How to Paint Wainscot Panels
- 1). Mask the wall along the top edge of the wainscot with masking tape and paper. Use painter's grade tape, which is blue, so you can remove it with minimal damage to the wall when you are done. Mask the floor along the bottom edge in the same way.
- 2). Prepare the wainscot for painting by scraping off any old paint with a paint scraper and filling holes with patching compound. If it has a buildup of grease or grime, which is common if it is installed in the kitchen, wash this off with a solution of household cleaner and warm water. Finally, sand the surface by hand with medium-grade sandpaper to prepare the wainscot for the new paint.
- 3). Choose the wainscot color to blend with the wall color and to fit in with the overall color scheme of the house. You may choose to make this color a lighter or darker shade of the wall color, or even the same color. Choose a darker color if the wainscot gets bumped a lot by chairs or is in a room where it collects grease or dirt quickly.
- 4). Open a can of gloss or semigloss enamel and paint the top and bottom edges, as well as the corners, with a paintbrush. Then pour paint into a tray and use a roller to roll the rest of the surface. Use a paintbrush to work the paint into the grooves between the boards if the roller is leaving them unpainted.
- 5). Let the paint dry for the time recommended by the manufacturer, then paint on a second coat in the same way. After this coat has dried, paint on a third, if needed.
- 6). Remove the masking tape and paper after the last coat of paint has dried thoroughly. Clean drips or marks off the floors or wall with latex paint remover or mineral spirits.