Are you looking to add some character and texture to your walls? Shaker style wainscoting is a classic wall feature with simple clean lines that can easily elevate the look of any room.
And the best part? It’s a DIY project that you can tackle on your own!
In this article, we’ll guide you through the process of making shaker style wainscoting, from laying down and cutting your baseboard to hanging and nailing the horizontal boards. We’ll also provide tips and tricks to help you achieve a professional-looking finish.
So, grab your tools and let’s get started!
How To Make Shaker Style Wainscoting
Step 1: Lay Down and Cut Your Baseboard
The first step in making shaker style wainscoting is to lay down and cut your baseboard. This is a crucial part of the process, as it will serve as the foundation for your wainscoting.
If you’re tying into an existing wainscoting panel, like in our example above, you’ll need to first take off your existing baseboard and add an 8in 1x to the wall. Use scrap lumber to get the 1×8 to the correct height, and then use a brad nailer to attach it to the wall.
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: Hang Your Horizontal Boards
Once your border edges are nailed in place, it’s time to hang your horizontal boards. Follow your pencil markings and hang and nail them into place. Locate studs and nail them if possible for a more secure installation.
We recommend placing wood glue on the ends and adhesive on all the boards’ backs to help hold them into place as you move and nail along. This can be a one-person job, but having an extra set of hands can make it easier.
Step 3: Add Finishing Touches
To finish off your shaker style wainscoting, you can add additional trims or panel moulding for a more sophisticated look. You may also choose to paint both the wall surface and all kit parts the same color for a cohesive finish.
Materials And Tools Needed
To make shaker style wainscoting, you’ll need the following materials and tools:
Materials:
– 1 x 4 Select Pine (10 pcs at 12′)
– Panel adhesive
– Wood glue
– Paint
– Caulk
Tools:
– Finish nailer
– Miter saw
– Level
– Power sander
– Measuring tape
– Painter’s tape
– Paintbrush
– Paint roller
– Drop cloth
It’s important to have all these materials and tools on hand before starting your project to ensure a smooth and successful installation. Additionally, you may need additional supplies such as scrap lumber to get your 1×8 to the correct height, as mentioned in step one.
Measuring And Planning Your Wainscoting Design
Before you start installing your shaker style wainscoting, it’s essential to measure and plan your design carefully. Here are some steps to help you get started:
Step 1: Create a Scale Drawing
Start by creating a scale drawing of the wall or room where you plan to install the wainscoting. This drawing should include all doors, windows, electrical outlets, switches, air vents, radiators, and other features. Be sure to also include the baseboard and door and window casings.
Step 2: Determine the Chair Rail Height
The chair rail height is the height at which you’ll install your wainscoting. It’s typically between 30-42 inches tall, but you can decide on a different height based on your preference. To determine the chair rail height, measure the length and height of the wall where you want to install wainscoting. As a rule of thumb, wainscoting is installed to fill the bottom third of the wall’s total height.
Step 3: Choose Your Wainscoting Design
Next, choose a shaker style wainscoting design that you want to install. You can opt for a shadow box design or a recessed panel design. If you choose a shadow box design, decide whether you want a fixed panel width or fixed panel spacings (the distance between two panels). If you opt for a recessed panel design, choose a fixed width for the stiles and then compute the panel width.
Step 4: Calculate Your Measurements
Once you’ve decided on your wainscoting design, it’s time to calculate your measurements. Use our wainscoting calculator to compute both the horizontal and vertical measurements of your wainscoting. This calculator will help you determine the measurements of the spacings, widths, and margins depending on the design you chose.
Step 5: Cut Your Materials
After calculating your measurements, it’s time to cut your materials to their appropriate lengths. Dry fit them to the wall to ensure that they’re cut correctly. If you have a textured wall, smooth it first by filling in the rough surface with drywall mud. Once the drywall mud has dried, paint it with a primer followed by paint that matches the color of your planned wainscoting.
Step 6: Mark Your Locations
Mark the location of the stiles based on the measurements provided by our calculator. Use a pencil to mark the total height of the wainscoting and draw a line across the wall as a guide.
Step 7: Install Your Wainscoting
Install your shaker style wainscoting by starting with the baseboard up to the top rail and cap molding. Use a pressurized nailer to attach the boards to the wall and hit the studs beneath it. After attaching everything to the wall, caulk corners where moldings and boards meet for seamless paintwork afterward.
By following these steps, you can easily measure and plan your shaker style wainscoting design before installing it yourself.
Cutting And Installing The Baseboard
Cutting and installing the baseboard is a crucial step in making shaker style wainscoting. To begin, make a level line around the entire room at the height of your desired wainscoting minus the height of the chair-rail cap. This line will serve as a guide for cutting and installing your baseboard.
