painting fake wood paneling



Painting your faux wood paneling is one of the least expensive ways to give your home a more modern look and to give it a so-called “face-lift”. This is a great way to bring a bright and fresh new look to your home. If you are debating between hiring a professional paint contractor or doing it yourself, consider this article first.

When hiring a painter, they do not only have to paint the panels, but they must clean the panels before painting them. They also have to patch and prime the panels which will end up in a higher cost rate for you. If you do it yourself, you could cut that price in half. Keep in mind that most professional painters can get this job done in average of 8 hours but if you do it yourself the average time spent is around 12 hours.

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Average Cost to Paint Over Fake Wood Paneling

Most professional painters charge by sq foot or how large the room is. Cost per square foot on the low end is around $3.25. The high end end is around $6.50. This means a 100 square foot painting job will range from $300 to $700.

The estimated do it yourself amount is $150 to $210. This is a low end amount. At a mid-price range (where most homeowners find themselves at) it is $250 to $350. At a high do it yourself rate, the cost can be estimated as much as $500-650. It just all depends on what type of material you will use and how much of the fake wood paneling needs to be fixed.

The Process

  • Cleaning: The painter will clean all the wood panels that will be painted.
  • Inspect: Next, he or she will Inspect all of your panels for any holes or broken pieces. If any are found , they must be fixed.
  • Prep: Prepare the painting area. Example: Cover all of the floors and furniture with plastic covers.
  • Tape: The contractor must tape the outline of your panels so they don’t paint on your walls.
  • Prime: Next step is to prime all of the panels with primer. Primer will allow the paint to stick to the panel.
  • Paint: Last step, is to paint. Painting will take most of the painters time due to having to roll on multiple coats of paint. In between these coats he or she will have to allow this paint to dry completely before starting the next coat.

Additional Considerations

Newer wall paneling is harder to paint over because the smooth surface does not allow the paint to stick. A contractor may need to lightly sand all of your panels before priming to encourage the primer to stick.

There are grooves in most wood paneling. If you would like to remove these, they will need to be filled with spackle or joint compound. This will significantly increase the cost of your project, but will result in a smooth finished wall.

Compare Price Quotes

If doing it yourself seems like too much for you, then the best idea is to compare price quotes from local painters near you. No interior paint job is alike and price will depend on the size and difficulty of your job. Please use our free request for quote tool to get in touch with painters in your area. They will provide you with competitive painting price quotes with no obligation to hire.

Author: Ashley Smith

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