Dark sheet paneling is very common in homes manufactured in the 1970s and 1980s, but it lacks contemporary style. To dramatically change the look of a paneled room without incurring major remodeling effort and cost, you can employ a simple painting technique that resembles faux barn wood.
Clean paneling: As it ages, paneling usually accumulates a fair amount of grease and polish. Before painting or priming, remove these undesirable coatings with TSP, which is available in powder form in paint and home improvement stores. Mix the TSP according to manufacturer's instructions and then clean the paneling with a rag.
Priming the walls: After the walls are clean and dried, prime them in any color. Although white is traditionally used, primers may be tinted at most paint stores and can then be used to prime as well as base-coat the paneling. On the show, the first coat was painted with water-based primer in a gray putty tone.
Paint in sections: After the primer has dried, mask off an area using blue painter's tape, marking the areas in four- to six-inch sections. You don't have to follow the seams in the paneling because they will visibly disappear. Create a mixture of one part latex satin finish house paint, gray/green in color, and one part latex glazing liquid. The glaze, which is clear because it's paint without the pigment, makes the paint mixture transparent and heavy-bodied, and can be found at any paint store. Brush this mixture on the wall in one direction.
Graining: To obtain the faux grain look, you must use a graining tool that is designed specifically for this type of project. Wood-graining tools are available from art supply stores. Place the tool at one end of the area to be painted and very slowly pull and slightly roll it as you go. Vary the grain by rolling and pulling faster or slower. If you make a mistake, smooth out the paint by brushing over the top of the section again. There's no need to reload the brush with paint since the glaze is very slow drying. When this process is dry, you should be able to feel the grain.
Aging the barn wood: Mix 1 part raw umber acrylic paint to 10 parts latex glazing liquid. Load a small amount of paint mixture onto a damp sea sponge, wipe it on the grained areas, and immediately wipe off the excess with a clean damp sea sponge.
Resources Fresh Paint: Fun and Easy Ways to Decorate Your Home
by Glenwood Sherry
Bay Books, June 1997
Order this title from Amazon.com.
paint — Benjamin Moore
Benjamin Moore
Website:
www.benjaminmoore.com
Guests Glenwood Sherry
Host,
Fresh Paint (PBS), Glenwood Sherry Studios
Website:
www.thatpaintguy.tv
Also in this Episode
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