One of the hottest looks today (and yesterday!) is
wainscoting. Whether painted or natural, it can
add character to any room. It can also add
durability to playroom or family room walls. Most
home improvement stores have precut wainscoting in
a variety of styles and colors.
To add wainscoting to your room:
1. First remove the baseboards and cover plates in
the room. A wide-blade putty knife is ideal for
removing the baseboards from the wall. If you need
more leverage, you might try using a pry bar. Be
careful not to damage the drywall when using the
pry bar. Take special care in removing the
baseboards if you intend to reuse them. Remove any
electrical cover plates that will be covered with
wainscoting.
2. Next establish the wainscoting height which
would look best in the room. As a general rule,
the lower the ceiling, the lower the wainscoting
should be. A good way to check for the ideal
height is to make mock wainscoting with cardboard
or poster board. Raise or lower the height to
create a visual balance in the room. Mark the
height you have decided upon then subtract the
width of the cap rail. This is the height for the
top end of your vertical wainscoting.
3. Lay out the top edge around the room with a
level and a pencil. Used a stud finder to go
around the room again to locate and mark the
studs. Then draw a vertical line at the center of
each stud to just above the height line.
4.Next, starting in a corner or at the edge of a
door, measure for the length of the wainscoting.
Cut the wainscoting to length with a power saw
(use a saber or coping saw to cut the boards
around windows or outlets.) Continue around the
room. Be sure to measure each board to compensate
for an uneven floor.
5. Apply construction adhesive on the back of each
board. The adhesive should be spread with a ¼"
notched trowel (disposable is best). Slide the
board in place with its grooved edge facing the
corner or door (sliding helps spread the
adhesive). Cleanup any mistakes with mineral
spirits.
6. Use a level to make sure the board you just
installed is plumb. Don't force the boards
together, but leave a tiny space between them to
allow for contraction and expansion with the
changing humidity.
7. Nail each board on its face just above the
floor into the wall. Nail the boards at the top
end at an angle in the area made by the tongue.
You should use a nail set to prevent damaging of
the tongue. Face-nail the boards into studs
wherever possible.
8. The next step is to miter the cap rail pieces
at a 45 degree angle where they will meet at the
inside and outside corners. Some corners are not
at a 90 degree angle, so it's a good idea to make
test cuts on scrap pieces.
9. Attach the cap rail with 1 ¼" finish nails,
driving them into the wainscoting. Nail the cap
rail into the studs wherever possible. A nail set
should be used to recess the nail heads.
10. The baseboards should be installed by mitering
the baseboards in the same way you mitered the cap
rails. Use 2 inch finish nails to attach the
baseboards into the wainscoting and studs. Use a
nail set to recess the nail heads.
11. Using matching wood putty in all the nail
holes in the wainscoting, cap rails and
baseboards.
Voila! Your room is finished! Time to relax and
enjoy (at least until you start on the NEXT
project!
About the Author:
Pamela Cole Harris is an editor and writer with 35
years experience. Her interest in do-it-yourself
projects dates from the time she helped her
father, who was a builder, work on new homes after
school. Her website HomeandGardenMakeover.com, is full of
remodeling, home improvement and decorating ideas.
