How to Put Up Wainscoting
Wainscoting is a wall covering made of wood or other paneling that lines the bottom half of interior walls from the floor upward. All lower borders and trim are considered wainscoting, but in its traditional form it stands approximately 48 to 54 inches high and acts as a chair rail as well as a trim feature. In older homes, you may find wainscoting that runs up to a height of 6 feet. Wainscoting now comes in a variety of prefabricated styles that consist of four parts: a base border, top border, main paneling and upper and lower trim. Does this Spark an idea?
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Things You'll Need
- Hammer or nail gun
- Large finishing nails
- Fine finishing nails
- Level
- Measuring tape
- Marker
- Power miter saw
- Wood shims
- Stud finder
- Drill
- 1/2-inch drill bit
- Jigsaw
- Medium-grit sandpaper
- Eye protection
Instructions
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1
Measure the length of the wall(s) where you intend to install wainscoting. Cut your base border to fit the wall length(s). Cut the base border edges at a 45-degree angle that tapers to the front, using a miter saw. These two angles should join together to form tight-fitting corners.
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2
Use a stud finder to locate the wall beams that run the height of the wall. Place your cut base border against the wall where it will be installed. Use a level to check that the base border is completely straight as it lies. If there are any variations in level along the length of the base border, use wood shims to prop it into a perfectly level position. Hammer one nail at one end of the base border into the nearest stud. Check the level again and continue on in this manner until the base border is installed and completely level. An uneven base border can cause gaps in the panels and crooked wainscoting.
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3
Cut the main panel to the length of the wall, using a miter saw set to 90 degrees. Most prefab panels come cut to a standard height of 32 inches. If yours did not, then cut it to the preferred height in the same manner. Measure the location of any power outlets or obstructions along the length of the wall and mark the corresponding location on the paneling. Use a drill and a 1/2-inch bit and make a hole in each marked area. Use a jigsaw to cut an appropriately sized hole in the paneling to accommodate the obstruction. Smooth the edges with sandpaper.
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4
Install the main panels, using construction adhesive loaded into a caulking gun. Spread a thick bead of adhesive around the edges and throughout the center of the paneling before pressing it against the wall. Apply pressure across the whole panel, making it flat against the wall surface and preventing any gaps caused by the adhesive. Make sure the bottom of the panel meets the base border in a tight seam. Continue this process until the panel is installed along the length of the wall.
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5
Measure and cut the top border. Cut the ends at 45-degree angles, using the miter saw, so they meet in tight corners such as the base border. Use a hammer and nails or a nail gun to fasten the top border to the studs in the same way you installed the bottom border. There is no need to use the level at this stage.
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6
Measure and cut the top and bottom molding trim, using the miter saw. Cut 45-degree angles for the corners, and use the hammer and fine finishing nails to install the molding.
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Tips & Warnings
Painter's caulk or wood filler can be used to fill any imperfections at the corners of your wainscoting after installation.
Let wood wainscoting acclimate to the room where it will be installed for at least 48 hours prior to installation.
Make sure to wear eye protection whenever hammering nails or using a power saw. Flying debris or metal shards can cause permanent damage to your eyes.
References
- Photo Credit Jupiterimages/Photos.com/Getty Images
