Easy Process Of Painting Over Tongue & Groove Paneling
Tongue-and-groove paneling is composed or made up of sections of wood secured together by a locking mechanism. Paneled walls look attractive that adds visual interest, however, they can also be a reason for a room to look old-fashioned. A coat of paint on your paneling can immediately brighten the room and give it a more contemporaneous & modern feel. If you are looking to paint over tongue-and-groove paneling, you can do it easily, however, you need to perform a few extra steps than you would usually use when you paint over a flat surface including drywall.
Preparation For Painting
- Tongue-and-groove paneling generally has a finish coat of paint or sealer that will help safeguard the wood. This needs to be roughed up with the help of 120 fine-grit sandpaper, which is strongly recommended, in order to make sure that paint will adhere properly. When you start sanding the walls, it is important to sand the surface of the wood completely.
- Clean your paneling with the help of a damp cloth in order to get rid of sanding dust and other dirt. Gouges, holes, as well as other imperfections in the paneling, may be filled using a wood filler and sanded smooth before proceeding to priming and painting, however, the grooves of your tongue-and-groove paneling do not need filling.
- Wood diminishes as well as expands with the changing humidity levels each season. If you fill the grooves with the help of caulk or wood filler, then the patches will crack as well as fall out, which in turn leaves an unpleasant mess that will not be easy to fix.
Painting Tongue-and-Groove Paneling
- Painting tongue-and-groove paneling is more challenging as compared to painting standard drywall or plaster, due to the reason that where each piece of wood connects or links up there are grooves that gather excess paint from your brush. At the time of priming and painting the paneling, get rid of the excess paint that gathers in the grooves of the wood, with the help of your paintbrush as you cut in through the edges of the room.
- When you are done cutting in, start at the top of the wall and paint the grooves. Load your brush gently and prevent drips by passing the tip of the brush over the grooves, removing the paint as you go.
- Proceed by rolling the primer as well as paint onto the wall in 3-foot sections, starting at the top of one corner and moving your way around the room. After finishing each 3-foot section, stop to remove any excess paint out of the grooves with the help of your brush. Paint each section in columns, starting from ceiling to floor, and overlap each pass to a small degree for a uniform finish.
Paint Rolling Tongue And Groove
As soon as the primer is dry, paint the walls with the help of a standard 1/2-inch nap roller, which is regarded as the best paint roller for tongue and groove. A thick roller is not essential due to the fact that you will have painted the grooves when cutting in. The excess paint a thicker nap takes hold of doesn't terminate the need to fill in the grooves first. It will only collect in the grooves that will cause runs and drips. Use either latex or oil-based products, however, opt for a finish that suits the room. For instance, tongue-and-groove paneling in a kitchen will require washing, therefore, flat paint is not perfect. A semigloss, on the other hand, may draw special attention to the blemishes in the wood. A satin finish brings forth a happy medium betwixt a semigloss and a flat finish. Put or spread at least two coats of paint when it comes to a uniform finish.