SFGate

Deborah Butler, Brickwood Builders Why not install a 1/4" drywall over the paneling so you have a nice surface to work with?

Carolina Photo To Go LLC You might want to look under the paneling unless you built it and know there is no drywall underneath. A lot of people paneled over drywall in past decades.

ruthiehenderson I'm not wanting to take the paneling off. And, if I can avoid it, I'd rather not add drywall. My question is has anyone filled in grooves successfully?

Aggie Purvinska I think it will take the same effort to remove the paneling and skim coat the walls as it will to do a perfect compounding job over the paneling that will may a tendency to expand and contract. Go with the flow here, prime and paint the paneling with subtle vertical stripes design to echo the paneling groove direction.

ruthiehenderson Thanks everyone! Think I'm gonna just yank her all down and if I need to I can put the 1/4 drywall overtop the old drywall and avoid scraping and sanding the glue off.

Media Decor Unfortunately, you will probably have to rip out paneling and start again. It will be a mess, but well worth the effort.

Connie Nikiforoff Designs Honestly unless you really hate the look of the paneling (i.e. the grooves) it's easy and far less expensive to prime and paint over it with the grooves and all. I've seen countless rooms where this is done and it totally updates the space. It can give you a cottage look (like beadboard) or even go so far as a contemporary look...depending on the color used on the walls and the other furnishings in the room. I also saw a room where the owner used joint compound over the wall. She left the texture rather 'rough' to disguise the grooves and then painted and glazed over the whole thing. For me, I prefer just priming/painting over the wall and letting the grooves be part of the texture of the wall. If you google about this topic, or even search on Houzz here for "painting paneling" you'll see plenty of examples to see if you like the 'groove in place' look. Best of luck with your project. Here's a direct link on Houzz http://www.houzz.com/painting-paneling

cdsmiley Hi. Twenty years ago, I had dark paneling in my kitchen on one wall, but wanted wallpaper. Like you, I didn't want to remove the paneling.The person I hired to wallpaper, covered the paneling with a roll out paper mesh and papered over that. I ended up leaving the bottom portion of the paneling, painting and making it look like a chair rail border. I still have the wall paper, which I love and it has never shown the grooves of the paneling. Hope this is helpful and good luck :)

ruthiehenderson Thanks!

carolannr It depends on the paneling. Is it solid wood or the mdf? Is this in a basement family room or above ground? The mesh-under-paper solution is the stabilist. Both solid wood (plywood) paneling and mdf have movement problems with humidity levels, and even with substantial pretreatment and careful application, can't really be counted on to be successfully filled and painted over for long periods of time especially in an active area. Take all these factors into consideration. Completely removing the paneling or covering w/ 1/4 inch drywall will not be any more labor intensive and will give a definitely longer wearing surface.

ruthiehenderson It's above ground and it's the thin cheaper version mdf. Right now it is painted. Not sure what to do on the corners either where the trim has worn or gotten a little broken in places. So the mesh paper...do I apply that and then put joint compound over it?

Paradise Restored Landscaping & Exterior Design My sister did any entire office area - 5 offices that were paneled - she filled in and painted over - some of the walls turned out great but in the end - it shows - as you suggested yourself - YANK 'ER DOWN and start fresh.