Wood Paneling...

[Bob McIntosh]

So I made an offer on a property yesterday that has wood paneling EVERYWHERE.

I have heard a number of ideas on what to do about this and would like your opinion.

In order from cheapest to most expensive:
1. Just paint over it as is (its in decent condition and is solid enough)
2. Spackle over the "grooves" then paint over it
3. Throw up some dry wall right over the paneling
4. Rip out the paneling and put up dry wall.

Give me some pros and cons to each of these, or if there is something else i missed?

Thanks!

[Tom Tarrant]

generally speaking, the wood paneling is nailed over the drywall from 1950 on. You should be able to pull it off, retexture the walls and paint. They unly used tiny finishing nails so it pops right off. In some cases we see construction adhesive behind it. If this is the case you will pull the paper off the sheetrock and it will require more patching but at the end of the day, you'll have a better product than painting the paneling which even the most novice buyers will notice. Good luck!