panels recreate the look of real wooden walls, and can be installed relatively easily.
Whether you're looking to add rustic charm or ski-lodge chic to your home, wood walls are the way to go. Quintessentially American, wooden walls make a home feel instantly warmer and more inviting. Unfortunately, most of us can't afford a home with wood walls -- but we can mimic the look and feel of real timber walls by installing faux wood paneling as a Do-It-Yourself project. Molded from actual wood timbers, these wall panels recreate the rustic charm of wood walls, but are vastly more affordable -- and easy to install on just about any wall surface.
Instructions
1. Clean the wall surface where you'll be attaching your faux wall panels. Dislodge grit and loose materials with a stiff brush and wipe off cobwebs or loose paint with a cloth. Use mild soap detergent to clean off any oils or residue before you begin installation and make sure the wall surfaces are thoroughly dry before you start.
2. Lay your first faux wood wall panel face down and apply construction adhesive in a zigzag pattern to the backing. Make sure the beginning and ending lines of glue are as close to the edge of the panel as possible.
3. Start at the bottom right corner of the wall and place the first panel where it will be attached. Adjust it until you're happy with the positioning -- it should be flush against the right-hand wall and floor. Then use screws to attach the panel to the wall at each corner and along each edge at 12-inch intervals. Use screws under the protruding parts of the log pattern so they won't be so visible.
4. Add glue to the lip that is used to line up and attach the next interlocking panel. Make sure it's at least one inch away from the raised wood texture that won't be hidden by the interlocking panel.
5. Use the color-matched caulk along the edge of the log texture, where the panels will seam together, if you're installing the faux wood paneling outside. This will create a seamless bond and also waterproof your installation. On interior installations, the panels fit together so tightly you probably won't need caulk.
6. Lay the next panel down as you did in Step 2 and apply constructive adhesive in a zigzag pattern to the backing. Then place the panel on the wall next to the first panel, interlocking the lip to create a seamless bond. Hold the panel tightly against the first one as you attach it against the wall with screws.
7. Examine the join between the first panel and the second. If you used caulk, use a damp cloth to wipe off any excess caulk that has been squeezed out from between the two panels. For a more natural look, use a wet paintbrush to blend the caulking into the panels on either side.
8. Repeat Step 6 with subsequent panels until you have attached one complete row of panels attached to your wall. Depending on the size of your wall, you will need to cut the final panel to fit. This can be done easily with a wood cutting saw -- just make sure you measure accurately to ensure a seamless fit between the panels and your wall.
9. Repeat the process Step 2 through Step 7 on the wall above the first row of attached panels. To avoid obvious repetition in the patterns, offset each row by half a panel. The wall panels will butt up to each other bottom to top for a seamless appearance. You will need to cut the final row of panels to fit with a wood cutting saw.
Tags: faux wood, first panel, panel wall, wall panels, with wood, wood walls