# What's under wood paneling? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [September 14, 2018, 2:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-under-wood-paneling/821319 "2018-09-14T02:34:59Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 5\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Joey\_P](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/919ad9/32.png) [@Joey\_P](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Joey_P)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2018, 10:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-under-wood-paneling/821319/41 "2018-09-17T22:42:40Z")
FWIW, at my parent’s house where we painted over the paneling, we didn’t fill in the grooves. It’s a bit of a PITA since you need to brush the paint into them and use a roller for the rest, but even with them infilled it really does look just fine. Yes, it’s clearly not drywall and yes, you can tell it is (was) paneling, but it’s a very different look than what you’d expect from wood paneling. They first painted it white, and now it’a a color very [similar to this](http://www.josephandlynnette.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/09/IMG_3507.jpg). So, yeah, it’s paneling, but without that 70’s wood grain, it looks much better. ---
**Author:** ![j666](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/9de0a6/32.png) [@j666](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/j666)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2018, 11:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-under-wood-paneling/821319/42 "2018-09-17T23:40:41Z")
> [@Joey\_P](#): > > FWIW, at my parent’s house where we painted over the paneling, we didn’t fill in the grooves. It’s a bit of a PITA since you need to brush the paint into them and use a roller for the rest, but even with them infilled it really does look just fine. Yes, it’s clearly not drywall and yes, you can tell it is (was) paneling, but it’s a very different look than what you’d expect from wood paneling. > They first painted it white, and now it’a a color very [similar to this](http://www.josephandlynnette.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/09/IMG_3507.jpg). > So, yeah, it’s paneling, but without that 70’s wood grain, it looks much better. That’s a nice look, kind of beachy. ---
**Author:** ![elfkin477](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/a9a28c/32.png) [@elfkin477](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elfkin477)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2018, 12:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-under-wood-paneling/821319/43 "2018-09-18T00:54:32Z")
> [@Joey\_P](#): > > FWIW, at my parent’s house where we painted over the paneling, we didn’t fill in the grooves. It’s a bit of a PITA since you need to brush the paint into them and use a roller for the rest, but even with them infilled it really does look just fine. Yes, it’s clearly not drywall and yes, you can tell it is (was) paneling, but it’s a very different look than what you’d expect from wood paneling. > They first painted it white, and now it’a a color very [similar to this](http://www.josephandlynnette.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/09/IMG_3507.jpg). > So, yeah, it’s paneling, but without that 70’s wood grain, it looks much better. Hey, that’s not bad. You folks suggesting spackle and sanding before painting may be onto something. It’s probably at least worth a try as a stopgap until it can be replaced with drywall. I will keep the advice in mind if I end up in a paneled palace. ---
**Author:** ![Joey\_P](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/919ad9/32.png) [@Joey\_P](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Joey_P)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2018, 2:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-under-wood-paneling/821319/45 "2018-09-18T14:26:56Z")
> [@sticky-tiles](#): > > Maybe you can remodel the house, covering the wall with [peel and stick tiles](https://clevermosaics.com/product-category/peel-and-stick-tiles/). > peel and stick tiles is a new trendy product, it is used for kitchen backsplash and bathroom wall mosaic decor, it has a lot of advantages than other ceramic mosaics, it is light-weight, easy to transport, soft plastic, easy to cut, quick and easy to install, just peel and stick, clever mosaic, easy to clean, easy to maintain, waterproof, oilproof, the 3D effect, high gloss, beautiful mosaic, self-adhesive, no special grout, tool or glue needed. reported ---
**Author:** ![awldune](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/c77e96/32.png) [@awldune](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/awldune)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2018, 3:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-under-wood-paneling/821319/46 "2018-09-19T15:44:04Z")
If it is “real” paneling, removing it is REALLY difficult and annoying even if it is not glued. My house was built in 1960 and there is a ton of paneling in it. We painted over it, which took many many coats of primer and paint. It looks good to me, but I don’t want to ever repaint it. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-under-wood-paneling/821319.md?page=2)