I have three main rooms in my home in that the walls are covered with old paneling. It is real wood, but CHEAP stuff…is about 1/2 to 5/8 inch thick with large grooves in it, the surface is quite rough with grain, small holes and large knots. It is glued and nailed up. I wanted to rip it all out, but this would probably require new drywall, as A LOT of adhesive was used.
As an alternative to pulling it all down, would you recommend skimming over the entire surface with drywall mud? I’m not sure how smooth a surface I would get. Is there a preffered drywall mud application technique that would give me a slight textured surface to hide the inevitable variations in the surface?
Or, am I missing another option?
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if you try to mud over it, it will crack..the wood moves..mud don't.
rip it off. or ...no, just rip it off.
Spheramid Enterprises Architectural Woodworks
Repairs, Remodeling, Restorations.
You can put 1/4" DW over it. The trim will need extensions.
There is also something called Wall Liner. It is a "wall paper" that is used to cover up bad walls and then forms a new paintable surface.
Don't know if it will cover the rough walls surface or not.
What final walll finish are you looking for ? I've painted over cheap paneling with pretty good results. A little bit of crown molding - it can look good especially if you're working on a strict budget.
On another job, we wanted wallpaper. I tacked another sheet of cheap paneling, this time with the good fact to the wall, leaving the smooth back out. We papered over the new surface and it really looked good.
Greg
That sort of stuff can look charming painted.
Or just put drywall right over it.
Thanks for the replies. Actually, the paneling already is painted and doesn't look too bad. The reason I am tempted to remove it is that it goes up the stairway and abruptly ends at the landing. Since it is 1/2 inch thick, it is an ugly transition to the upper hallway. I also wanted to add an archway between two rooms, one of which has a higher ceiling than the other. By adding an archway, I will have another abrupt ending between the panelling and the archway wall.
One of my initial ideas was to remove the paneling an put up drywall of the same thickness, so I don't have to fiddle with the electrical boxes, but it is much bigger a job than I would have liked. I guess I need to increase my skills or lower my expectations! Grrrrrr.
Put liner paper over it or 3/8" drywall. If you rock over it you will have to remove trim, extend door and window jambs. Liner paper goes on with wall paper paste, can be painted or papered over it.
mike
Sounds like T1-11....while not my first choice in interior finishes, when done properly, it doesn`t look half bad.
Hows about a compromise? Install 1/4" drywall directly over it about halway up the wall. Add a moulding at the joint and you`ve got a wainscotte look. Depending on the style of casings in your home, you may be able to get away with adding a simple moulding around the perimeter of the doors and window casings as opposed to extending the jambs. Kind of a "backband" look. This aproach may add a little work to the area at the top of the stairs...but if the area isnt too big, you might consider continuing the "wainscotte" along the one wall and die it in a corner.
Realize, I`m not exactly sure what the space you`re describing actually looks like.....just trying to visualize it from what you`ve described.
J. D. Reynolds
Home Improvements
"DO IT RIGHT, DO IT ONCE"
The joint compound will look worse when it cracks. Tear it off. Put a layer of 1/4" drywall over the old drywall.
Steve
As the old saying goes, "you cant polish a turd." Tear it off, if you want to skim coat something at least skim coat something that will look good when your done.
Doug
I've never tried polishing a turd, so I'l take your word for it friend.
We both agree that covering it over with anything will end up worse later on. tear off and then if need be, hang 1/4" drywall to finish or patch and skimcoat.
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