!—-> <!—-><!—->

She said she say some “special” wallpaper that can be applied directly over the paneling.  I am a little skeptical. Will the grooves show through? What about over time?<!—-><!—->

Can you fill the grooves in with joint compound first, then wallpaper? What if you fill in the groves then simply paint?<!—-> <!—->

Thanks for the advice.<!—-><!—->

-Zach. <!—-><!—->

 

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  1. accable | Nov 14, 2005 03:15am | #1

    I don't know about filling the grooves and painting but there is a wallpaper that is thick and made to go over uneven walls.  Had it once in my kitchen.  It was a tile design and really looked like tile because it was raised.  Never tried it on paneling but I think it would work.  I would probably patch the grooves and use the wallpaper.  Found it at one of the big box stores years ago.

    1. FastEddie | Nov 14, 2005 03:23am | #2

      We did a job not long ago with the same situation as yours.  We filled the grooves with bondo and sanded them smooth.  It was a small section of wall, about 3 ft wide, and we did it as a sample before doing the rest of the room.  It came out ok, but we suggested to the HO that they find someone else to do the rest of the room.

      It was a lot more work than we imagined, and sanding the bondo made a bit of a mess.  The bigger problem that we saw was going to be dealing with the panel joints, because they were not flat.  The edges of the masonite paneling had swollen slightly over the years, might even have been built that way.  It was going tio be a joib to sand all the joints smooth.

      I would suggest that you float tyhe grooves and joints fairly smooth with setting-type joint compund, and then cover the whole wall with a special wallpaper that is made to go over rough surfaces.

        

      "When asked if you can do something, tell'em "Why certainly I can", then get busy and find a way to do it."  T. Roosevelt

  2. mizshredder2 | Nov 14, 2005 03:27am | #3

    Hi Zach -

    My mother wants to cover the paneling in the den of the her house.  When the house was built in 1972, the dark, fake wood paneling was all the rage.

    Yeah, it's amazing how much of that stuff is still around too...!

    She said she say some "special" wallpaper that can be applied directly over the paneling.  I am a little skeptical. Will the grooves show through?

    Got some friends in WI that tried that.  BIG mess - didn't work - grooves showed thru immediately.

    What about over time?

    Ya won't have to wait long to see it doesn't work too good.

    Can you fill the grooves in with joint compound first, then wallpaper? What if you fill in the groves then simply paint?

    How about this.  TRY just painting the panelling first.  That will give the room a whole new look right off the bat; and may actually "disguise" the grooves of the paneling enough to satisfy your Mom's aesthetic desire for a change in decor.  It's also your quickest and easiest alternative to try.

    Having never tried to put joint compound on paneling, I can't say anything about that alternative.

    Thanks for the advice.

    Best of luck with your project.

     

    DUM SPIRO SPERO:  "While I breathe I hope"

    1. calvin | Nov 14, 2005 03:50am | #4

      69,  If the paneling is "wood" rather than masonite:  Scratch the surface by lightly sanding,  Prime with a quick dry zinnser product, grooves included (so a non ext. glue ply don't delaminate).  Fill the grooves with a quickdry bag mix setting compound, either real Durabond (hard to sand, so make sure the groove filling is feathered out)or Easysand.  Then go over with the wall paper backer.

      If it's picture paneling, the above might work.  You need to bond to a thin "melamine" like coating.A great place for Information, Comraderie, and a sucker punch.

      Remodeling Contractor just outside the Glass City.

      Quittin' Time

       

      1. mizshredder2 | Nov 14, 2005 03:59am | #5

        Wouldn't it be ironic...if sometime back in the 70's, somebody put the paneling over existing sheetrock?

         DUM SPIRO SPERO:  "While I breathe I hope"

        1. calvin | Nov 14, 2005 04:14am | #8

          33 yrs, mostly remodeling............now that you mention it, loads of ironic.  There's been irony on top of irony.A great place for Information, Comraderie, and a sucker punch.

          Remodeling Contractor just outside the Glass City.

          Quittin' Time

           

          1. mizshredder2 | Nov 14, 2005 04:22am | #9

            Read a report today - re cleanout progress in an older historic home in Old Metaire part of N'Awlins... and their ongoing battles against mold etc.

            Dudes pulled out carpeting, linoleum, tile, linoleum etc to unearth: a GEM!  the original cypress flooring!     :-)DUM SPIRO SPERO:  "While I breathe I hope"

          2. calvin | Nov 14, 2005 04:26am | #11

            Something old enough could have many layers of Re-Muddling.  It is something what times will cover up, often just for a new look.A great place for Information, Comraderie, and a sucker punch.

            Remodeling Contractor just outside the Glass City.

