How to Install Wood Paneling
Supplies and Tools Needed For Most Installations
How to Install Wood Wall Paneling - Printer Friendly Version
Tape Measure
Putty Sticks & Wood Filler
Level
Adhesive
Caulk & Caulking Gun
Hammer
Crayon or Lipstick
Finishing/Paneling Nails
Screwdriver
Jig Saw
2-inch Foam Brush
Shims
Pencil
Drill
Stain or Paint
Tips ... Be sure to wear safety glasses and ear protection while working on your project. While cutting and creating wood dust, wear a dust mask. For your protection and that of anyone near your work area, always think about what you are going to do before you take action.
Installing paneling is a lot like hanging wall paper. You will start at a corner of the wall and work your way around.
Estimate the number of panels needed by measuring the room circumference in feet and dividing by four. Cutouts for large openings (such as windows and doors) can often be used to panel small areas, such as above a window. Check the existing wall condition. You may apply panels with adhesive directly to surfaces that are level, sound and clean. Nail directly into the studs when installing your paneling over existing paneling, wallpapered walls or surfaces which will not support adhesive. Sand down any protrusions in the wall for a smooth fit.
There may be a need for some preparation. If one of the walls you are paneling has a doorway, remove the trim around the door by prying it off. Also pry off the baseboard from the walls you will panel.
5.2mm (1/4") thick plywood paneling can be nailed directly to the studs to satisfy the code requirements. While not a code, we recommend using a vapor barrier between the studs and the plywood paneling if there is spray foam insulation, since it adds another element of protection and preventative measures always cost less than repairs. Spray foam insulation may contain some liquids or moisture that over time potentially could damage wood or promote the growth of mold.
If your walls are not plumb, add furring strips to create a level, grid-like surface. These steps will also provide additional rigidity to your wall. Use either 1" x 2" or 1" x 4" kiln-dried lumber of 1/2" plywood strips cut 2" wide. Starting at the top, space strips horizontally 16" apart, using shims to line them up for the true vertical plumb. Add a strip at the base. Starting in the corner, place vertical strips every four feet between your horizontal furring.
Before you begin condition (acclimate) your panels to the room. With all panels in the interior space where they will be installed, stand them individually along the long edge or lay them flat with wood sticks spaced between them so that air circulates around each panel. Let stand for at least 24 hours if installation is above grade and at least 48 hours if installation is below grade level. For all below grade applications, always use a vapor barrier between the outside walls and the studs. Remove all trim. Turn off the electricity before removing all receptacle covers. Once the panels have been acclimated to the room, place your paneling around the room in an attractive arrangement of grain, pattern or color. Previewing this way is especially important when you usepanels with a definite direction in the pattern. Once you have a good aesthetic sequence, number the back of the panels in the order in which they will be attached to the wall.
TO BETTER HIDE JOINTS BETWEEN PANELs
Use a 2-inch foam brush to stain or paint the wall surfaces at the point where your panels will be joined, using a color which matches the edges or grooves of your panels. This will make the joints less noticeable. You will need to protect the floor from stain or paint.
TO LOCATE SWITCH AND OUTLET HOLE LOCATIONS
Double-check all measurements before cutting panels. Start your installation in the corner that you see first when entering the room. To cut around openings like electrical switches or outlets, turn off the power at the main panel and then remove the cover plate to the switch or outlet. You can wipe lipstick or a crayon around the rim of the box and then press the panel into place to dry fit the panel. As the panel makes contact with the box, an outline will be left on the panel from the lipstick or crayon. Place the face of the panel down and use a jigsaw to cut around the outline. Make sure that the panel opening is resting on the wall and not on the lip of the box. The cover plate will cover any gaps between the box and the opening in the panel.
TO ATTACH THE PANELING TO THE WALL
Secure the paneling to the wall with panel adhesive and finishing nails. Load a caulking gun with a tube of panel adhesive and apply a small dab of it on the wall about every 10 inches. Place the panel on the wall and press it into the adhesive. Pull the panel away from the wall and let the adhesive become tacky. Push the panel back on the wall and roll the panel with a rolling pin. This will make sure that the panel and the adhesive make good contact.
Finally, drive finishing nails into place at the top of the panel. Apply baseboard to hold the bottom in place. Follow the same procedure to hold the adjoining sheet of paneling, but make sure this is a small gap between the two sheets to allow for movement during seasonal changes (use a dime as a guide). The stain you placed on the wall will help hide the gap.
Colored putty sticks of wood filler can be used to fill in any holes or blemishes on the paneling. Install remaining molding and door trim.
How to Install Paneling
Prep
The first step for installing paneling is to remove all wall plates, outlets and any nails in the wall. Gently remove any crown moulding, baseboards and trim you plan to use again.
Tip: For best results, set the paneling in the room for a few days before you install it. This allows it to adjust to the humidity in a room.
How to Install Wall Paneling
Installing wall paneling is a fast way to decorate and protect walls while disguising minor flaws. The striking feature of wall paneling is its large format: sheets 8 feet high by 4 feet wide. Most installations just need a few inches trimmed from the end of the panel, and then the panel is ready to be attached with adhesive and fine nails or plastic rivets.
Choose decorative wall paneling when appearance, flaw coverage, and minor impact resistance are most important. Or install FRP wall paneling for wet installations or when extreme impact resistance is required.
Decorative Wall Paneling vs FRP Wall Paneling
Decorative Wall Paneling
Medium-density fiberboard (MDF)
Looks like wood, brick, or stone
Wide range of textures
Not waterproof
Wipeable but not washable
Living rooms, bedrooms, dining rooms
FRP Wall Paneling
Plastic reinforced with fiberglass
Solid colors only; mostly white
Pebbled or smooth
Waterproof
Washable
Laundry rooms, basements, mudrooms
Depending on the room of the house and on your needs, you may decide to install either decorative wall paneling, usually made of MDF, or moisture-resistant panels made of FRP, or fiber-reinforced plastic.
Decorative Wall Paneling
Decorative wall paneling is hardboard in 4-foot by 8-foot sheets that looks like real wood due to its top image layer. Some wall paneling is even embossed or grooved for a 3D effect.
Decorative wall paneling works best in living rooms, hallways, bedrooms, and other low-moisture areas. These panels install fairly easily with just adhesive and finish nails.
Decorative wall panels cover minor surface imperfections. They offer some impact resistance, though the top image layer can be damaged by scratches and major impact.
FRP Wall Paneling
Fiber-reinforced plastic (FRP) paneling is plastic 4-foot by 8-foot sheets that usually come in white or off-white, though it's possible to find FRP panels in a handful of other basic colors. Most FRP panels found at home centers are textured or smooth.
As a utilitarian material, FRP paneling is designed to be used in laundry rooms, basements, garages, and mudrooms. FRP is moisture- and impact-resistant. FRP stands up well to mold and mildew. If it does develop mold or mildew, it can be washed down.
FRP panels require a few peripheral materials that influence the overall installation cost: moldings like dividers, outside corners, inside corners, and end caps, as well as special nylon rivets for attaching to the wall.
