Are you looking to add some character and charm to your home?
Installing shaker style wainscoting is a great way to achieve a classic and timeless look. Not only does it add visual interest to your walls, but it also serves as a practical solution for protecting them from wear and tear.
In this article, we’ll guide you through the steps of installing shaker style wainscoting, from laying down the baseboard to adding the finishing touches. Whether you’re a seasoned DIYer or a beginner, this project is achievable with some patience and attention to detail.
So grab your tools and let’s get started!
How To Install Shaker Style Wainscoting
Step 1: Lay Down and Cut Your Baseboard
The first step in installing shaker style wainscoting is to lay down and cut your baseboard. This is an important part of the process as it will serve as the foundation for your wainscoting.
If you’re tying into an existing wainscoting panel, you’ll need to remove the existing baseboard and add an 8-inch 1x to the wall. Use scrap lumber to get the 1×8 to the correct height and then nail it to the wall using a brad nailer.
Once your 1×8 is attached to the wall, install the baseboard trim around the corner. Tying into the other wall may take some time and patience as you’ll need to get your 45-degree miter cuts just right. Use a smaller brad nail and some wood glue to nail the corner baseboard to the wall.
After adding the trim to the corner, measure and cut your long baseboard time and install it. Keep in mind that your baseboard trim will likely terminate outside your door trim, so you’ll need to angle this trim to be at a 45-degree angle to terminate into the floor.
Step 2: Choose Your Accent Wall and Measure
Next, choose which wall you want to do your accent piece on and measure it so you can figure out your complete wall design. Measure your walls from side to side and top to bottom.
When doing a shaker-style design, the goal is to have every box perfectly square and all boxes measure the same.
Step 3: Apply Backer Panels
Apply a panel of MDF or birch plywood directly to the wall surface. If the wall is bowed, shim out the panels to form a flat plane. Reinforce the joints that don’t fall on studs by using biscuits or cutting away sheetrock so you can install blocking and fasten the panels to the blocking.
Complete your layout before this step. You have to be confident that the joints in the panels will be covered by the stiles.
Step 4: Add Rails and Stiles
The stiles and rails can be done as battens applied on top of the panel. Once the backer panels are installed, fasten the rails and stiles to them. You can cut MDF and make the rails and stiles that way, but you may prefer to use longer material for your rails.
If you decide to use poplar, you will be able to buy material up to 12′ long, which means fewer joints to contend with.
For a shaker style, add rails and stiles to the backer panel. Sand down where they meet as aligning them perfectly is virtually impossible unless you can make them up in a shop.
For a more formal style of wainscoting installation, add a small molding inside the rails and stiles.
Step 5: Finishing Touches
Once all of your rails and stiles are installed, it’s time for some finishing touches. Fill any nail holes with wood filler and sand them down until they’re smooth. Then paint or stain your wainscoting as desired.
Congratulations! You’ve successfully installed shaker style wainscoting in your home. Enjoy your new beautiful walls!
Materials And Tools Needed
Before you begin installing shaker style wainscoting, you will need to gather the following materials and tools:
1. Baseboard trim
2. MDF or birch plywood panels for backer boards
3. Rails and stiles (can be made from MDF or poplar)
4. Small molding (optional for more formal style)
5. Wood glue
6. Brad nailer
7. Drill with drill bits
8. Table saw or circular saw
9. Measuring tape
10. Level
11. Carpenter’s square
12. Sandpaper
13. Wood filler
14. Paint or stain
Having these materials and tools on hand will ensure a smooth and successful installation of your shaker style wainscoting. Make sure to measure and plan carefully before beginning any installation, and take your time to ensure that each step is done correctly for a beautiful finished product.
Measuring And Planning Your Wainscoting
Before you start installing your shaker style wainscoting, it’s important to measure and plan out the design of your walls. Here are some steps to follow:
Step 1: Decide on the Height of Your Wainscoting
The rule of thumb is that the wainscoting should be installed at 1/3 of the height between the floor and ceiling. So, if your ceiling is 96” above the finished floor, then 1/3 of that would be 32”. However, keep in mind that the one-third rule is just a guideline. It’s only one factor to consider when you’re deciding on the right height.
