My goal this month is to complete the makeover of my granddaughter’s nursery. Since it’s almost the middle of the month I better get moving! We, (my daughter and I) spent the weekend filling the grooves in the painted paneled walls. Someone, at some point in time in this old home’s history, must have thought it would be a good idea to disguise the paneling with paint. While the concept was good, they missed one important step: they didn’t fill in the grooves of the paneling.
The result looks just like what it is: painted paneling. We wanted nice, smooth walls.
If you have paneling in your home and would rather have smooth walls (that don’t look like painted paneling) then read on to learn how to fill in the grooves.
First let me say, if your paneling has NOT been painted yet, you will have a few extra steps. You will have to sand and prime the paneling first before filling the grooves. Once you’ve done that then you’re ready to fill in the grooves.
The supply list for this project is short.
- joint compound
- putty knife
- dust mask or respirator
Neither my daughter nor I had ever worked with joint compound, but I assure you, no big deal. It’s not difficult and you don’t have to be neat and precise. Just make sure the grooves are filled in. In fact, it’s a good idea to go back to where you started, carefully make sure that all of grooves are filled in and apply a second coat if necessary.
All of those rough edges will get sanded away on day 2.
Oh yeah, I forgot to mention: this is a 2-day project. The first day is applying the joint compound and the second day is for sanding and clean up. It’s an easy project but not a fast one.
As mentioned above, day 2 is all about sanding. Sanding and dust. Lots and lots of dust. Like open a window, wear a dust mask, your hair is now white, dust. The joint compound we used said “LOW DUST”. Really?
Day 2 is also about the clean up of said dust. After you think you’re rid of all the dust, think again. Using a damp cloth for the final clean up and removal of the last particles of dust is recommended. I left my daughter to handle the final stages of the dust clean up. A perk of being “Nanny” ; )
I’ve done this in several rooms of my house and am currently working on another. I’ve learned after the first go around that you don’t need to use so much joint compound. You really only need it IN the grooves. So, I take a small putty knife work it into the groove and then wipe away most of the excess mud. You are correct about needing two coats because it shrinks as it dries, leaving a little recessed groove still visible. But wiping away everything outside the groove with the putty knife considerably cuts down on the sanding and, most importantly, the dust. Hope that helps.
How did you finish the corners in the room and doorways?
Thanks, I will try that great idea
Thank you so much for that tip!!
Any problems with it separating after time?
No, it still looks great!
Do you have a final picture?
What did you use to sand it?
Years ago we pulled paneling off the walls and were pleasantly surprised to find sheetrock! Much easier to paint over. But I have filled the cracks so that I could wallpaper over paneling before and it is a very simple process.
I am in a catastrophe.I did a good job on lines except ever 4feet at the seams they don’t line up with next piece of panelling .Soon piece have puffed up,buckeled..even in different directions from top to bottom..mess..I have filled in and sanded can’t get a flat level point..I come close but not good enough.i haven hours trying to get the bumps to meet..dissolve..some ..Primed it today and want to hang a light there..Looks bad..few spots I can fill in but how many times can I fill and sand and redoo until I fix., I know I can’t use 220 paper on a sander as in pushed the primer and compound in another place and itt can’t be sanded to well as it has gotten hot from the heat.from sander..Think maybe I need to sand the whole warped 4/8sheet flat to be level to the lower side..any other ideas…please advice.a solution.as is bad in 3lines.thankyou
I live in a mobile home. It is nice but didn’t look finished with paneling I have done this with all my rooms and they look just like dry wall
All my rooms . I am 75 so if I can do it u can. ❤️
If there is paint, do you have to sand it first?
I read in one of the instruction videos that caulk should be used and not joint compound because joint compound (spackle) tends to crack. I also viewed one video where a bead of caulk was applied then topped off with joint compound. Hard to decide which method to use. What’s your opinion on this?