There seems to be a lot of very unfortunate, unnecessary and ill-informed wood paneling hatred out there. I want to rant. I seriously want to rant. But let me just say this: Our Dads and Grandpas and in some cases our Moms and Grandmas, put up wood paneling because they were very very cautious with their money. They grew up during hard times, and they learned to fear debt and unnecessary overspending. They saved for a rainy day *clue phone*. Now that we have suffered the Great Recession and are living in the New Normal, this all seems to make a lot more sense to people *clue phone*.
Wood paneling? When Dad and Mom or Grandma and Grandpa excitedly and gratefully bought their 1,000 square foot house after 1945, the basement and attic and maybe even the second floor were unfinished. This is part of what made the house a “starter home”, and couples without children were fine with just having the space they really needed. As money and time permitted and as the family grew, the family — on their own — could start finishing off the basement or attic or second floor themselves. They would frame interior walls, add electric and maybe some insulation and then Cover the Walls with Wood Paneling. Cherry or knotty pine were particularly beloved, I think, but there may have been regional preferences. Installing wood paneling was way easier than putting up and taping drywall — Dad could do the paneling all his own, no problem. I’m thinking it was cheaper, too. Mom and Dad and Grandpa and Grandma did not feel at all oppressed by the paneling. The paneling was cozy. They made more space for their families, within their budgets. They were proud, and deserved to be.
So just shut yer pie holes, all you wood paneling haters who *can not bear to live with it*.
Eartha Kitsch — owner of a lovely time capsule knotty pine kitchen — did not rant and was very funny and probably more effective than me when she addressed the wood paneling topic last week in her story Dear Lord! Not Wood! The three images above are hers and used with her permission. Click on any of them to get to her sassy story. Props to you, Eartha Kitsch.
Where to get affordable wood paneling if you, like Mom and Dad and Grandma and Gramps, are interested in using it for a cozy, affordable DIY wall finish? I found this seemingly excellent company — Decorative Panels International, which makes a large variety of wood paneling.
The panels are affordable — $18 – $32 for a 4′ x 8′ sheet, depending on the design. They seem to be widely available at big box and lumber stores. I can’t vouch for the quality — I’d suggest asking to see a full panel before committing — but online, they look just like the wood paneling in the houses that my Mom and Dad and Gramps an Grams built.
Noon update: I talked at length this morning to the president of DPI, Tim Clark. Very nice and passionate man — passionate about making all DPI products the U.S., and passionate about doing it in an environmentally sensitive way. He clarified that DPI’s products consist of an engineered wood substrate with the final top design printed; the top is not veneer. Made in Alpena, Mich., the substrate or backer is made of only three ingredients — wood, water and a flaxseed-based oil. The substrates are put through presses in Alpena that create different textures. The final design is then printed onto the substrate in Toledo. DPI uses rotogravure (not digital) printing, and generally takes each design through several runs with different colors to get the design effect they want. I asked Tim if he thought I would be able to tell the difference between DPI’s printed cherry paneling (for example) and veneered cherry paneling. He said he thought I would be hard pressed (pun haha). Veneered paneling will likely cost about 50% more, he estimated. Also note, Tim said that DPI’s paneling is not positioned to be the cheapest in the market — it’s not the kind of paneling that an economical landlord would put into rental units between tenants. Tim said that DPI is passionate about the structural integrity and overall aesthetic of the product and the processes, and their pricing reflects that. This, along with their focus on environmentally sensitive manufacturing (their processes use minimal solvents, so there is zero or minimal offgassing of the paneling), means the have made major inroads in terms of being stocked at the big box stores like Home Depot, Lowes and Menards, he said.
Tim is sending me samples of a variety of designs — ones I thought would be of greatest interested to Retro Renovation readers. I will take a look and report back. I also will continue researching veneered wood paneling and compare the two.
For more than 50 years, we have been providers of high quality utility and designer wall panels. With a solid hardboard manufacturing facility located in Alpena Michigan, and a superior finishing facility in Toledo Ohio, we are proud to offer one of America’s finest wall products – worldwide.
