Add elegance to the dining room by applying wooden wainscoting to the walls.
Wainscoting is a decorative wood paneling applied to a home's walls. According to the House Calls website, wainscoting was named for the wain wooden wagons that carried American settlers toward the west. Wainscoting is often complemented by baseboards and a decorative chair rail. Using basic carpentry skills, a homeowner can install wainscoting into his dining room to add texture and traditional elegance to the space. Wainscoting can be applied at chair rail height, covering the bottom one-third of the wall. Also consider applying wainscoting to cover about two-thirds of the wall, top with a wide rail and display decorative items or family photos.
Instructions
1. Measure the dining room and sketch out a diagram of the room. Be sure to label the sketch with the room's measurements.
2. Remove the existing baseboard from the walls by scoring the top of the board with a utility knife. Push the edge a crowbar behind the edge of the baseboard to pry the board away from the wall. Set the baseboard in a clean space if it will be reused.
3. Mark lines at various heights on the wall with a pencil to visually determine the desired height of the wainscoting. Once a desired height is selected, place a laser level on the point. Use a chalk line to mark the laser level's line on the wall. Measure from the chalk line to the floor to determine the correct height for the wainscoting.
4. Cut wainscoting pieces to the correct height using a table saw. If panels do not feature precut angles, cut one piece at a 15-degree angle to the front and the corresponding piece to a 30-degree angle to the back. Pieces will meet at a 45-degree angle, which helps hide the seams between panels.
5. Apply wood glue to the back of the wainscoting panel. Set the wainscoting against the wall. Use the laser level to ensure the wainscoting panel is straight both horizontally and vertically. Use a nail gun to secure the wainscoting to the wall. Repeat with subsequent panels, ensuring the seams match up.
6. Mark panels that cover electrical outlets and use a jigsaw to cut out sections from the wainscoting before applying it to the wall.
7. Cut new baseboards to the correct length using a miter saw. Apply wood glue to the back of the baseboard piece and glue it to the wall. Secure the baseboard by using a nail gun to nail the baseboard into the studs.
8. Hold the chair rail along the wall. Mark pieces so that the corners fit together cleanly. Apply wood glue to the chair rail and push it onto the wall. Secure by nailing directly into the wall with a nail gun.
Tags: chair rail, Apply wood, Apply wood glue, dining room, laser level, wall with