How to Stain Fake Wood Paneling
Improve the Appearance of Your Home by Sprucing Up Your Old Paneling
How to stain fake wood paneling: Step 1
The first step in staining your fake wood paneling is to remove all loose nails and staples. Be sure to look carefully around the edges of the panels, as rogue staples can often be found poking out of the paneling in those areas. Use a flat screwdriver, the back end of a hammer, or a pair of pliers to remove any loose nails and staples. If a nail or staple cannot be removed, simply pound it flat with a hammer.
How to stain fake wood paneling: Step 2
After all nails and staples have been removed, you may have holes in the paneling. These should be filled in before continuing with the project. Use ordinary spackle, and wipe off any excess. Once the spackle is dry, continue to step 3.
How to stain fake wood paneling: Step 3
The final step before staining is to sand the surface of the paneling. (Remember to wear safety glasses and a dust mask while sanding to prevent personal injury.) An ordinary sander with a fine-grain sand paper will do the trick. Rotating or belt sanders should not be used except with extreme caution - fake wood paneling is often quite thin, and powerful sanders can easily sand a hole right through your paneling. Sand just enough to remove the shiny surface from the paneling. After sanding, be sure to wipe down the paneling with a damp cloth to remove any dust or residue.
How to stain fake wood paneling: Step 4
The final step in staining fake wood paneling is to apply the stain. Any stain will do. Keep in mind that the color may not appear exactly as shown on the can, because you are staining plastic and not wood. Wood hues can add a classic look to your paneling, while colorful stains will add more of a personal touch. Consider choosing a color that complements your décor rather than a traditional wood color. Apply the stain with a paintbrush or a sponge. You may need to use multiple coats to achieve the desired look.
Published by Amy Weekley
I'm a stay-at-home mother of two, loving every minute of it. Writing has long been my hobby, and I figure it's time to share my work with the rest of the world. Enjoy! View profile
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8 Comments
Post a CommentI seen a house done with the paneling turned side ways and it was either stained or painted a greyish color so that it looked like some sort of log cabin look
good information.
ha... yeah, I meant to have them ready for this article, but the paneling is at my sister's house, 6 hours from here, and she didn't send them to me in time. :-P I'll get some to you ASAP.
Amy, i have a desperate need to do something with the fake wood paneling in my apt and have coincidentally been looking into options recently. this sounds fairly simple and im considering it but i have a giant request if its not too difficult for you to fulfill. do you by chance have any photos of the results of this or even better, before and after pics? id love a visual. if not, i can deal but id be so grateful if you had one laying around you could upload and send to me directly through my personal AC account. ok thanks and good work.
I didn't know you could do that.
What a great article, thanks for sharing this info.
I think I'd rather rip it out altogether. :)
This is great. We are victims of the fake wood panelling decor scheme of the 70s. Good to get these instructions.