Using a circular saw, cut 1/4-inch plywood with the grain oriented vertically to fit between the old baseboard and the level line. It’s okay to have a little wiggle room, but be sure to rip the panels so that the seams will be covered by the stiles. Keep in mind that the hash marks on the panels locate the edge of a stile, not the center.
Apply panel adhesive to the back of each piece with a caulk gun and press it in place. If your wall is wider than your panel, like in our example above, it’s important not to install just a narrow strip of material. Instead, use two panels and cut them to fit using a bead as a guide for your cuts.
Once your baseboard is installed, it’s time to hang your horizontal boards. Follow your pencil markings and hang and nail them into place, making sure to locate studs for added security. Adding additional trims or panel moulding can provide a more sophisticated finish, and painting all parts the same color will create a cohesive look.
By following these steps, you can create beautiful shaker style wainscoting that will add elegance and charm to any room in your home.
Cutting And Installing The Vertical Boards
Step 1: Measure and Cut Your Vertical Boards
Once you have your baseboard and horizontal boards in place, it’s time to measure and cut your vertical boards. Measure the height of your wainscoting from the top of the baseboard to the bottom of the chair-rail cap, and then subtract the height of your horizontal boards. This will give you the height of your vertical boards.
Using a circular saw, cut your MDF bead board to the correct height. Always make your cuts on a bead not on the flat portion of the board when cutting MDF bead board. This will help make the cuts disappear.
Step 2: Apply Adhesive and Nail Your Vertical Boards
Apply panel adhesive to the back of each vertical board with a caulk gun, and then press it in place on the wall. Use a level to ensure that each board is straight before nailing it into place.
Locate studs and nail your vertical boards into place if possible for a more secure installation. You can use a brad nailer or finish nails for this step. Make sure to nail each board at the top and bottom, as well as in the middle, to ensure that it stays in place.
Step 3: Repeat Until Complete
Repeat this process for each vertical board until your wainscoting is complete. Keep in mind that you may need to rip some of your panels so that the seams will be covered by the stiles.
Once you have all of your vertical boards installed, you can add any additional trim or moulding for a finished look. You may also choose to paint both the wall surface and all kit parts the same color for a cohesive finish.
Cutting And Installing The Horizontal Boards
One of the most important steps in making shaker style wainscoting is cutting and installing the horizontal boards. This step will give your wainscoting its signature look and feel.
To begin, measure and mark where you want your horizontal boards to be placed on the wall. Then, cut your boards to the appropriate length using a saw. Always make your cuts on a bead, not on the flat portion of the board when cutting MDF bead board. This will ensure that your cuts disappear and give your wainscoting a clean look.
Next, hang and nail your boards into place using your pencil markings as a guide. It’s important to locate studs and nail them if possible for a more secure installation. You may also consider using wood glue on the ends and adhesive on all the boards’ backs to help hold them into place as you move and nail along.
If you have any gaps between the boards, use wood filler to fill them in. Sand down any excess filler once it’s dry.
Once your horizontal boards are installed, you can add additional trims or panel molding for a more sophisticated look. You may also choose to paint both the wall surface and all kit parts the same color for a cohesive finish.
Sanding And Finishing Your Wainscoting
After installing your shaker style wainscoting, the next step is to sand and finish it. This will give your wainscoting a smooth, polished look that will enhance the overall appearance of your room.
Before you start sanding, make sure your wainscoting is completely dry. If you detect lead paint on the wainscoting or are unsure if lead is present, do not sand it. Instead, seek professional help.
If your wainscoting is in good condition and has been previously painted, you don’t need to sand it unless there is a semi-gloss or gloss sheen on the existing paint. However, if you have any peeling paint or uneven texture on your wainscoting, or if you’re working with bare wood, we recommend using medium 180- to 220-grit sandpaper and a sanding sponge to smooth the surface.
After sanding, vacuum up any dust or sanding debris and wipe the wainscoting clean with a damp rag or a microfiber cloth. Let it dry completely before moving on to the next step.
Once your wainscoting is clean and dry, it’s time to add the finishing touches. Fill all nail holes with wood filler and joints with latex caulk. Let it dry before sanding the surfaces. This will ensure that your wainscoting is free of any imperfections.
After sanding, prime the plywood and finish the project with several coats of paint. This will give your wainscoting a polished look that will last for years to come.
In conclusion, sanding and finishing your shaker style wainscoting is an essential step in creating a beautiful and polished look for your room. By following these steps, you can ensure that your wainscoting looks great and lasts for years to come.