Wood paneling can be a challenge to install when the floor and ceiling slope.
Wall paneling requires gaps on all sides to allow for expansion when the temperature changes inside the room. Maintaining a consistent gap is easy when the ceiling and floor surrounding the wall panel are straight. Although, maintaining the proper gap is achievable when the floor and ceiling slope, it requires some additional preparation. Taking the time to prepare correctly will avoid the buckling and bowing associated with an improper paneling gap.
Instructions
1. Pull a tape measure along the wall's floor plate. Place two pencil marks to represent the width of the wood paneling - generally 4 feet - on the plate. Make two corresponding pencil marks on the top wall plate. Set a four-foot level on the floor. Adjust the level until the center level bubble sits in the middle of the two marked vial lines. Drag the pencil along the bottom of the level to create a square line. Move the level to the ceiling and repeat the procedure, but drag the pencil along the top of the level.
2. Sit the end of the tape measure on the floor. Align the end of the tape measure with the left side of the bottom pencil line. Stretch the tape measure to the left side of the line running along the ceiling. Repeat the process at the pencil lines representing the right side of the paneling. Subtract 1/4 inch from each dimension.
