Older homes
Can You Wallpaper Over Wood Paneling? Grooves, Primer and Liner
Yes, you can wallpaper over wood paneling, but the grooves and the slick finish have to be dealt with first. The usual method is to clean and degloss the paneling, fill or bridge the grooves (with joint compound, a skim coat or a heavy liner), prime with a bonding primer, then hang the paper. If the paneling is loose or damaged, removing it is often the better job.
In short
- Grooves show through wallpaper unless filled or bridged.
- Paneling finishes are slick: degloss and use a bonding primer.
- Liner paper helps bridge the surface for a smooth finish.
- Loose, warped or water-damaged paneling should come off instead.
Step by step
- Check the panels. Secure loose panels; replace or remove warped ones.
- Clean off grease and polish.
- Degloss by light sanding or a deglosser.
- Prime with a bonding primer suited to the finish.
- Fill the grooves with joint compound, or skim the whole surface.
- Sand and prime again with a wallcovering primer.
- Hang a liner if the surface is still not perfectly flat. See liner paper.
- Hang the wallpaper.
Paper over paneling: options compared
| Approach | Result | Effort |
|---|---|---|
| Paper straight over grooves | Grooves show as lines | Low, not recommended |
| Fill grooves, prime, paper | Good with thicker papers | Medium |
| Full skim, liner, paper | Smooth, like drywall | Higher |
| Remove paneling, repair wall | Best long-term | Depends on what is underneath |
Should you remove it instead?
Paneling is sometimes nailed straight to studs with no drywall behind it. Check behind an outlet cover before deciding: if there is no drywall, leaving the paneling and preparing it may be the simpler route.
Where we work: neighborhoods and ZIP codes
We cover or remove 1970s and 1980s paneling in East Cobb, Roswell, Gwinnett County, Woodstock and Canton homes.
Roswell and East Cobb
- 30075 Roswell
- 30076 Roswell
- 30077 Roswell
- 30062 Marietta / East Cobb
- 30066 Marietta / East Cobb
- 30068 Marietta / East Cobb
Gwinnett County
- 30017 Grayson
- 30096 Duluth
- 30092 Peachtree Corners
- 30071 Norcross
- 30093 Norcross
- 30043 Lawrenceville
- 30045 Lawrenceville
- 30046 Lawrenceville
- 30019 Dacula
- 30052 Loganville
- 30078 Snellville
- 30039 Snellville
- 30518 Buford / Sugar Hill
- 30519 Buford
Woodstock, Canton and Hall County
- 30188 Woodstock
- 30189 Woodstock
- 30115 Canton
- 30114 Canton
- 30107 Ball Ground
- 30542 Flowery Branch
- 30506 Gainesville
Also serving: Buckhead and North Atlanta; Alpharetta, Milton and Johns Creek; Cumming. Not sure we cover your street? Send your ZIP code with a quote request.
About WallPros. WallPros LLC is a wallpaper installation company based in Grayson, Georgia, serving Gwinnett County, North Atlanta, Alpharetta, Roswell, East Cobb, Cumming and the rest of Metro Atlanta for 10 years. We install, remove and prepare walls for homeowners, interior designers and builders.
FAQ
Common questions
Will the grooves show through wallpaper?
Yes, unless they are filled or bridged with a skim coat or liner.
Can I use peel-and-stick on paneling?
It struggles with grooves and slick finishes. Results are usually poor.
Is it cheaper to paper over paneling or remove it?
It depends on what is behind it. If there is sound drywall underneath, removal can be the better long-term choice.