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How To Paint Wainscoting Panels

Paint Wainscoting Step 1: Paint the Baseboard. First, cover all areas of the wall flush with baseboards with painter’s tape. Step 2: Paint the Paneling. Use a similar application when painting the paneling, using either a medium paintbrush or paint roller. Step 3: Clean Up.

What kind of paint do you use for wainscoting?

You can go with a satin or a semi-gloss paint sheen. The satin sheen will be more forgiving and will hide most imperfections from your nail heads and seams.

Is it okay to paint wainscoting?

Painting the wainscot in the same color as the walls tones down its inherent traditional feel and makes it more contemporary. Choose a color a few shades lighter or darker than the walls, or use the exact same shade to make the molding as subtle as possible.

Can you use a roller to paint wainscoting?

For its primer, Sherwin-Williams recommends either a nylon/polyester brush or a roller with a soft, woven roller cover that has a ⅜ -inch nap. For your project, having both tools will probably work best. If you were painting beadboard before installation, it would be relatively easy to do the job with just a roller.

Can you paint paneling without sanding?

So, yes you can paint paneling without sanding it first! Wood paneling is so porous it will suck up every little drop of paint it can get. You’re looking at several coats of paint to get the job done. I put on three coats; it’s a lot but the walls needed it.

How do you prepare wainscoting for painting?

Wipe down the wainscoting to get off any soap splashes or grime. When dry, lightly sand to scuff up the surface and help the paint grip. You want it to look evenly dull. Don’t worry about scuffing up the grooves, although it wouldn’t hurt to fold a piece of sandpaper and quickly run it down each line.

Should wainscoting be painted white?

The traditional color of wainscoting is white. For a small space, white is a great way to open up the space and allow you to paint the wall a darker color. The type of paint is also important. If it is a high-traffic area, you’ll want to use an eggshell or semi-gloss finish on the wainscoting since it is easy to clean.

How do you paint wood wainscoting?

When painting for wood paneling, choose either a stain-blocking latex primer or an oil-based primer. Apply a thin coat of primer with a roller. Use a brush to fill in any grooves. Allow the primer to dry a full 24 hours before painting over it.

Is wainscotting outdated?

Give your home wall-to-wall character with this timeless feature. But just because wainscoting is no longer required to keep your home warm doesn’t mean it’s lost all its magic. With the right pairing, this once old-school element can feel surprisingly fresh and modern.

Should I paint wainscoting before or after installation?

Perhaps the biggest timesaver is pre-finishing the material before it’s installed. This, in my opinion, should be done whether you decide to paint or stain the wood. It’s of the utmost importance to make sure you completely coat the entire tongue portion of the wood. The wood can shrink after it’s installed.

What kind of paint do you use on beadboard?

Choose interior enamel paint (often labeled as “door & trim” paint). It will dry to a harder finish than standard latex paint and is more durable against scuffs or scrapes, especially in high-traffic areas.

What is a roller nap?

Each roller has a different thickness of fabric or “nap”, specifically designed for different surfaces around the home. The thicker the nap or length of fabric, the more paint a roller will hold. The thicker the nap, the rougher the surface the roller is designed for.

What is the best kind of paint to use on paneling?

The best type of paint to use on paneling is interior latex paint. These paints last longer and are more durable, so they shouldn’t crack or chip over time. Latex paint is also water-based, which means that you can clean surfaces painted with latex paint by just using water.

What kind of primer do you use on paneling?

Prime paneling with a latex, stain-blocking primer. For even coverage, we recommend having your primer tinted with colorant similar to the finished paint.

What paint do you use on paneling?

You may choose a latex paint for your top coat, but Regan counts on the smooth and durable results he gets with oil-based paint. His second choice: A hybrid water-based alkyd paint. Once dry, sand lightly just to dull it a bit and vacuum the loose material. Spray a thin and even top coat on the paneling.

What is the best way to paint bead board?

Apply a quality latex or oil-based paint to the grooves of the beadboard with a narrow paint brush. Work in sections of about 2 feet wide. Paint in up and down motions for vertical grooves and a back and forth motion for horizontal grooves. Use the paint sparingly and don’t overfill the groove.

How do you paint wood paneling with grooves?

Just follow these directions: Sand the paneling lightly to dull the gloss. Wipe any sanding dust off with a damp cloth. Fill in the paneling grooves with joint compound. Allow the joint compound to dry. Apply additional coats of joint compound, if needed.

When should you not use wainscoting?

“When applied correctly, wainscoting should run from the baseboard to the chair rail and it should not be any higher than 32 inches.” Riodan explains that if it’s higher than that, it’s paneling, not wainscoting.

Should I paint oak wainscoting?

Stained oak wainscoting doesn’t suit everyone’s tastes, yet applying a few coats of paint over it will result in a streaky, discolored mess. While classified as a hardwood, oak is also open-grain, meaning it has visible pores. This gives oak plenty of character, but also means that it does not absorb paint evenly.