Installing of Wainscoting
Using a backsaw and a miter box or an electric miter saw, cut one end of the wainscoting cap at a 45° angle. Set it in place, with the angled end in a corner, and mark where the other end must be trimmed and where the studs fall. Cut off the end and drill pilot holes on the stud marks. Screw or nail the cap to the studs. The fasteners must be long enough to penetrate the studs.
Beware of bowing. Look carefully at wainscoting stock when you’re shopping, and buy the flattest you can find. Warped or bowed tongue-and-groove planking or panels will never look right when installed.
Drying out. Planks or panels should be thoroughly dry before they are installed. Otherwise they may shrink, leaving gaps. Knotty wood retains moisture more than wood with minimal knots. Stack the lumber indoors (near where it will be installed) for at least a week to acclimate it.
Hide the nails. Drive finishing nails through the tongue of each plank at the top, center, and bottom, angling them back slightly toward the center of the plank. Because the groove of the next plank will cover the nails, they won’t have to be countersunk and covered with putty.
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