Can you paint mobile home paneling?

Tammy Bassett
by Tammy Bassett

I have an older mobile home (1980s). It has paneling on the walls kind of looks like wallpaper. Any advice on if and how you can paint it?

  8 answers
  • Lady Jane Lady Jane on Sep 21, 2018

    I've been a DYIer woman for 50 years and I have the same kind of home with paneled walls. Wash a small part of a wall down first to see if finish stays the same. If the finish remains the same and doesn't peel or shred, then you can paint using a good latex paint with primer in it. If the finish--such as wallpaper-- shreds or comes off, then you'll have to remove it and then wash the walls down again before applying any paint. It's best to wash any wall or woodwork first so the paint can stick to the surface well.

  • Nan W. Nan W. on Sep 21, 2018

    Tammy: I have successfully painted paneling... in fact, it gives the walls some nice texture. Be sure to prime first.

  • Tammy Bassett Tammy Bassett on Sep 22, 2018

    Thank you

  • Kmdreamer Kmdreamer on Sep 22, 2018

    Yes you could paint paneling you could eather leave the line or plaster it so it disappears

  • Mindy D. Mindy D. on Sep 22, 2018

    Absolutely. Clean it first with TSP, then prime and paint!

  • Colleen M Lance Colleen M Lance on Sep 22, 2018

    I sanded mine first then primed and painted. The first section I did with out sanding just peeled off when the paint was dry.

  • Tammy Bassett Tammy Bassett on Sep 23, 2018

    Thank you.