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.
3. Place a piece of wood paneling on a work table with the unfinished side facing up.
4. Hook the end of the tape measure on the bottom of the panel's left side. Pull the tape measure along the panel. Mark the right side length on the left side of the panel with the pencil. Mark the left side measurement on the right side of the wood paneling using the described procedure. Reversing the side measurements - left on right -- ensures the lengths match the wall when the paneling is installed with the finished side facing the room.
5. Align one corner of the level with the bottom pencil mark and across the panel to the bottom corner. Pull a pencil along the aligned edge of the level to create a cut line. Repeat the process at the top of the panel.
6. Cut along each pencil line with a saber saw. Ensure you use a fine-cut blade on the saber saw to avoid splintering along the front face of the panel.
Tags: tape measure, left side, pencil along, right side, wood paneling