How to remove wood paneling from wall?
What is the best way to remove paneling from a plaster wall with minimal wall damage?
Its an old house w/ plaster walls not drywall.
I would like off, dont want to paint it.
First, score with a razor knife any edges where paint or caulk has overlapped a seam. This will keep the paint from stripping off a surface adjacent to the paneling.
Remove any trim, it is usually nailed into place with small finish nails. A flat prybar is helpful here, with a scrap wood block (shim) to avoid marking up any underlying wallboard. Once you can see the entire surface of the panel (i.e. not blocked by more trim, paint lines etc) start in one hidden corner/edge (like the baseboard) and pry it free. You should be fine unless it is being held with adhesive as well.
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If you don’t want to paint the paneling and there is no dry wall behind it you are in for a lot of work. I don’t know what your budget is or what look you are looking for but you could always just cover it with 1/4 or 3/8 dry wall and tape float and paint. Just leave the paneling and cover it. When you think about the labor of getting the paneling down and the disposal of it then all the skim floating you are going to have to do to make it look like something and if the old plaster is even going to be workable you may just want to go over it with thin drywall and start over. Just my 2 sense.
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try a nail punch to drive the nail through the panel, hopefully its not glued. you’ll have to find the nails