DPI is recognized industry-wide as the leader in design style innovation and state-of- the- art manufacturing processes. A perfect fit in virtually every part of your home, DPI wall paneling allows you to achieve looks and performance comparable to ceramic tile, wall paper, wood wall paneling and even stone and brick masonry – at a fraction of the cost!
Go Alpena! Go Toledo! DPI also points out that their product is produced in an environmentally sensitive manner:
- All GreenCore finished products feature our S2S premium hardboard foundation for high performance with lower environmental impact
- Inherent durability resists buckling and warping experienced with other products
- Our prefinished panel resists moisture on the surface
- Formaldehyde-free manufacturing means our panels will not adversely affect your indoor air
- Mold-resistant formulation built into the substrate to fend off typical stains
Where to find it:
- Look at all the DPI wood paneling designs here.
william Noble says
address of DPI store in New Jersey ?????????
Pam Kueber says
Hi william, the link to DPI is in the story – bold blue text clicks you through to their site, where presumably you can contact them to get additional info.
Jason says
Im in augusta ga remodeling a home. Im trying to find a place to buy or order wood paneling to fix the walls in this house. Where can i find the grainy wood paneling. Lowes ect. Only have the smooth surface paneling.
Thanks
Handyworks
Phyllis says
No drywall that long ago. If they did not use paneling, they would have called a plasterer to finish the walls!
Kelly says
Yes, there absolutely was drywall in the 1940’s.
https://www.theatlantic.com/technology/archive/2016/07/an-exciting-history-of-drywall/493502/
Kelly Higgins says
I know this is an old thread, but am just so happy to have salvaged ten 8’x4′ walnut wood panels (from 1959) from a local house That I had to comment!
The house we snagged these from is about to undergo a (horrendous) remodel at the hands of its’ new owners. They own a large “McMansion” development company, and simply couldn’t understand why the builder bothered to use such good craftsmen and materials on this home (which is a fantastic MCM home that really belongs in Palm Springs, but is in Birmingham, AL).
The paneling is the exact same as the “weathered” panels that are in our home, but are in excellent condition (ours are gouged/scratched & faded). Rare that you get to replace with the exact same products!!
We looked at some of the panels made today, but they are not even close to the same quality as these beauties, and we got them for free by pulling them off the walls ourselves. Saved them just a day before they would have gone in the dumpster.
They are “Craftwall” by “Roddis”. And they are the prettiest warmest walnut ever!!
Happy to be in a time capsule!!
MARTY WALLS says
WHERE CAN YOU BUY SCRAP PIECES OF. PANELING AT
pam kueber says
Try the ReStore Habitat for Humanity. Mine usually has some.
John says
Great article! I have always loved paneling, and when I see it in someone’s home it makes me feel at home.
carrie says
I have a basement covered in knotty pine, that I too, LOVED. We refinished our laundry room (no KP) and added a half bath. In the process, our contractor put in the new door for the half bath in the wrong place and it had to be moved. Unfortunately, the paneling he removed for the first wrongly placed door was destroyed in the process. I too love the KP and am desperate to find 2-3 panels to match. I’d really prefer the authentic real stuff to the manufactured panels featured here. Do you know where I could find the real stuff? I’m in the Washington, DC area.
pam kueber says
See this story, which includes resources: https://retrorenovation.com/2014/05/19/pickwick-pine-paneling/
Ingo Breuer says
I love that old-fashioned wood paneling. Especially in the old country churches in the South. Makes me feel at home. Now I live in Germany and I miss that old cozy American wood paneling. Will be in the US in a few weeks and I am going to find me some of that paneling for a little art project.
Linda says
Where can I find CHEAP paneling in Indiana? I don’t care if it is seconds or slightly damaged just need quite a bit and don’t want to pay a fortune for it.
pam kueber says
Linda, you check the paneling featured in this story… other than that, the only other paneling we’ve featured is more expensive, as I recall.
Erich Crump says
I am currently searching for wood paneling for one of my customers. The paneling is wood grain white, however all I can find is MDF. Do you offer anything like this and if so are there any distributors in the South Bend Indiana area?
pam kueber says
Erich, we do not sell anything here. Please refer to the resources mentioned in the story. Also note, we have other stories on this topic, use the Search box to get to them.