Drywall Over Tacky Wood Paneling?

[Christopher Winkler]

I don't see any rehab specific categories, so this looked like the closest one, though its not a diary. Moderators; if I am in the wrong place for questions about remodeling, can you please tell me where to post these or move the post. 

Maybe create a new category for Rehabbing Questions & Tips?

All the older houses here in Dallas have wood paneling for some reason, not sure why it was such the hip thing to do in the 70's, was it to give it that "ranch" feel??

Anyway, I see some that get painted over and it looks good, though when its cheap paneling like this, instead of having to rip it off and fix the glue damage, is it any benefit to drywall over it? I guess you need a bid on that vs removal and repair... Any helpful feedback is appreciated.

And while I am at it, is the cost to skim the circle ceilings like these going to cost about what removing drywall will cost, or again, do you just drywall over it? I just don't see it coming back in style in my lifetime, though I have been known to be wrong!

[Kevin C.]

I did a house that had this kind of cheap wood paneling, painted yellow. Some parts had turned wavy because of moisture I think? The walls were in really bad shape in my case but if your walls are in better shape just painting could be ok!

I ended up removing all of it and put up drywall in some rooms and painted the original shiplap in others.

A few things I learned: the paneling actually comes down pretty easy. It was held up by hundreds of small trim nails, not glue. Try to bring it down in as large chunks as you can. I'm my case, behind the cheap wood panels were two layers of very old wallpaper. I did drywall over the wallpaper, no problem. However, there was some damage to the ceilings in the demo so I had to do some additional drywall I wasn't expecting. I had to redo all window, door, and baseboard trim because drywall was thicker than the wood paneling. It won't look right unless the trim is all taken down, then put back up after the drywall goes in. Also take down the trim BEFORE trying to take down wood paneling. It will come down much easier, and you need to take the trim down anyway.

Good luck!