Tools for Painting Wood Paneling

Sanding and Cleaning Tools

• Preparation is the most important part of painting wood paneling. The best paint on the market will not adhere well to paneling that has not been properly prepared. Use a claw hammer or pliers to pull out nails, or set nails that are sticking above the surface. You will need a screwdriver to remove switch plates. Since most paneling is varnished or laminated, the hard, shiny surface needs to be cleaned and sanded. Clean the paneling first, using a large sponge or lint-free rags and a bucket of soapy water. If you sand before cleaning, grime and wax will quickly clog your sandpaper. Once the walls are clean and dry, sand them enough to lightly dull the surface. Flexible sanding sponges work well for this. If you have a lot of wall surface to sand, buy a drywall sanding pole. These are inexpensive tools that allow you to fit sandpaper to the pad and the end of the pole, and work without wearing out your shoulder muscles.

Filling and Caulking Tools

• Use a flexible putty knife to apply spackle to nail holes, and sand the repairs when dry with a sanding pad or 120-grit sandpaper. After you have finished filling and sanding, prime the walls. Once the primer is dry, you will easily be able to see all the gaps and cracks that need to be caulked. A professional-quality caulking gun will work much more smoothly, without dribbling caulking all over the place.

Priming and Painting Tools

• To prime and paint the walls, you'll need a roller frame and 1/4- or 3/8-inch roller cover. A lambswool roller cover will cost more, but holds a lot more paint and fills in grooves in the paneling, unlike cheap foam or nylon roller covers. Not having to use the brush to paint every groove in the paneling will make the extra cost well worth it. Use either a rolling pan, or a five-gallon bucket and roller grid. A two- or three-inch synthetic brush will work for both primer and paint. The better quality painting tools you purchase, the faster you'll work and the more professional-looking the results. Clean the tools out in a utility sink, or outside with a hose--you'll be able to use the same painting tools for both priming and painting.

  Protect the floor with canvas drop cloths. You'll also need a stepladder to reach the top of the wall, and a four- to six-foot extension pole to make rolling easier.