            Quittin' Time

             

          3. User avater
            BillHartmann | Nov 14, 2005 04:34am | #13

            I took a tour of Pres Truman's home.They are removing the wallpaper to repair the plast and then they will reinstall the same wallpaper. Don't know HOW they are doing that.BTW, it is nothing that special that, IMHO, needs that much work to maintain "historic" accurcy.Don't remember if the wallpaper was from the 60's remodeling are maybe on of earlier ones.

        2. piko | Nov 14, 2005 07:18am | #14

          Just what I discovered on my last job - fortunately they'd nailed it up .All the best...

          To those who know - this may be obvious. To those who don't - I hope I've helped.

           

        3. Renoun | Nov 14, 2005 11:40am | #16

          ---
          Wouldn't it be ironic...if sometime back in the 70's, somebody put the paneling over existing sheetrock?
          ---Just ran into that. It still was a little work with some joint compound since it was only fire taped and they used quite a bit of panel adhesive. In the end it worked out nicely. Prying down the paneling (an actual plywood product) wasn't a problem but much of the panel adhesive did stick to the wall. I had to pull off the trim first though and we ended up replacing it with nicer material. Don't forget that jambs will have to be planed down to the level of the sheet rock or replaced. A stiff putty knife knocked off most of the panel adhesive without tearing too much paper. I ended up hand sanding the remaining adhesive flush with the wall using 80 grit on a drywall sanding pad. After that it was normal joint compound, primer, texture, paint, trim, etc. You will see in the photos that this was an addition and on one wall the paneling was applied directly to the former exterior wall. I had to put up a little sheet rock but the other walls were fine. Funny thing about this room is that it didn't have a foundation, it was just laid on top of a patio slab.

          1. user-51823 | Nov 14, 2005 07:02pm | #17

            what a mess! but what an improvement you made!

      2. 69STINGRAY | Nov 14, 2005 04:10am | #6

        Thanks Everyone.

         

        Calvin, it is not real wood. It is the thin paneling with the fake wood veener on it.

         

        "Wouldn't it be ironic...if sometime back in the 70's, somebody put the paneling over existing sheetrock?"

        There are a couple sections that have popped loose and I think I have seen drywall behind this breath-taking dark-green paneling. Yes, dark-green. What can be worst?  The dark red fake wood paneling in the mudroom!

        1. calvin | Nov 14, 2005 04:12am | #7

          And I suppose besides nailing the #### outta it, they used glue too?

          I don't know what to tell you.  Masonite seems to love to buckle.A great place for Information, Comraderie, and a sucker punch.

          Remodeling Contractor just outside the Glass City.

          Quittin' Time

           

          1. seb | Nov 14, 2005 04:27am | #12

             

             

             

            <And I suppose besides nailing the #### outta it, they used glue too?

             

             

            OH  yes....Only answer is to rip all of it off and beg a drywall person(pc) to come over and float it out...

            bud

             

             

             

             

             

             

             

             

             

             

             

             

             

             

             

             

             

             

             

             

             

             

             

             

             

  3. User avater
    BillHartmann | Nov 14, 2005 04:24am | #10

    "Bridging liner: Porous under-wallcovering material designed to cover irregularities on walls or smooth surfaces, such as brick or paneling, to hang decorative wallpaper. Woven or non-woven (spun), either synthetic or a blend in composition. This material may also be painted though many will want to hang liner or float joint compound over the bridging material for a smoother surface."

    http://www.wallpaperinstaller.com/anatomy.html

    http://www.usawallpaper.com/linerpaper.html

    http://alsnetbiz.com/homeimprovement/liner.html

  4. DK | Nov 14, 2005 08:45am | #15

    TOO MUCH WORK TO COVER PANELING WITH WALL PAPER .
    1. WALLS MUST BE PRIMED WITH ZINZERS WALLSIZING PRIMER PAINT.
    2. ALL PANELING THEN CAN BE COVERED WITH TEFLON TYPE WALL PAPER MATERIAL
    SOLD IN WALLPAPER DEPT TO COVER PANELING. APPLIED HORIZONTALLY
    3. AFTER WALLS ARE DRY THEN YOU NEED TO PRIME/PAINT WHAT YOU JUST COVERED .SO THAT THE WALLPAPER CAN STICK.

    4. NOW YOU CAN BEGIN TO FINALLY WALLPAPER THE WALLS .
    I DID A 20'X 27' FAMILY ROOM THIS WAY IT TURNED OUT GREAT BUT WAY WAY WAY!!!!
    TO MUCH WORK I'LL NEVER DO IT AGAIN! YOUR BASICALLY WORKING ON THE WALLS
    4 DIFFERENT TIMES / JUST PAINT IT OR NEW DRYWALL.
    GOOD LUCK, DAN

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