Covering Fake Wood Paneling with Drywall Compound

Fake wood paneling is out of date and not overly pleasing but replacing it can be costly unless you cover it with drywall compound. If you bought an older home you may find that instead of drywall being used throughout the rooms it is wood paneling complete with a wood grain finish and grooves up to 10 inches apart. Wood grain paneling was a design style popular in the late 70s and 80s but offered little to no design aesthetic, color choices or insulation. Replacing wood paneling with drywall will take a lot of time, money and knowledge of hanging drywall. The easy solution is to cover the existing paneling with drywall compound to simulate the look of drywall. The following article will show you how to cover paneling with drywall compound.

Step 1 - Removing the Trim

Wood paneling is nailed directly to the wall studs and then are trimmed out with a very basic molding. Use a small pry bar and begin removing the trim. If the trim is very thin then use the pry bar end of a hammer or even a butter knife. If you plan on using the trim again for another project then carefully remove it from the paneling.

Step 2 - Primer

The wood grain is usually pretty unsightly and drywall mud will easily stick to the panel but the mud will allow the grain to show through making primer important. The primer you use needs to be formulated with wood paneling in mind and will usually cost around $25 a gallon. Apply a coat to the wood paneling with a roller and once that coat is dry you can go ahead and apply a second coat of the primer.

Step 3 - Complete Camouflage

The wood grain may be covered but you'll notice one thing sticking out like a sore thumb that screams wood panel: grooves. In order to get the wood paneling effect; there are grooves between each wood panel. These grooves are supposed to make the wood paneling appear as though they are individual planks. Attempts to cover these gouges with mud, spackle and other similar products do not work. In order to cover the grooves in the paneling you will be using mesh drywall tape. Start at the top of the panel and pull the tape down; sliding your hand over top to apply it until you reach the bottom. Tear the tape and continue until all of the grooves are covered.

Step 4 - Apply Drywall Compound

Mix the drywall compound according to the directions in a bucket then pour some into the mud pan. Scoop some of the drywall compound up with the mud spreader and then slap it onto the wall. Use the spreader to push the drywall compound all over the paneling. Continue applying and spreading out the drywall compound until the paneling is completely covered and go over it again until the drywall compound is even.