Give Your Paneling a New Look

Are you one of the thousands of home owners that have paneling on some walls in your home?

Are you a DIY type person that just can't go on looking at the "lines" that painting wont hide?

I have the solution!

I had this same problem, and I came up with a way that I'm going to teach you, right here and now.

It does take some work, and time, but it works great. You'll get rid of those ugly lines, once and for all, without ripping down your walls.

When your done, you'll forget what it looked like Before you did your "magic". So, if your ready, lets forget about taking out your credit card because its not needed here. I'm not trying to sell anything.

Now, if your not real handy, you can get someone to help with this, but if your handy enough to paint a wall, you should be able to complete this project without much problem.

PLEASE READ THIS ENTIRE LESSON TO BE SURE YOU HAVE ENOUGH INFO FOR YOU TO DECIDE IF YOUR ABILITY IS ENOUGH TO COMPLETE THE PROJECT.

DON'T START ANYTHING YOU CAN'T FINISH, THAT WOULD LEAVE YOUR WALLS IN A MESS!

Lets get started.

As you would when painting a wall, you want to be sure to move all furniture and any articles out of your way, and cover anything that you can't move. Your floor also needs to be protected from damage.

Things you'll need: 5 gal bucket of joint compound, a 3" or larger putty knife, some #100 wet/dry sandpaper, dust mask, large sponge, bucket of clean water, 9" roller, cover, roller pan, 3" paint brush and paint of your choice.

After you remove anything hanging on the walls, and cleared the area, be sure to lay down drop clothes for protection.

Now take some sandpaper, fold it, and begin to sand inside of the "grooves" of your paneling, from top to bottom, being sure to also "ruff up" left and right of the groove 2" on each side of the groove.

This is easy, but time consuming, but is needed to allow the joint compound to adhere properly. You must continue for ALL the grooves. After all the sanding is complete, start at one corner and with a damp sponge, wipe down the walls, inside the grooves and the entire wall from top to bottom.

Now open your container of joint compound, being sure its mixed smooth. Again take your sponge and more than damp, but not soaking, run the sponge from top to bottom inside and around the groove. Only do a small section at a time, 4-5 grooves.

Then starting with the first one, take your putty knife, with compound on it, and apply from top to bottom inside and around each grove, just enough to be even with each groove.

Continue this until all grooves are somewhat filled. Don't try to over fill because this needs to be done in light coats, so as it dries it doesn't crack.

Each groove may need to be filled 3 or 4 times, being sure its completely after each coat, or it will crack. Its best to begin each coat in the same place.

When each groove is "overfilled just right" you'll know it because each groove will have an even "bulge", from top to bottom, allowing you to sand it down just enough to become flat and smooth and blended to the rest of the wall.

When you feel comfortable that the grooves are now "hidden", you need to roll on a coat of primer, over all the grooves, so your paint cover the repairs. Once your do primer is dry, you'll be able to see if your grooves are covered enough.

If you see that a little extra compound is needed, now is the time for that. Then sand smooth, cover the new compound with primer, let dry, and now your ready to paint the wall. Your project is complete.

It does take lots of time, but if you take the right steps, your walls with look good for many years. I used this same method about 8 years ago, and it still looks like it was just done. No peeling, no cracks.