How to Paint Over Stained Wood - No Sanding - Transform a Room on the Cheap

Maybe you purchased a home full of stained wood paneling, or maybe it was how your basement was decorated years ago or maybe that cottage, it can be painted over with the right ingredients!

Replacing wood trim or wood panels is a huge expense by the time you factor in removal, installing drywall, taping and mudding, there is a way to update the walls and the room on the cheap without disturbing any paneling or endless hours of sanding.

I came across this product years ago while I was painting old furniture.  It claimed to cover any surface even glass without sanding creating a base for any type of paint and saving a lot of time.  I tried it and I am a BELIEVER!!  Follow these steps and you will transform a stained paneled room on the cheap.

The Main Ingredient Zinsser Primer!

It is easy cleanup and is really the only investment other than your finish paint and some labor.

STEP 1 - Clean but Don't Sand.  If this is wall paneling, take a floor mop and quickly go over the panels with any kind of general cleaner that will remove grease, rinse and let dry.

Zinsser will go over any surface but grease.  So if there is a lot of furniture polish or dirt or greasy residue, try to clean it off best you can with a general cleaner and a damp mop.

If you don't have a general de-greaser cleaner then consider mixing a batch of TSP cleaner, very common product to prepare surfaces for paint, especially if they are super waxy or greasy.

STEP 2 - Prep.  Prep your area with floor protection, as this primer will stick to anything it touches, so if you want to protect other surfaces such as a wood floor make sure you have sheets or drop cloths in place.

(This is one of the most important steps.  I had some splash on the TV screen and didn't notice right away and there is stayed!)

STEP 3 - Roll it on.  Make sure you give it a good stir with a paint stick and pour into your paint tray for larger wall area or use a brush for smaller areas.  Make sure you use a brush at the ceiling and floor to cover the entire wall panel.

STEP 4 - Repeat in a hour or so - It dries very quickly and is ready to re-coat in an hour.  It is best to do 2 thin coats rather than one thick one.  It will look a bit translucent and thin, but don't worry it is doing its job of masking the wood and creating a surface that your finish paint will love.

STEP 5 - Finish Paint - Using your color of choice, paint the wood with your finish paint.  Latex paint or any paint for that matter will go right over this primer with ease.

Do two coats of your finish paint, using a roller for the surface and a brush at the ceiling and floor.  If the wood paneling has grooves make sure you get the primer and the finish paint into the grooves.

STEP 6 - Step Back and Pat Yourself on the Back!  Good Job


Painting Over Stained Wood This is one of the easiest ways to transform a room. Take that dark wood stained paneling from the 60s and 70s and totally update a room.

The paneling ridges and grooves actually add some dimension to the room.  I once took a dark basement recreation room and totally brought it back to life with this Zinsser primer and then painted it a light yellow.

It then became one of the most used rooms in the house.  It is amazing what a coat of nice paint can do for old stained wood.

Can You Paint Over Man Made Plastic Style Wood Panels with the Shiny Surface?

Yes you can, if you use the Zinsser primer first.  My son actually just finished off his basement by purchasing that cheaper somewhat ugly looking fake paneling with that shiny surface with the intent of painting it.

It was cheaper than doing drywall as he didn't like taping and mudding nor the mess it would create.  The walls were framed and insulated and he simply nailed on this cheap hardware store style paneling.

Two Coats of Zinsser Primer and two coats of finish paint and it looked awesome!  Added some coving trim at the ceiling and some baseboard at the floor and it was done very quickly.

Zinsser Primer is Water Based - So Easy Cleanup!

This product became my main "go to product" whenever I wanted to transform anything from kitchen cabinet doors to old wood furniture.

You can get it in different sizes, but if you have lots of stained wood or old furniture projects in mind this product will never go to waste.

Brushes clean easily with soap and water.