[Katt1]

I want to paint the timber stained wood paneling in my hallway and up my staircase in white. The rest of my house is has white walls with timber stained architraves, skirtings and doors. Not sure whether the skirtings beneath the wood paneling should also be painted white; or left timber stained to match the rest of the house.

 

[Katt1]

 

[stick\shift]

I would clean well, scuff sand, prime with oil based primer and then a quality latex paint from a paint store, not a paint department.

 

[mark sr]

I agree, 1 coat of primer and 2 coats of finish is the norm. Whether or not to paint the base and/or door casings is a personal decision.

 

[Gymschu]

Anymore when it comes to paneling you definitely want to prime with an oil-based primer like Zinsser's CoverStain. The latex bonding primers seem to have trouble sticking to paneling. I don't know why, but, I've had several failures of the latex primers on paneling. It will stink so have plenty of ventilation at your disposal. Then you can topcoat with your favorite latex paint.