Step 2: Determine the Width of Your Wall
Divide the width of the wall by the number of panels you’d like, and use that measurement to make hash marks on a strip of wood longer than the wall. This will help you create a swing stick, which is a tool that maintains even spacing as you adjust it diagonally to fit the panels onto a wall.
Step 3: Create a Scale Drawing
Start with a scale drawing of each wall in the room, showing all doors, windows, electrical outlets and switches, air vents, radiators, and other features. The baseboard and door and window casings should also be shown on the drawing.
Step 4: Set the Chair Rail Height
The first step to laying out the paneling is to set the chair rail of the wainscot at the desired height. Wainscoting is typically between 30 in. and 42 in. tall. I like to locate the chair rail one-third to two-fifths of the way up the wall. I use a molding 11/2 in. to 21/2 in. wide.
Step 5: Draw Rails and End Stiles
Once you’ve determined the height of the chair rail, draw the rails and end stiles. The proportions of the rails and stiles should relate to the other trim in the room. The rails should be between one-third and two-thirds the width of the baseboard. I usually make my rails and stiles between 2 in. and 31/2 in. wide and keep the stiles the same width as the rails.
Step 6: Add Intermediate Stiles
The final step is to add intermediate stiles that create frames for panels. Paneling will be most pleasing if you establish a regular module that repeats as it wraps around the room. Sometimes this is easier to accomplish with wide, horizontal panels. Other times, narrow vertical panels look best.
Here’s where trial and error comes in – sizing panels can be tricky. I often aim to create rectangles with a 3:5 ratio. It’s smart to begin in the center of the wall or in the center between two windows or doors, and work toward the corners.
Once you have a panel module, take that width to other walls and chase it around the room. You might find that you need to adjust panel widths as you lay out the room.
By following these steps for measuring and planning your wainscoting design, you’ll be well on your way to creating beautiful shaker style walls in your home!
Preparing The Walls And Baseboard
Before you begin installing your shaker style wainscoting, it’s important to properly prepare your walls and baseboard. This will ensure that your wainscoting is installed correctly and looks great.
The first step is to lay down and cut your baseboard. This will serve as the foundation for your wainscoting. If you’re tying into an existing wainscoting panel, you’ll need to remove the existing baseboard and add an 8-inch 1x to the wall. Use scrap lumber to get the 1×8 to the correct height and then nail it to the wall using a brad nailer.
Once your 1×8 is attached to the wall, install the baseboard trim around the corner. Tying into the other wall may take some time and patience as you’ll need to get your 45-degree miter cuts just right. Use a smaller brad nail and some wood glue to nail the corner baseboard to the wall.
After adding the trim to the corner, measure and cut your long baseboard time and install it. Keep in mind that your baseboard trim will likely terminate outside your door trim, so you’ll need to angle this trim to be at a 45-degree angle to terminate into the floor.
Once your baseboard is installed, it’s time to choose which wall you want to do your accent piece on and measure it so you can figure out your complete wall design. Measure your walls from side to side and top to bottom.
After measuring, apply a panel of MDF or birch plywood directly to the wall surface. If the wall is bowed, shim out the panels to form a flat plane. Reinforce the joints that don’t fall on studs by using biscuits or cutting away sheetrock so you can install blocking and fasten the panels to the blocking.
Complete your layout before adding rails and stiles. You have to be confident that the joints in the panels will be covered by the stiles.
Once all of your rails and stiles are installed, it’s time for some finishing touches. Fill any nail holes with wood filler and sand them down until they’re smooth. Then paint or stain your wainscoting as desired.
By properly preparing your walls and baseboard before installing shaker style wainscoting, you’ll ensure that your finished product looks great and lasts for years to come.
Installing The Wainscoting Panels
After laying down and cutting your baseboard, the next step in installing shaker style wainscoting is to install the wainscoting panels. This is where the real transformation of your walls begins.
