Painted paneling or not?

[fastfredracing]

We are having a little tiff this morning. We have this spare room. Nice sized room where our wood burner is at. 1970's hell, I just pulled down the curtains that someone sewed together in 1973. It looks as if the room was paneled at about the same time. A few years ago, I pulled up all the orange shag carpeting, and replaced it. This morning, I have moved all the furniture out of the room to clean the carpets.
I want to paint it while I am in there. She is totally against it, and says that painted paneling is tacky. I sort of agree, but I also say that painted paneling is 100 % better than dirty faded. 1970's paneling. I have done this a few times in the rental houses, and I have to say I am always surprised how much it will brighten up a dark old paneled room.
I plan on gutting this room, new windows, and drywall , but that is prob. 3 years out. I figure that for $100.00 , I can dramitacally update this ugly old room.
What do you think? If I get the go ahead from more than 3 of you guys, the roller, and brushes will by flying .

[mossguy]

If Momma's not happy.................

[DonDavis]

If you "upgrade", you'll wait longer to gut the room. I say leave it. Spruce up the room in other ways.

[Seahawk]

Make-up on a Trollope.

[gprsh924]

The living room and dining room was all paneling from the 70s at our lake house. We painted it white. Looks great. Depends on the room/application I think though.

[targa911S]

remove paneling?

[intakexhaust]

I would cover paint it for now and use the room as you say. I'm re-doing a 1914 vintage home that will be on the market. All the important and mechanicals are done and considering replacement windows, but I'm leaving the ugly paneling from the 1970's alone in some rooms and painting over others. Just enough to lighten the place, liveable for the next owner and let them remodel to their liking. The upstairs bath was all panel including the ceiling! Uuuuugly. Just painted it white and at least it brightened.

[craigster59]

Primer with Kilz first. Maybe throw some chair rail around the room and keep lower wood grain and the upper painted? Meet halfway...

[Por_sha911]

Originally Posted by fastfredracing

She is totally against it, and says that painted paneling is tacky.

Originally Posted by mossguy

If Momma's not happy.................

+1 on these. Especially the bottom one.

[Baz]

At times like this - I have always found it beneficial to take a spirited drive in a nice 996. Have you considered that, Fred?

[tevake]

Originally Posted by craigster59

Primer with Kilz first. Maybe throw some chair rail around the room and keep lower wood grain and the upper painted? Meet halfway...

This sounds like a plan to consider!

Cheers Richard

[on2wheels52]

Originally Posted by mossguy

If Momma's not happy.................

'nuf said.
Jim

[Geoz1]

Paint it. Deal with the fallout later.

[imcarthur]

Just don't stucco it, like I tried to in my 1st house 35 years ago.

Ian

[dennis in se pa]

Use spackle on the joints. It will look like drywall when you are done.

[Zeke]

I agree with the wife. She has good taste. Nothing worse than painted paneling, even 70's paneling. But I could see wallpapering over some of it. Like Dennis says, you have to fill the grooves and joints. The chair rail idea would work with paper, too.

[Tobra]

It will brighten it up a lot, my parents did this in their living room, did not look great, but it was WAY better than that dark paneling, which would be a PITA to remove.

That said, do what your wife tells you. You might not like it, but you won't regret it.

[gprsh924]

I agree with the wife. She has good taste. Nothing worse than painted paneling, even 70's paneling. But I could see wallpapering over some of it. Like Dennis says, you have to fill the grooves and joints. The chair rail idea would work with paper, too.

If you know there are good walls underneath, then the paneling can come down quickly and you still have a small project on your hands. If the wall comes with the paneling or it's just crappy underneath, then you've just turned a quick paint job into a large undertaking.

[DanielDudley]

I have seen painted paneling that was not bad. Caulk all the seams. I think you need deeper colors than off white. It may not be 100% what you might want, but it could be 100 times better than what you have now, if you prep right and pick good colors.

I say do it.

[imcarthur]

Lots of pics . . .

Ian