If you have chosen wood paneling for walls, then you should know that it is a great way to spruce up your home. It adds depth and dimension to a room and also adds value. Wood panels are available in a variety of sizes and colors. These days, mahogany, zebrawood, or teak panels are very expensive, so you could go for oak, rosewood, maple, pine and red and white oak veneers.
There are many benefits of using wood panels in your rooms. They come ready to install, and you can install them yourself fairly easily. Another benefit is that they are long lasting if you maintain them properly. For maintenance purposes you can use a variety of paints, varnishes and stains, which protect the wood for a long time.
Cost involved in wood paneling for walls
The usual type of paneling available on the market is the tongue-and-groove type. It has a tongue at one end and a groove cut into the other end. These pieces are sealed together in a way that the seams become invisible. V-joints are another type of joint in which the panels are joined to form a V-shape. The cost involved in wood paneling varies according to the size, style and the material used. They come in a range of $4 to $200 per panel.
The typical 4’ x 8′ sheets that you will find in your home improvement stores will give your room a neat paneled look. But they can be imposing. So to get away from this look you can choose smaller panels measuring 2’ x 4’, 3’ x 4’, or 3’ x 6’. Instead of this you can position these wood panels horizontally, which in turn gives your room a spacious feel.
Cost is where the difference lies in wood paneling for walls. The typical MDF sheets from your home improvement store will cost you anywhere from $10 to $40 for a 32 sq. ft. sheet. The higher quality wooden panels will cost you more. And if you are looking for horizontal oriented wood panels, you will have to shell out $400 for the same size.
If you have decided on the type of wood you want to use for wood paneling for the walls of your home, you might want to install it yourself, as outsourcing it to a contractor will cost you a lot of money. In order to calculate how much it will cost to panel a wall, follow this short and simple process.
– Measure, with the help of a tape, how many square feet of wood paneling you will need. Measure the length and height of the wall that has to be covered. Once you have got the length and width of the wall, multiply them together to get the area.
– Measure the entire area, ignoring the doors and windows. After this, you can measure the area of the doors and windows and subtract it from the total wall area.
– Now select the type of wood paneling for walls you wish to use. Instead of deciding on the cheapest wood, it is better to understand what your rooms need. For example, if your room has a lot of sunlight flowing in, you may prefer a lighter color panel. Light colored panels are not overpowering and give your room a spacious look.
– Once you have selected your paneling, you should calculate the cost. For this you have to multiply the cost per square foot of the wood panel by the area of your wall. This will give you a fairly good idea of the total price involved.
– Consider other costs like that of glue, paneling nails, or other items that are needed to fix it.
Problems involved in wood paneling for walls
The main problem with wooden paneling is that the wood tends to look shabby in the coming years. The paint may get scratched at some point or it fades away. For this you don’t have to strip out the panels that you had so painstakingly put on your wall to beautify it. You should just repaint the wood panels.
Many people who have moved into 60s or 70s homes will see that the wood is very dark and doesn’t really go with the modern style. But the quality of wood that you got during those times was simply very good. Why should you think of removing it? You won’t get that quality again on the market. So if you have to brighten your décor, simply repaint it. The only point here is to pick a color that is classic and something you know you are going to continue to love. For this go according to the style of your home. Also if you have kids at home, you should use products that are non-toxic.
Other problem that may occur in wood paneling for walls is that mold tends to grow over it, especially if it is in the basement area. For this you can use chemicals like bleach that remove the mold, and repaint it using varnish. Bleach doesn’t hurt paneling. You can mix it in a 25-75% ratio with water. Concentration over 25% will damage wood fibers.
Coziest area of your home
Imagine a room that has walnut wood paneling for walls. It has to be the coziest room in your home. The warm colors are so inviting that you will want to spend the whole day there. How about extending that love to the entire home?
