How to repair paneling that has slightly separated.
by
Gerry Davis
+2
No doubt during the last hurricane, we got a little water damage under our paneling in two places; we have just very recently discovered it. The paneling was painted over about 16 years ago. It was a high grade. It has separated, slightly, from the wall and would like to know how to repair since we no longer have any excess paneling.
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http://www.dummies.com/home-garden/walls-ceilings/how-to-flatten-buckled-or-warped-paneling/
Put liquid glue under it .
Evil words, "water" ... tear everything apart and inspect for signs of water damage to the insulation. That stuff will settle and cause forces behind the paneling. Separating is kind of a strange way to describe your situation. If their is a gap something has moved? Curved, shrunk, drawn in ward? A gap would infer that something is shrunk? Was the paneling painted then you noticed the gaps? What was the finish before the painting?
Remove the paneling, you need to inspect for mold! Sealing it up without knowing the extent of the water intrusion can be deadly, not worth taking a chance.
To make a smooth finish to the repair on the wood paneling, sand the repaired area with fine grade sandpaper. Use a sanding block to lightly sand the damaged area. Smooth the finish until it blends in with the rest of the wood paneling. After sanding, use a wood stain on the wood paneling to cover any blemishes