Start by applying a panel of MDF or birch plywood directly to the wall surface. If the wall is bowed, shim out the panels to form a flat plane. Reinforce the joints that don’t fall on studs by using biscuits or cutting away sheetrock so you can install blocking and fasten the panels to the blocking.
Before applying the backer panels, complete your layout. Make sure that you’re confident that the joints in the panels will be covered by the stiles.
Once the backer panels are installed, fasten the rails and stiles to them. You can cut MDF and make the rails and stiles that way, but you may prefer to use longer material for your rails. If you decide to use poplar, you will be able to buy material up to 12′ long, which means fewer joints to contend with.
For a shaker style wainscoting installation, add rails and stiles to the backer panel. Sand down where they meet as aligning them perfectly is virtually impossible unless you can make them up in a shop.
For a more formal style of wainscoting installation, add a small molding inside the rails and stiles.
Once all of your rails and stiles are installed, it’s time for some finishing touches. Fill any nail holes with wood filler and sand them down until they’re smooth. Then paint or stain your wainscoting as desired.
Installing shaker style wainscoting is a great way to add character and style to any room in your home. With these easy-to-follow steps, you can transform your walls in no time!
Adding The Chair Rail And Top Rail
Adding the chair rail and top rail is an important step in completing your shaker style wainscoting. The chair rail serves as a decorative element that separates the upper and lower portions of the wainscoting, while the top rail provides a finishing touch to the top of the paneling.
To begin, start with a scale drawing of each wall in the room, showing all doors, windows, electrical outlets and switches, air vents, radiators, and other features. The baseboard and door and window casings should also be shown on the drawing.
The first step to laying out the paneling is to set the chair rail of the wainscot at the desired height. Wainscoting is typically between 30 in. and 42 in. tall. The chair rail should be located one-third to two-fifths of the way up the wall. Use a molding that is 1 1/2 in. to 2 1/2 in. wide for the chair rail.
Next, draw the rails and end stiles on your scale drawing. The rails should be between one-third and two-thirds the width of the baseboard. Make your rails and stiles between 2 in. and 3 1/2 in. wide and keep the stiles the same width as the rails.
Draw an end stile next to the side casings of each window and each door. The final step is to add the intermediate stiles that create the frames for the panels (the blue-gray shaded stiles in the bottom drawing).
Once you have your layout complete, use a circular saw to cut 1/4-inch plywood, grain oriented vertically, to fit between the old baseboard and your level line. Rip the panels so that the seams will be covered by the stiles.
Apply panel adhesive to the back of each piece with a caulk gun and press it in place. Then, fasten your chair rail to the wall with finishing nails or a brad nailer.
To add your top rail, cut a piece of molding to fit horizontally across the top of your paneling. Secure it in place with finishing nails or a brad nailer.
Once you’ve added your chair rail and top rail, fill any nail holes with wood filler and sand them down until they’re smooth. Then paint or stain your wainscoting as desired for a beautiful finished look.
Filling Nail Holes And Caulking Seams
After you have installed your rails and stiles, it’s time to fill in any nail holes and caulk the seams to give your wainscoting a smooth, seamless look.
To fill in the nail holes, use wood filler that matches the color of your wainscoting. Apply the wood filler with a putty knife, making sure to fill the hole completely. Allow the wood filler to dry completely before sanding it down with fine-grit sandpaper until it’s flush with the surface of the wood.
Next, caulk the seams between the rails and stiles using latex caulk. Apply a thin, even bead of caulk along the seam and use a caulk smoothing tool or your finger to smooth it out. Make sure to wipe away any excess caulk before it dries.
Allow the caulk to dry completely before sanding it down with fine-grit sandpaper to create a smooth, seamless finish. Once you’re satisfied with the results, prime the plywood and finish the project with several coats of paint.
By taking the time to fill in nail holes and caulk seams, you’ll give your shaker style wainscoting a professional, polished look that will enhance the beauty of your home for years to come.