Update on How to Make Paneling Look Like Drywall 9/17/18
I truly love going back through old posts and revisiting all the hard work we’ve done in the past! And just like my tutorial on how to gel stain cabinetry, this tutorial was also written back when we were flipping our first house as a couple.
I’m not sure how I feel about paneling, but I knew that for this flip we needed to do something about the little bit of brown paneling on the soffit in the kitchen – it just didn’t go well with my vision for a newly updated kitchen. And after being in real estate since I was in the womb, I knew potential future buyers wouldn’t like it either.
So I set out to learn how to make paneling look like drywall. I wanted it to look so perfect that no one would ever think twice about it not actually being drywall.
And guess what? I did it and I shared a tutorial all about it with you back in 2016! So without further ado, here’s my post on how to make paneling look like drywall – with a few updates to reflect what I’ve learned over the years since then!
[This post also now contains affiliate links, which means I make a small commission with no increase in cost to you if you make a purchase from one of my links in this article. Read more about this fun disclosure we as bloggers are now required to make in every single post that has affiliate links here! It’s riveting really.]
How to Make Paneling Look Like Drywall
(or how to make paneling look like smooth wall)
Original Post Written 11/30/2016 [Updated 3/8/2018]
Do you have ugly paneling somewhere in your home but don’t feel like spending the time and money ripping it all down and installing drywall? If you’re like me you’ve probably been searching google for ” how to make paneling look like drywall” or “how to fill in the grooves on paneling” or “how to paint paneled walls” or “how to make paneling look like smooth wall” or “tutorial on how to update wood paneling…”
If you have been doing the googling… then you’re in the right place! Because I’ve done all the googling as well as the actual project and I share all my tips, tricks and full tutorial below!
Check out the tutorial below on how to easily turn that old wood paneling into an eye appealing smooth wall (that looks just like drywall) by simply spackling and painting your wood paneling.
My first flip’s kitchen had ugly paneling on the soffit but instead of tearing it down and going through the hassle of installing drywall I decided to fill the grooves of the paneling in and paint it to make the soffit look like one smooth surface, just like drywall.
I am so happy with the results that I decided to share my tutorial on how to paint paneling (aka how to fill in the grooves of paneling). It’s one of the simplest ways to update wood paneling and so much easier than tearing it all down and starting from scratch.
How to make paneling look like drywall? Sounds like a pretty simple question with a simple answer right?
Well yes and no. It’s very easy to do but requires some preparation and the right technique. Once you have that down, you’ll have a smooth drywall-like finish instead of that ugly grooved wood paneling. (Wait… is paneling actually even real wood?)
You want to make sure all this research on how to make paneling look like drywall will pay off right? Well, you’ve come to the right place! Read the steps below and check out the links to all the tools and supplies I used for this job! (Because isn’t it the most annoying thing when you’re trying to figure out how to do something and they tell you how to do it but not what to do it with? Well that’s not this blog, this blog is here to give you all the details I can think of for each tutorial and list out (also in great detail) what tools and supplies I used!
And as always, feel free to leave comments or questions in the comment box at the bottom of this post!
How to Make Paneling Look Like Drywall
Like I mentioned above, figuring out how to make paneling look like drywall is not that difficult. I did a bit of (okay a lot of) research before I started this project and I’m going to share all the juicy details with you. There aren’t that many details, but each step is incredibly important and shouldn’t be skipped if you want the paneling to look like drywall for as long as you’re in your home!
If the prep work isn’t done, all subsequent layers of spackle, primer and paint will have a hard time sticking to the paneling itself and could eventually peel off or crack out over time! You don’t want all the hard work you’re about to do to be for nought, right?
I didn’t think so… so without further ado, here’s how to make paneling look like drywall.
Supplies
Thieves Cleaner or Krud Kutter or TSP (Trisodium Phosphate – banned for toxicity in many states)
Sandpaper/Sanding Sponge
Paint! (YAY FUN!)
