Rental with cheap, chipping wainscoting- is painting my only option??

Angela
by Angela

I recently moved into a new rental and the bathroom is not exactly amazing. Looking for a simple way to spruce up the wainscoting that’s chipping pretty badly. I would rather not paint it but also worried about putting something like contact paper up because it may just pull more paint off of the landlord removes it after we leave. Is painting my only option?? Thanks in advance!

  6 answers
  • Laura Cooper Laura Cooper on Jul 10, 2018

    This looks like the bead board was never painted originally. When you buy it, it has a white primer on it. It needs paint. The primer is not a final finish. I have some of this installed in my home, too. It did the same thing before we painted it.

    Paint is very fast and cheap. I go to the household chemical recycle center in my county and get free paint. (you want latex) and using a roller and a brush for cut-in, you can probably do this in under an hour.

    • See 1 previous
    • Laura Cooper Laura Cooper on Jul 11, 2018

      You're welcome! Just FYI... That isn't wood. It's mdf. Sanding is not a good idea, it will actually remove the primer from the factory. There's no grain. I would wash it, but not with too much water. The mdf is like a sponge where the primer is worn off.

  • Maura Maura on Jul 10, 2018

    well, if it is real wood you may sand for a sort of country look and let some wood show through. This would give it a nicer look and add interest

  • Jcraw Jcraw on Jul 10, 2018

    You’ll want to sand before painting to get a good surface.


    I’d suggest wrapping the sandpaper around a block of wood and sanding with the boards, vertically. This is not great wood, so you don’t want to disturb the grain.

    • Angela Angela on Jul 10, 2018

      Definitely not great wood. Appreciate it, Thank You!!

  • Janice Janice on Jul 10, 2018

    Hi Angela, Why not check with your new landlord and ask if it's okay for you to paint and make improvements. Often times they are happy to have a tenant wanting to fix up the place. When I was a landlord, I often supplied the materials and even sometimes allowed the renters a reduction in the rent for the work they did. Just a thought to consider.... :) We're usually more agreeable if the paint color is neutral.

    • Angela Angela on Jul 11, 2018

      I will definitely check in with him before doing it! They have done so much for us already that I wanted to do some on my own. We plan on staying here for a long time and I think he’d appreciate it in the long run! Thank you!!

  • Leona Leona on Jul 10, 2018

    If you are not able to paint it because it is a rental, find a nice fabric (looks like grass cloth or such) and using a lot of liquid stay starch, applying it with a paintbrush to adhere to bead board. This can be easily removed by wetting it with a spray bottle of water.

  • Maura Maura on Jul 11, 2018

    Pls send a pict of what you do! Good luck