Are you looking to add some elegance and sophistication to your home decor? Wainscoting might just be the answer!
This classic architectural statement is an inexpensive way to make any room feel custom designed and upscale. But how do you put up wainscoting?
Don’t worry, it’s easier than you might think. In this tutorial, we’ll show you step-by-step how to install wainscoting using basic materials.
So grab your circular saw and let’s get started!
How Do You Put Up Wainscoting
Step 1: Measure and Cut
The first step in putting up wainscoting is to measure the height of your desired wainscoting minus the height of the chair-rail cap. Use a circular saw to cut 1/4-inch plywood, grain oriented vertically, to fit between the old baseboard and the level line. It’s okay to have a little wiggle room. Rip the panels so that the seams will be covered by the stiles, keeping in mind that the hash marks locate the edge of a stile—not the center.
Step 2: Apply Adhesive
Apply panel adhesive to the back of each piece with a caulk gun and press it in place. Once you have each piece cut, take a moment to fit it into place (without using adhesive). If it isn’t level at the top, you may need to shim the bottom of some panels. The bottom edge will be covered with baseboard, so don’t worry about gaps at the floor. Move on to the next piece only when the fit is correct.
Step 3: Pry off Moldings
Before you can put up wainscoting, you’ll need to pry off any window and door moldings and baseboard with a flat pry bar.
Step 4: Measure and Mark
Measure up from the floor and snap chalk lines around the room at your desired height. Locate the studs with a stud finder and mark the centerline of each with a level. Extend the stud marks about 1 inch above the horizontal chalk line.
Step 5: Cut Pieces to Size
Using a compound miter saw, cut pieces to size according to your measurements.
Step 6: Install Wainscoting
Apply adhesive to each piece and press it in place, making sure it’s level and flush against the wall. Repeat this process until all pieces are installed.
Step 7: Finish with Trim
Finish off your wainscoting by adding trim along the top and bottom edges. This will give your wainscoting a polished look and cover any gaps or imperfections.
Gather Your Materials And Tools
To get started with installing wainscoting, you’ll need some basic tools and materials. Here’s a list of what you’ll need:
– Tape measure
– Pencil
– Laser level
– Clamps
– Circular/miter saw
– Jigsaw
– Sandpaper
– Nail gun or hammer
– Nail driver (nail set)
– Paintable caulk + caulk gun
– Wood filler
– Paint
– Construction adhesive
– Outlet extenders (if needed)
In terms of materials, you’ll need wainscoting panels, which can be made of wood or another material like PVC or MDF. You’ll also need molding to finish off the top and bottom edges, as well as adhesive and nails to secure the panels in place. If you plan on painting your wainscoting, make sure to choose a paint that will adhere well to the material you’re using.
Before you get started, make sure you have all of the necessary tools and materials on hand. This will help ensure a smooth and efficient installation process.
Measure And Mark The Wall
Before you start installing your wainscoting, it’s important to measure and mark your wall. First, measure the length of the wall you want to install the wainscoting on. Divide this length by two to find the midpoint. Then, measure 72 inches in from one corner and mark the masking tape with a centerline. Put a large “C” through the centerline to remind yourself later that it’s the center line and not some less important layout line.
Decide whether you want to have a panel centered in the room or have the gap between (the stile) centered on your room. Also, decide how wide the gap between the panel moldings will be. If you’ve chosen to have an odd number of panels, begin by marking 3 inches in from each corner on your tape. If you’ve chosen to have an even number of panels with the stile centered in the room, mark 6 inches in from each corner.
Next, calculate the width of each panel based on your chosen layout and spacing between panels. Use a table saw or rotary saw to cut each panel to size, making sure to pay attention to the edges. Panels are likely designed to overlap to create a seamless look, so be certain that you are cutting the correct side.
For outlets and light switches, use a jigsaw to make cuts in the panels. Once all pieces are cut, apply adhesive to the back of each piece with a caulk gun and press it in place on the wall. Make sure each piece is level and flush against the wall before moving on to the next piece. Finally, finish off your wainscoting by adding trim along the top and bottom edges for a polished look.
Cut The Wainscoting Panels To Size
After measuring the height of your desired wainscoting, use a circular saw or a table saw to cut 1/4-inch plywood to fit between the old baseboard and the level line. It’s important to keep in mind that the seams should be covered by the stiles, so rip the panels accordingly. You can use a circular saw with a rip fence or a guide scrap piece of wood clamped to the panel to keep your saw straight.
