Benefits of Sanding before Painting Wood Paneling

Many homes still have wood paneling in one or more rooms. This was a popular type of wall covering many years ago but is now considered to be dated. It also makes a room seem darker than it should even if the paneling is in a large room. If you do not want to take on the difficult and time-consuming job of removing and replacing the wood paneling, you may want to consider painting the panels to brighten up the room. Painting wood paneling brings the room decor into the 21^st century.

It’s not just a matter of slapping on a coat or two of paint, there are preparations that need to be made so that when you are finished the paneling will look new and fresh. One of the most important preparations that need to be done is sanding the wood so that the finish and polish that was applied to preserve the wood has been removed. You will also want to sand any lumps and bumps flat, and make it so that the surface is slightly textured for the paint to have something to stick to. You will know when the wood panels are ready for painting when they are clean, dull and dry.

If you don’t follow these steps, you will risk having to redo the work within a short period of time as the paint will not adhere to the wood paneling properly.

Step 1: Preparations

Remove and replace, or hammer back in any protruding nails from the wood panels. If you skip this step, the nails will rip your sandpaper and you will no longer be able to use it effectively.

Step 2: Sanding the Wood Paneling

Put on the dust mask so that you do not breathe in any of the dust particles and dirt that will be stirred up by the sanding process. Using the 220 grit sandpaper, sand the entire surface from top to bottom of every panel. Make sure that you work the sandpaper into every corner and edge. Do not miss any areas as the paint will not adhere to a smooth surface and you will end up with spots where the paint cannot stick. When sanding, you should always work with the grain, not against it for the best results.

Step 3: Cleaning Up the Sanding Dust

When you have finished sanding every bit of each panel, you will need to brush or wipe off the sanding dust then vacuum the panels to remove the very fine dust residue. The surface of each panel must be slightly rough to the touch but clean.

Once they are cleaned of all sanding residue, you are ready to apply a coat of primer. Let that dry, and then apply the first and second coat of your chosen color of paint letting each coat dry before applying the next.