Tools
Explanation of Tools & Supplies Used
Spackle: I mention two different kinds of spackle, medium/heavy weight and light weight. Truthfully, you can probably get away with just doing lightweight spackle, but if you have a medium or heavy weight spackle laying around already, it wouldn’t hurt to use that as the base coat for filling in the cracks. It’s harder and therefore more difficult to sand so be careful to wipe away any and all excess.
Spackle knife: I used a 4″ knife and a 6″ knife but I was only dealing with a small soffit. If you are doing an entire paneled wall, you could probably go up to an 8″, 10″ or even 12″ spackle knife and get the job done quicker… a whole lot quicker if you’re doing entire walls.
Cleaner (TSP,) Rag & Gloves: Use a cleaner (my favorite is TSP) that will etch the smooth surface of the paneling so the paint will adhere better. I get it by the box from home depot and mix my own in a squirt bottle or bucket. I’m also a little obsessed with recycled t-shirt rags, you can obviously do it yourself, or order these!
Sandpaper: I am also a little obsessed with sanding blocks as opposed to sand paper but any sandpaper or sanding block between 100-120 will be perfect!
Paint: Choose a sheet that works for the traffic in the room you’re making the paneling look like drywall. Paints range from flat to high gloss with flat being the most difficult to clean and gloss being the easiest. However, flat will hide imperfections in the wall better than gloss because of how reflective the paint sheen is. So choose wisely!
Etch & Clean
First, put on your gloves! Then use the diluted TSP and a rag, (or cleaner of your choosing) to remove all the dirt, grime and grease and most importantly, to etch the smooth surface of the paneling. Essentially this is a type of chemical etching that will make it easier for the primer to adhere.
Anytime you use TSP you should always wipe the area clean with clean water.
Fill Lines and Holes
Use your spackle knife and fill the panel’s lines and nail holes with the medium or heavy weight spackle (if using) making sure to press the spackle into the grooves firmly.
Do this by taking your knife (with some spackle on the end of it) and at a slight angle press the spackle into the grooves and then wipe clean the entire length of the groove clean.
Wiping clean is extremely important in this step if you’re using the heavier weight spackle. Medium and heavy weight spackle is much more difficult to sand than lightweight.
Don’t worry if there are small air bubbles that won’t come out, they will be sanded and filled in later with light weight spackle.
Repeat applying spackle
If you see any small air bubbles in the paneling lines or nail holes give them a quick sand and wipe clean. Then apply a coat of light weight spackle the same way you applied the first coat of spackle.
In most cases two coats of spackle will be sufficient, especially if medium or heavy weight was used first! However, you may need to repeat this step one more time before proceeding to the next step. (Make sure you allow the spackle to fully dry before you move on!)
Sand Sand Sand
Sanding is one of my least favorite activities, especially in the summer. I am not a fan of dust masks (I feel so restricted ya know?) and making it worse in the summer, I have to cover almost my entire body or the dust will literally suck the moisture out of my skin and hair… anyone else get that way when sanding?
Anyway, sand EVERYTHING. Sand the nail holes, the paneling grooves as well as the parts of the paneling that didn’t get spackle (it will scuff them one last time before the primer gets applied!)
Prime
Prime the paneling, I like to use Kilz for everything but that’s probably overkill. You can try a paint and primer in one but I had a problem trying that at first. While I was painting the spackle was sucking up the moisture from the paint and would easily pull out. So that’s why I say prime first then paint, but I know how impatient people can be… I’m right there with ya.
But like I said above, the people at Sherwin Williams say two coats of any of their paint is just as good. I just recently started using Sherwin Williams paints for my projects instead of Home Depot and Lowes and I love it! They are so much easier to use, they get less “snot,” and the people at the store are actually knowledgeable and helpful when it comes to choosing the right type of paint for the job. No I was not paid to say that.
Paint
The last step is to paint the paneling whatever color your heart desires and you’ll have what looks like painted drywall!
That it! That’s how to make paneling look like drywall or how to make paneling look like smoothall – which do you call it!!?
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