If you need to cut holes for any outlets or light switches in the wainscoting panel, you can use a hole saw for a circular hole and a multi-tool for square and rectangular cuts. Once you have each piece cut, take a moment to fit it into place without using adhesive. If it isn’t level at the top, you may need to shim the bottom of some panels. The bottom edge will be covered with baseboard, so don’t worry about gaps at the floor. Move on to the next piece only when the fit is correct.
After ensuring that each piece fits correctly, apply panel adhesive to the back of each piece with a caulk gun and press it in place. Make sure it’s level and flush against the wall before moving on to the next piece. Repeat this process until all pieces are installed. Finally, finish off your wainscoting by adding trim along the top and bottom edges. This will give your wainscoting a polished look and cover any gaps or imperfections.
Install The Baseboard And Chair Rail
After you have installed the wainscoting, it’s time to add the baseboard and chair rail for a complete look. Start by measuring the height of your wainscoting and subtracting the height of your chair-rail cap. This will give you the height of your baseboard.
Using a circular saw, cut your baseboard to size. Remember to account for any notches in the baseboard and chair rail. If you haven’t installed the baseboard yet, measure upward from the floor, leaving a 1/8-inch gap at the bottom for expansion.
Dry-fit the first plank in the corner, using a level on the outside edge to ensure it fits squarely. If the corner isn’t plumb, use a scribing tool to scribe the plank and trim on the inside. The first plank will need to be nailed and any other plank covering a stud should be nailed. You can use construction adhesive alone on the rest of the planks.
Add each plank by locking the groove onto the tongue of the adjacent plank. Leave a 1/8-inch gap at the corners for expansion. Apply construction adhesive to the back of each piece of trim and fit it to the wall, overlapping the top of the paneling.
Use a nail gun or hammer and nail set to attach the chair-rail molding over top of the wainscoting. Make sure everything is level and flush against the wall before nailing or gluing it in place.
With these steps, you can easily install baseboard and chair rail to complement your wainscoting and give your room a stylish finish.
Attach The Wainscoting Panels To The Wall
Once you have measured and cut the wainscoting panels to size, it’s time to attach them to the wall. First, locate and mark the center of each stud along the walls using a stud finder. Then, apply a generous amount of construction adhesive to the back of the first panel and press it against the wall. While holding it in place, use either a nail gun or a hammer and trim nails to nail the panel into the studs. If using a hammer, use a nail set to drive the nails down into the board creating a small divet. Nail at the top, middle, and bottom of each stud.
Continue around the room gluing and nailing one panel at a time. Make sure each panel is level before moving on to the next one. Take a well-deserved break and allow the glue to dry overnight before adding molding and baseboards.
If you’re installing wainscoting over drywall using panels, you will first need to attach a horizontal rail to the wall. This rail will serve as a guide for installing the wainscoting panels. Next, you will need to attach the wainscoting panels to the rail. The panels should be spaced evenly apart, and you should use panel adhesive to attach them to the rail. Make sure that the panels are level before allowing the adhesive to dry.
Once the adhesive has dried, you can install the cap molding. This molding will cover the top of the wainscoting panels and conceal any gaps between them. Use a miter saw to cut the molding to the correct length, then attach it to the wall with panel adhesive. Once the adhesive has dried, you can seal the wainscoting with a coat of paint or wood finish.
By following these steps, you can easily attach wainscoting panels to your walls and create an elegant look in any room.
Fill In Nail Holes And Caulk Seams
After all the pieces of wainscoting have been installed, it’s time to fill in any nail holes and caulk the seams. This will help create a seamless look and ensure that your wainscoting looks professional.
To fill in nail holes, use wood filler. Apply a small amount of wood filler to each nail hole and use a putty knife to smooth it out. Make sure the wood filler is completely dry before sanding it down with fine-grit sandpaper.
Next, use paintable caulk to caulk all the seams. This will help create a seamless look and prevent any gaps from showing. Be sure to caulk the top, bottom, and sides of your baseboard trim as well.
When caulking the seams, apply a small amount of caulk to the joint and use a caulk smoothing tool or your finger to smooth it out. Wipe away any excess caulk with a damp cloth.
It’s important to let the caulk dry completely before painting your wainscoting. Once everything is dry, sand the surfaces, prime the plywood, and finish the project with several coats of paint.
By following these steps, you can ensure that your wainscoting looks professional and polished.