Wood paneling is a durable wall covering that is easy to maintain and comes in a wide variety of styles. All sheet comes in standard 4-by-8 foot panels. Measure the length of each wall and divide the walls length by 48 inches to determine the number of wood paneling sheets required to cover the length of the wall. If the height of the wall is greater then 8 feet tall, multiply the difference by the number of sheets needed to cover the wall. After you know the number of wood paneling sheets required to cover the wall, the installation process begins.
Instructions
1. Measure the wall and place a mark on the wall's centerline. Mark the centerline from the floor to the ceiling, using the level to ensure a plumb line. Locate a wall stud with the stud finder. Measuring 8 inches from the centerline of the wall will give you a good place to start looking for wall studs. Place the locations of the studs on the wall. At each stud location, place a length of masking tape on the ceiling and floor.
2. Lay out and mark the edges of each wood panel. Place the first mark 24 inches from center and then every 48 inches until you reach the end of the wall. This allows you to keep the end pieces of wood paneling typical and the end result more professional.
3. Cut the height of each wood panel 1/4 inch less then the total height of the wall. Stand the wood paneling against the wall, keeping the edge at the 24-inch off-center mark. Hammer in finishing nails every 8 to 12 inches. Nail one side completely. Nail to the studs located within the wood paneling sheet and then nail the other side. This keeps the panel evenly flat.
4. Place the dime between the sheet hanging on the wall and the sheet that you are installing. This allows room for the wood paneling to expand without causing damage to the wood paneling. Nail off each sheet of wood paneling as described in Step 3.
5. Cut holes in the wood paneling as you encounter electrical outlets, light switches, etc. Measure the horizontal centerline location of the hole from the edge of the last installed sheet of wood paneling. Mark the horizontal centerline measurement on the back of the wood paneling that requires the hole. Perform the same process for the vertical dimension with the exception that the measurement should be taken from the floor rather than a wood paneling sheet's edge.
Measure the size of the hole and add 1/8 inch to each side of the obstruction. Lay out the lines for the 1/4-inch oversized hole on the back of the wood paneling. Use the 1/4-inch drill bit to place at the hole at each corner of the layout. Cut the hole by inserting the keyhole saw into the 1/4-inch corner holes.
6. Mark the corner edge of the wood paneling when it comes in contact with an irregular corner with the pencil divider. Set the wood paneling against the corner, ensuring that the sheet is plumb. Run the pencil divider down the corner with the pencil riding on the wood paneling. Cut along the pencil line with the coping saw. The edge of the wood paneling sheet will then fit uniformly into the irregular corner.
7. Install trim to the wall after the wood paneling installation is complete.
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