Wallpapering Over Paneling

Q: Some interior walls of my house are covered with prefinished wood paneling, the type that has vertical grooves. I'd like to wallpaper these walls without removing the paneling. How do I go about it?

A: There are several approaches. Before trying any, make sure the paneling is firmly attached to the walls, and renail as needed. Then clean the paneling by washing with mineral spirits (paint thinner) or an ammoniated detergent.

If mineral spirits are used, keep in mind they are flammable and use extreme caution. Rinse by sponging with clean water.

A popular method of completing the job is to first cover the paneling with a heavy-duty liner or backing paper available at some wallpaper-supply stores.

Liners are generally made of canvas, polyester or fiberglass, and are thick and strong enough to span the paneling's grooves so they don't show through. After the liner dries, apply regular wallpaper in the usual way.

Another method is to fill the grooves with spackling compound or wallboard joint compound. Let dry and sand smooth. Remove dust from the wall with a vacuum cleaner or sticky tack cloth. Give the wall a coat of wallpaper primer such as Shieldz. Let dry, and apply wallpaper.

Special textured or embossed wallpapers also are available for covering paneling and/or walls that have irregularities or defects. These heavyweight papers, which are often designed to be painted after application, are sold at some wallpaper-supply stores and home centers.

If you try one of these products, follow the specific directions for the product.