I'm looking for advice on whether it's a good idea to apply drywall mud over my old dark wood paneling, which has those classic vertical lines. It's in pretty rough shape and I'm considering my options. Should I do that, or would it be better to just rip it out and install sheetrock instead? Any tips or personal experiences would be really appreciated!
3 Answers
Honestly, mudding over wood paneling can be a real headache. The amount of prep you'll need to do for sanding and cleaning to make sure the mud sticks is a pain, and the cost of the mud alone can add up. Plus, trying to achieve a smooth finish is often tougher than it's worth. Instead, I'd suggest just getting the thinnest drywall panel (like 1/4 inch) and putting it right on top of the wood. It saves you the hassle of tearing everything down!
Listen, no one ever regrets ripping out old materials instead of trying to cover them up. It can actually be kind of fun to demo! If I were you, I’d just tear it out and start fresh. If you want to cover up the paneling for a temporary fix, think about using paintable wallpaper. A busy pattern can help hide the wood texture underneath.
I painted my old wood paneling light blue about 10 years ago, and it turned out amazing! I have a split-level with limited light, so I thought I'd be stuck with the ugly paneling. But just giving it a fresh coat made a huge difference and has held up well. So, you could always consider just painting it too!
Thanks for the suggestion! I’m definitely leaning more towards hanging drywall now but it’s good to hear about all these options.