How to Stop Paneling From Warping
- 1). Store the paneling, before installation, off the floor in a dry area where it will not get wet or be exposed to humidity. Warping that begins before installation can cause real problems when you're ready to use it. Even if it's not warping, but damp, the paneling will warp after installation, ruining your hard work.
- 2). Clean the area where the paneling will be applied, and dry thoroughly. Any moisture on the area of application will be trapped under the paneling, and may cause it to warp. Keep the paneling flat as much as possible while transporting, cutting, and fitting it to the wall. Any bending or twisting will weaken the structure of the paneling and may result in warping later on.
- 3). Wipe off any moisture that gets on paneling immediately after it's been applied. If you have water damage in your home and paneling has been either directly or indirectly exposed by being in a room with high humidity, chances are you'll have to remove it and let the wall dry out before reapplying it.
- 4). Replace any paneling that becomes warped, by either pulling it off section by section, or by cutting out the damaged area. While this sounds like a lot of work, the results will be much more satisfactory than if you try to simply paint over it or cover it up with joint compound.