What to do with paneling

Question

This is my second rehab property and the whole house has paneling on it including the ceiling. What is the best way to go with this? Should I tear it off and put up new dry wall, paint over it or tear it down and put up new? I want to make sure I don't make extra work for myself and waste money on expenses that aren't needed. I plan on renting out the house.

Thanks for your help!

Charles Whitaker · Answer

It all depends on the price range anticipated when you are finished. If this is a fairly cheap house (~30K) then I might leave it on the walls, otherwise, remove it completely. You didn't say whether the panels are glued or nailed. The nails come out easily with little patch work and often times the glue will sand down.

I also found that sometimes the look that you are going for (texture and no wall imperfections) is easier obtained by replacing all of the sheetrock in rooms that contain plaster which needs patching. Making a perfect patch in plaster is a skilled job, nothing I have the time for anyway :mrgreen:

Good luck

Account Closed · Answer

There could be some serious defects in the ceiling. I would go slowly when it comes to pulling it down. New sheet rock on the ceiling is a fair bit of work (weight over one's head).

Assuming this is a rental.

Will a tenant pay more if you do the work? Will you have an easier time renting the place (top choice for people vs. last on this list). Consider repairs that will reduce future maintenance if that is possible in this case. Avoid changes that will only make for more work when vacancies happen (the comments about paint vs. leaving the paneling). Stick to code in all cases and deal with habitability issues if you are renting on Section 8.

Kyle Gregory · Answer

you had paneling on the ceiling?  who in their right mind would do that?  but i would at least remove that from the ceiling, and at least paint over the walls...

Michael Shadow · Answer

We just prime over it and paint it.  The paint mileage may varry though depending on porous the paneling is.  I've painted paneling that need one coat of primer then one coat of paint and I've done other paneling that needed 3-4 coats in all.

In our area it's usually not just drywall under it, it's usually plaster and lath and if you pull it off you will probably find an area of the wall that the plaster is falling apart and the paneling was slapped up to cover it up.

Christian Morency · Answer

If the paneling has never been painted, leave it alone. You will never have to paint or clean the walls between tenants. Once you paint it, you will have to paint it between every tenant. Tenants don't care. I don't know how many rentals you have but look around and you will see that tenants love living in black holes. They never open their curtains. And by the time they move out, even if you paint, the walls will be brown anyway.

If you want to sell, then all cash may be right, but paneling looks cheap no matter what you do with it.

Frank Adams · Answer

If it's just "paneling", chepa material with a finish over it, you can just primer it, fill in the "gaps" and then texture and paint it. IMO tearing it off is just extra work.

As long at the paint/texture will stick there's nothing wrong with leaving it up. If it's real wook, with stain/sealer on it you may have to  degloss it. But since it's on the ceiling too (wtf?) I doubt if it's real wood. In fact it may just be chipboard or some other type of termite poop with a picture of wood grain on it.

Good luck

all cash

Richard Dawson · Answer

Its just drywall.

Adam Anderson · Answer

What is under the paneling?