Wainscoting is a beautiful way to add character and charm to any room. However, when it comes to corners, things can get a bit tricky.
A poorly executed corner can ruin the entire look of your wainscoting. But fear not, with a little bit of planning and some expert tips, you can achieve perfect corners that will make your wainscoting stand out.
In this article, we will guide you through the process of creating flawless wainscoting corners that will elevate the look of your home.
So grab your measuring tape and let’s get started!
How To Do Wainscoting Corners
When it comes to wainscoting corners, there are a few key things to keep in mind. First and foremost, it’s important to understand the different types of wainscoting and how they affect corner installation.
True wainscoting, which is made with vertical stiles and horizontal rails, requires actual vertical stiles on the corners. On the other hand, wall frame wainscoting (which is not true wainscoting) is made by installing frames of panel molding on the wall with chair rail above and baseboard below. These should appear to have vertical stiles on the corners.
Once you’ve determined the type of wainscoting you’ll be installing, it’s time to start planning your layout. Setting up boards to plan the layout is a great way to avoid mistakes and ensure aesthetic corners. The goal is to avoid odd-looking corners by intersecting the two walls at a wider bead. Additionally, you want the reveal to match on both pieces.
When it comes to installation, most projects begin at an inside corner. However, if your room has an outside corner, it’s best to start there. Begin by sticking a mitered corner piece (assembled earlier) to the wall with some construction adhesive. Insert shims if the piece isn’t plumb and toenail 4d nails through both tongues to hold the piece in place while the adhesive sets. Use a level while nailing to make sure the piece isn’t knocked out of plumb.
It’s important to keep in mind that all corners will have a butt joint and corner pieces will need to be cut so that the exposed reveal matches. A small portion of the beadboard is concealed on inside corners, which presents an opportunity to hide imperfections. For instance, if the corner is out of square, you can hide a small gap.
Planning Your Wainscoting Corners
When planning your wainscoting corners, it’s important to measure the wall first and avoid starting with a full board at one end and needing only a small sliver of a board at the other end. This is why it’s crucial to do your layout before buying materials.
For outside corners, there are several options to consider. One option is to cut the tongue off one piece and match the reveal while creating a butt joint around the corner. Another option is to purchase a piece of molding that fits the outside corner overtop of the beadboard. You could also run the beadboard flush against some 1x material and miter that at a 45° angle to turn the corner. A more innovative idea is to glue a dowel into the corner that duplicates one of the smaller beads.
For inside corners, it’s best to begin with full boards at an outside corner or door casing and work your way to the inside corners. So long as you won’t have a sliver in the corner, plan to make your cuts in the inside corners. This will ensure that you have equal boards on either end.
It’s important to keep in mind that all corners will have a butt joint, and corner pieces will need to be cut so that the exposed reveal matches. If there are imperfections in the corner, such as if it’s out of square, you can hide a small gap by concealing it with paint and caulk.
Measuring And Marking Your Corners
Measuring and marking your corners is a crucial step in the wainscoting installation process. To begin, decide on the height of your wainscoting and run a level line of painter’s tape across the wall above it. This will serve as a guide for your measurements.
Next, divide the width of the wall by the number of panels you’d like to install and use that measurement to make hash marks on a strip of wood longer than the wall. This will create a swing stick, which is a tool that maintains even spacing as you adjust it diagonally to fit the panels onto a wall.
It’s important to note that each wall has one more stile than panel, so you’ll need to pad out the wall’s lower corner with one stile plus the thickness of the adjacent wall’s wainscoting. Butt the swing stick against this blocking, lower the other end until a hash mark lines up with the wall’s far edge, and tape it in place.
Use a level to transfer the hash marks to the painter’s tape, which will give you the distance from the outside edge of one stile to the inside edge of the next. This will ensure that your panels are spaced evenly and look aesthetically pleasing.
When it comes to corners, it’s important to measure and mark each piece individually. Use a miter saw to cut 45 degree angles on each piece, making sure to remember which angle to cut for each corner. Any gaps can be filled in with caulk and smoothed with a wet cloth for a seamless finish.
By following these steps for measuring and marking your corners, you can ensure that your wainscoting installation looks professional and polished.
Cutting Your Wainscoting For Corners
When it comes to cutting your wainscoting for corners, there are a few different methods you can use depending on the type of wainscoting you’re installing and the tools you have available.
If you have a table saw that will cut at a 45-degree angle, using a miter joint will give you the best results. This involves cutting the two pieces of wainscoting at a 45-degree angle so that they fit together seamlessly in the corner. The advantage of this method is that it allows for a greater surface area for glue and is easier to sand down and hide the seam. However, if you don’t have a table saw, the butt joint method can still work well.
For true wainscoting with vertical stiles and horizontal rails, you’ll need to actually cut vertical stiles for the corners. For wall frame wainscoting made with panel molding, you’ll need to cut corner pieces so that the exposed reveal matches on both pieces.
When working on inside corners, you can hide small imperfections by concealing a small portion of the beadboard. If the corner is out of square, for example, you can hide a small gap.
It’s important to always wear safety glasses and breathing protection when operating a table saw or any other power tool. When mitering any piece of wood, be careful of the thin sliver or cut-off piece and never stand behind a piece after it is cut away from the blade as it can reenter the blade and kick back at you.
Installing Your Wainscoting Corners
When it comes to installing your wainscoting corners, there are a few different techniques you can use depending on the type of wainscoting you’re working with and the specific layout of your room.
If you’re working with true wainscoting, which requires vertical stiles on the corners, you’ll need to measure and cut two pieces of paneling that will fit together at the intersection of a corner, adding 1 inch to the width of both pieces. Once you’ve assembled the corner pieces, you can attach them to the wall using construction adhesive and nails.
For wall frame wainscoting, which is made from installing frames of panel molding on the wall, you’ll want to make sure that the frames appear to have vertical stiles on the corners. This can be achieved by cutting the molding at a 45-degree angle and fitting it together at the corner.
When installing your wainscoting corners, it’s important to start at the most visible point in the room and work your way towards less conspicuous areas. If you reach an outside corner, there are several different approaches you can take. One option is to cut the tongue off one piece and create a butt joint around the corner. Another option is to purchase a piece of molding that fits over the outside corner or to run the beadboard flush against some 1x material and miter it at a 45-degree angle.
Finishing Touches For Perfect Wainscoting Corners
After installing the wainscoting panels and corner pieces, it’s time to add the finishing touches for perfect wainscoting corners. The first step is to fill any gaps or seams with paintable caulk. Run a bead of caulk in between each panel, in the corners, where the trim meets the beadboard, and where the trim meets the wall. Use a wet cloth to push the caulk down into the gaps and create a finished seam. Then use the same rag to clean up the excess.
Next, use wood filler to fill in the holes created by your nail gun or driver. Let it dry, then sand and touch up paint where needed. Finally, glue and nail the baseboard molding to the wall. This will conceal any gaps at the bottom of the wainscoting.
To finish off the top of the wainscoting, install shoe molding (also known as quarter round) at the bottom of the baseboard. Attach it to the baseboard every few feet. Install the top molding, which rests on a ridge along the top of the panel segments. The adjoining corner pieces fit together at the corner of the walls, since the top pieces are miter cut for a snug fit.
Slide the top piece in place and when it’s aligned properly, secure it to the wall with a brad nailer. Secure the crown cap along the top molding. Caulk any gaps at the corners using a caulking gun. You can paint over it later to match the paint of the molding.
Don’t forget to replace outlet covers that were removed during installation. With these finishing touches, your wainscoting corners will look perfect and add character and charm to your home.