How to Replace Wallpaper With Paneling
- 1). Remove any trim work or baseboards from the walls, ceilings, and windows you will be working in. You can use a small pry bar and a hammer to remove it.
- 2). Remove the covers from all switches and receptacles in the room. Save the covers and hardware unless you are replacing them with new ones.
- 3). Locate the studs and mark their location at the top and bottom of the wall. You will need these references to nail the paneling to the wall. Marking them on the ceiling and floor works well--but use something that will wash off after you are done.
- 4). Start at the corner of the room and set your first sheet of paneling about 1/16-inch out from the corner. This allows room for the paneling to expand and contract with temperature changes. Make sure it is plumb by using a small level and be sure that the edge of the sheet lines up with a stud.
- 5). Nail the first sheet to the wall using 1-5/8 inch brads or finish nails to secure it. If you have electrical boxes and switches to work around, you can cut them out before setting the sheet. Simply measure the location on the wall, transfer the measurements to the paneling and cut them out.
- 6). Work left to right around the room, allowing a 1/16-inch gap between each sheet. You may need to cut sheets down when you get to the corners. Use a fine-toothed blade on a table saw or circular saw to cut the sheets.
- 7). Continue placing sheets of paneling on the wall until the entire room is completed. Replace the molding and trim work, or install new trim if you choose. Re-Install the switch and receptacle covers.
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