Installing beadboard wainscoting

All of the needed assembly parts are supplied in our wainscoting kits!

Additional tools needed but not supplied by us:

Installation Materials:

• Circular Saw
• Jigsaw
• Glue (Interior Use - recommended is Tite Bond)
• Level (Preferably 3-4' Length)
• Hammer or Finish Nail Gun
• Finishing nails
• Nailset

Finishing Materials:

• Sandpaper
• Stain & Lacquer/Primer & Paint

STEP 1:
Remove the baseboards and shoe molding (if applicable) or other moldings that may be covering the area intended for wainscoting. Remove outlet covers that stand in the way (please be careful in doing this).

STEP 2:
Start at one corner of the room. Draw or snap a chalk line to use as a guide when setting up the tongue and groove beaded boards. Use the measurements below for your specific kit. These are the lengths of the boards that will run from the floor to the bullnose molding.

For 32" height, the measurement from the floor is 31-1/4"
For 36" height, the measurement from the floor is 35-1/4"
For 42" height, the measurement from the floor is 41-1/4"


Using your specific measurement from above (i.e. 31-1/4"), mark this point from the floor. With this starting point, use your level and and draw or snap your guide line (draw the line when the bubble is in the middle of your level).

Take the first tongue and groove beaded board and set in place aligning the end of the board with the line you've drawn, making sure that it is plumb (completely level). If it is plumb, you can set the plank with nails at the top (near the area that will be covered by the cove molding) and bottom (in the area that will be covered by the baseboard).

With the first board set, you can start running your tongue and groove boards. Use a dab of glue for every foot on the backs of the plank.

Set the second board (tongue into groove) with a space of about a nickel to allow for expansion and contraction during various seasons. Continue this step of glue on the back, setting the next board, and keeping in mind to follow the guide line that you had marked before. You may need to make some cuts for window openings, for unlevel floors, and for wall endings. For every 3-4 boards, nail at the top and bottom nailing to every stud that you can! For running planks at corners, you can overlap or miter the boards.

STEP 3:
Run the bullnose molding on top of the beadboard waincoting you've set into place. Using finishing nails, nail from the top of the bullnose into the ends of the tongue and groove boards. The cove molding supplied is then nailed underneath the bullnose into the face of the tongue and groove boards. Counter sink the nails with a nailset in order to hide the nail heads, afterwards use caulk or wood filler to fill in the area where the nails were set.

STEP 4:
Starting from one end run the baseboard molding along your floor. Once again use finishing nails and at exposed areas(areas which will be above the shoe molding) countersink the nails and fill with caulk or wood filler. To install the shoe molding use finishing nails, countersink and fill with caulk or wood filler.

STEP 5:
Finishing the job. Sand down any areas that may be rough or uneven. Paint or stain the wood with the color of your choice. With paint grade Poplar, prime the wood, then paint. For stain grade Maple, select the stain of your choice. Maple is a great wood for staining and always follow the directions given to you for the staining process.