Are you looking to add a touch of elegance and sophistication to your home? Raised panel wainscoting might just be the perfect solution for you.
This traditional style of wainscoting dates back to colonial times and is still popular today, particularly in dining rooms, foyers, and hallways. However, assembling raised panel wainscoting from scratch can be a daunting task that requires careful measurement and carpentry skills.
Luckily, there is a way to cut down on the labor and time involved in the process. In this article, we’ll show you how to install raised panel wainscoting using customized panels that are shipped directly to your home.
With our step-by-step guide, you’ll be able to achieve the elegant look you desire without all the hassle. So let’s get started!
How To Install Raised Panel Wainscoting
Step 1: Measure Your Walls
Before you can order your customized wainscoting panels, you’ll need to measure the walls where you want to install them. Use a tape measure to determine the height and width of each wall, and make note of any obstacles such as windows or doors.
Once you have all the measurements, enter them into the fill-in-the-blank interface on the website where you plan to order your panels. The website will guide you through the process of selecting a design and choosing cap rails and base molding.
Step 2: Order Your Panels
Once you’ve entered all your measurements and made your design selections, it’s time to order your panels. The panels will be shipped directly to your home in flat cardboard boxes.
If any of your walls are longer than 10 feet, the wainscoting for those runs will come as two separate pieces that join with an overlapping rabbet joint. The shorter runs will require only one panel each.
Step 3: Prepare Your Walls
Before you can install the wainscoting panels, you’ll need to prepare your walls. Start by removing any existing baseboards or molding. Then, use a stud finder to locate the studs in the wall and mark their locations with a pencil.
Next, use a level to draw a horizontal line around the room at the height where you want the wainscoting to start. This line will serve as a guide for installing the panels.
Step 4: Install Your Panels
Begin by installing the first panel at one end of the wall. Use a level to ensure that it is straight and flush against the wall. Then, use a nail gun or hammer and nails to attach it to the studs in the wall.
Continue installing panels along the wall, making sure each one is level and flush against the previous panel. If any of your walls require multiple panels, use an overlapping rabbet joint to join them together.
Step 5: Add Cap Rails and Base Molding
Once all your panels are installed, it’s time to add cap rails and base molding. Cap rails are installed at the top of the panels, while base molding is installed at the bottom.
Use a nail gun or hammer and nails to attach these pieces to the wall. Make sure they are level and flush against the panels.
Step 6: Finish with Paint or Stain
Finally, finish your raised panel wainscoting with paint or stain. Choose a color that complements your existing decor and apply it evenly to all the panels, cap rails, and base molding.
Allow the paint or stain to dry completely before enjoying your newly installed raised panel wainscoting!
Introduction To Raised Panel Wainscoting
Raised panel wainscoting is a classic and traditional style that dates back to colonial times. The decorative raised panel is created by beveling the edges of the panel, giving it a three-dimensional effect. This style is typically used to cover the lower portion of a wall, with a common height between 30 and 40 inches. However, it can be adapted for higher-ceilinged spaces by adding a center rail to create two rows of panels.
New England Classic paintable panel systems offer a straightforward installation process for raised panel wainscoting. Each package comes with an installation guide that outlines the steps required to achieve a professional-looking finish. Installing raised panel wainscoting involves measuring your walls, ordering customized panels, preparing your walls, installing the panels, adding cap rails and base molding, and finishing with paint or stain.
Raised panel wainscoting adds elegance and sophistication to any room. It’s a versatile style that can be customized to fit any decor, from traditional to modern. With the right tools and some basic DIY skills, you can easily install raised panel wainscoting in your home and enjoy its timeless beauty for years to come.
Benefits Of Raised Panel Wainscoting
Raised panel wainscoting is a traditional and formal style of wainscoting installation that offers many benefits beyond its aesthetic appeal. Here are some of the benefits of raised panel wainscoting:
1. Prevents Wall Damage: Raised panel wainscoting can protect your walls from accidental bumps, knocks, and brush ups, especially in high-traffic areas of your home. It’s much easier to replace a damaged panel than to fix a damaged wall.
2. Durable and Long-Lasting: Raised panel wainscoting is constructed with precision-machined rails, stiles, base, shoe, and cap moldings, making it strong and durable. It is made from medium density fiberboard (MDF), which is stable, temperature- and moisture-resistant, and will not crack, shrink or swell like solid wood.
3. Timeless Look: Raised panel wainscoting adds a sense of timelessness to any room or home. It’s considered the style of choice for the more important and formal gathering spaces of a building, often encompassing foyers, libraries, dining, and living rooms.
4. Customizable: Raised panel wainscoting is available in 12 different sizes, making it easy to configure the components to suit any room’s scale. The system of parts can be configured to suit virtually any location with a wide range of design flexibility.
5. Affordable: Raised panel wainscoting is an affordable alternative to custom woodworking at about one-third the cost. It provides the appearance of custom architectural woodwork while actual installation time is a small fraction of its apparent labor.
Measuring And Preparing The Wall
Measuring and preparing the wall is an essential step in installing raised panel wainscoting. To measure your walls, use a tape measure to determine the height and width of each wall, and make note of any obstacles such as windows or doors. Once you have all the measurements, enter them into the fill-in-the-blank interface on the website where you plan to order your panels.
Before you can install the wainscoting panels, you’ll need to prepare your walls. Start by removing any existing baseboards or molding with a flat pry bar. Then, use a stud finder to locate the studs in the wall and mark their locations with a pencil.
Next, use a level to draw a horizontal line around the room at the height where you want the wainscoting to start. This line will serve as a guide for installing the panels. Measure up from the floor 67 inches and snap chalk lines around the room at that 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.
If you plan to install wainscoting on an outside wall, take windows into account. The windowsills in some homes might be close to the 1/3-rule height off the floor. If the windowsill and the wainscot height are close to one another but they don’t line up, deviating from the rule-of-thumb is acceptable.
Preparing your walls properly will ensure that your raised panel wainscoting installation goes smoothly and looks great once completed.
Adding The Top Rail And Baseboard
After installing the panels, it’s time to add the finishing touches to your raised panel wainscoting. The top rail and baseboard are essential elements that will complete the look of your wainscoting.
Start by measuring the length of the top rail you’ll need for each wall. Cut the rail to size using a saw and attach it to the top of the panels using a nail gun or hammer and nails. Make sure it is level and flush against the panels.
Next, measure and cut the baseboard to fit along the bottom of the panels. If your baseboard has a flat top, it will be easy to attach it to the wall using a nail gun or hammer and nails. However, if your baseboard tapers at the top, it’s best to replace it with a flat-topped baseboard before installing wainscoting.
Once you’ve attached the baseboard to the wall, use wood filler to fill any gaps between the baseboard and panels. Sand down any excess wood filler and paint or stain the baseboard to match your wainscoting.
Adding the top rail and baseboard will give your raised panel wainscoting a polished and professional look. It’s important to take your time with this step to ensure that everything is level, flush, and properly aligned.