dated kitchen wallpaper and paneling – rip out and drywall or cover and paint?
Asked by Brooklyn Johnson 
2 months ago
Last Updated: October 21, 2024
So, we’ve got this old wallpaper in our kitchen that’s stuck to some outdated paneling. The paneling has a smooth coating on it, but you can still feel the grooves if you give it a good rub. We’re thinking of painting the wall instead – should we rip out the drywall or cover the paneling with something before painting it? Our house was built back in 1969. Any advice on how to tackle this?
It all comes down to what specific issue you’re looking to address. What do you hope to achieve in the end?
For a quicker solution, take down the paneling and replace it with drywall. You can opt for a 3/8 drywall layer over the existing paneling, but keep in mind that you may need to adjust the trim around windows and doors. Another option is to fill the paneling grooves with joint compound, sand them down, and apply a skim coat to the whole wall. ‘t forget to tape and mud the paneling joints to ensure a smooth finish. We recently tackled a similar project in our hallway, and it was quite time-consuming. In hindsight, it might have been more worthwhile to go with drywall from the start.
Change the wallpaper color
: The wallpaper overlaps are usually visible, which some people don’t prefer.
The process of removing old wallpaper can vary in difficulty. One option is to simply install 1/4″ drywall over the existing wall. This does require mudding and taping the seams, but it is often quicker than other methods. Keep in mind that your room will be slightly smaller if you do this on opposing walls.
Gave a great response. I have personally dealt with old wallpaper on unprimed walls that was causing damage when I attempted to remove it. I decided to paint over the wall with oil-based primer to seal the wallpaper so it wouldn’t bubble or buckle when exposed to moisture. After that, I applied a thin coat of spackling over the entire wall to fill in the grooves and seam lines from the wallpaper. Finally, I primed the wall again with any primer and painted over it. You couldn’t even tell there was wallpaper there except for at the bottom if the baseboard is removed.
Is there drywall beneath the paneling?
It all depends on what you’re aiming for. Looking for a quick and inexpensive solution? Paint over the wallpaper. Want a long-lasting fix? Take it all down and put up new drywall.
It seems like they first used a liner paper before putting up the wallpaper. That was a popular practice in the ’70s and ’80s.
The best choice would be to take down the panels down to the studs. If there is no insulation, add some. Put up sheet rock, tape, and finish. You’ll thank yourself in the future. That’s what I did years ago when my house, built in ’58, had no insulation.