How to Fix a Wall Panel

Although wall paneling has evolved tremendously from the bland and dark paneling popular in the 1970s, it still can be scratched and dinged. Repairing the scratch or indentation so that it's level with the surface of the panel isn't difficult, but matching the panel's stain color can be. If you have an extra piece of paneling or some scrap pieces from the installation, take one with you when buying the repair products. If not, buy several colors so you can test in an inconspicuous area.


Sand the scratched area with a fine-grit sandpaper. Use one finger to guide the sandpaper to keep the sanding contained to the area of the scratch. This should even out the outer edges of the scratch to make hiding it easier.


Press a damp cloth over the scratched area of the panel. Hold a hot steam iron against the damp cloth for about 30 seconds. Check the panel to see if the steam has raised the wood fibers you exposed through sanding to the same level as the rest of the panel. If not, hold the iron against the cloth on the panel for another 30 seconds.


Allow the fibers to dry. If the steam from the iron pulled the fibers even with the panel surface, sand gently and apply matching stain with a small artist's paintbrush.


Spread some wood putty in the scratch if the scratch was too deep to be fully expanded by the steam. Match the wood putty as closely as possible to the color of the panel; although you can paint wood putty, it doesn't stain the same way as wood.


Let the putty dry, then sand it so it's even with the surface of the panel. Touch up the stain around the putty that the sandpaper might have removed.