Removing Wall Paneling

Hide or Replace Walls with Wood Paneling?

Q: The den in our 1970s house has wood paneling. Rather than painting it, my husband and I were thinking of covering the paneling with wallboard and then painting. Is this OK? There is no insulation underneath the paneling, so the room can be cold in the winter. Would the wallboard help with this problem?

A: It's certainly OK to put drywall materials over the paneling. But at less than 1 inch thick, it would not provide sufficient insulation. To be effective, insulation installed over paneling should be 3-4 inches thick.

Be aware, too, that adding wallboard alone or wallboard and insulation will cause several problems. Because the walls would be 1-4 inches thicker, any outlets and switches would need extension boxes and would need to be reinstalled. Jambs and casings around doorways and windows would also need extensions. It would be difficult to attach drywall over insulation, too, because you would have to sink anchoring screws through the two materials and into studs.

The far better plan is to pay a demo crew to get rid of all existing paneling (and drywall, if some is lurking beneath paneling) and install new insulation between the framing studs. Then add new drywall over the studs. No special detailing would be necessary for the electrical boxes and the doorways, and they may not even need repainting. If this sounds like too much work and expense, and the insulation factor is not all that important in your temperate climate, you can also wallpaper over paneling. Make sure to install a wallpaper liner first to create a smooth surface for the new material.