Wainscoting Faqs

The Elite Moldings Wainscot installation section. Here you will find out how to install any of our wainscot kits and get helpful advice on what to order and how much of it to order.

Please read through the instructions of the product you are interested in and see if this is the right product for you. We have tried to give you as much information as we possibly can, but if you don’t find what you are looking for, or you are stuck and have encountered a problem during the installation simply contact us.

What is Wainscoting?
Wainscoting is a decorative paneling that commonly adorns the lower part of walls and stairways. It can be found in upscale homes, offices, conference rooms and other assorted commercial spaces. Wainscot adds architectural interest and detail to otherwise bare walls.

Wainscot or wainscoting is wooden or other panelling applied to the lower 1.2 to 1.5 m of an interior wall, below the dado rail or chair rail and above the skirting board or baseboard. It is traditionally constructed from tongue-and-groove boards, though beadboard or decorative panels (such as a wooden door might have) are also common. Wainscoting may also refer to other materials used in a similar fashion.

Its original purpose was to cover the lower part of walls which, in houses constructed with poor or nonexistent damp-proof courses, are often affected by rising damp. In countries whose building regulations insist on adequate damp-proofing, its purpose is now generally decorative.

Truly Customizable Wainscoting Systems - Delivered Right to Your Door

In the days before paint was scrubbable and wallpaper was mass-produced, wainscoted walls served a practical purpose; covering the lowest and most vulnerable portion of a wall. Covering with wood panelling provided an attractive and decorative wall treatment tough enough to withstand cleaning and resist any damages due to everyday use.

Even with today’s modern paint and wallpapers, wainscoting still serves its intended protective purpose; however people use it most often because of the way it transforms a bland space into an elegant room by adding interesting detail to walls that don’t otherwise have any built-in character. (more…)

There are hundreds of different molding profiles available, from stock patterns to custom cuts. Aside from those manufactured for special uses-door and window parts, or handrail and closet rods, for example-most interior moldings can be divided into three basic functions:

Ceiling moldings cover the gap between the wall and the ceiling
Base moldings cover the gap between the floor and the walls
Door and window moldings trim the gaps between doors and windows and the surrounding wall.
Naturally, there are many other uses for moldings as well, but this document will focus on those three. You’ll find that if you master the techniques of installing these basic types of molding, you’ll be able to handle just about any trim job you encounter.

Molding can be made out of a number of different materials-not all wood. Spruce and pine moldings are the most common, because both are relatively inexpensive, and are also soft, fine-grained woods that can be worked easily and with a minimum of splitting and splintering.

You’ll be able to find pine and spruce moldings both in solid and fingerjointed (FJ) material. FJ moldings are made from short lengths of wood glued end to end. FJ material is not only less expensive than solid moldings, but it also tends to be more resistant to warp. If you’re planning on painting the trim rather than staining, FJ molding is a good choice.

Moldings are also cut from oak, mahogany, birch, walnut and other hardwoods. Reproductions of old profiles are often manufactured from high-density polyurethane, although these products are expensive and tricky to work with and generally should be installed only by professionals.

Beadboard Wainscoting

To achieve a Victorian look on an interior wall, try a beadboard wainscot. You can buy beadboard at your local lumberyard. Here are some things to keep in mind when installing it yourself. Run your baseboard first to avoid forming grooves for dust to collect in. Use a drill and a jigsaw to cut holes for outlets. Fit each board together snugly, then nail with two and a half inch finish nails. Angle the bottom nail into the tongue of each board. Face nail the top, and cap it with a molding over the rough edges.

Photos of Raised Panel Gallery

Not sure what a Photos of Raised Panel from Elite Mouldings Inc. looks like. Take a look at the image gallery:

More Images of Raised Panel.

A Large Selection of Specialty, Interior Architectural Mouldings, and Accessories for the Do-It-Yourselfer and Contractor Alike From:
Elite Mouldings Inc.
Head Office Contact Information
Toronto 416-245-1115,
Concord 905-760-1665,
FAX 905-760-1519
Postal address: 6-201 Millway Ave. Concord (Toronto), Ontario, Canada L4K 5K8
Email: General : marino@elitemouldings.com

Photos of Custom Panel Wainscot Stairs Gallery

Not sure what a wainscot looks like? See these photos of Custom Panel Wainscot Stairs Gallery from Elite Mouldings Inc.

More Images of Custom Panel Wainscot Stairs Gallery

A Large Selection of Specialty, Interior Architectural Mouldings, and Accessories for the Do-It-Yourselfer and Contractor Alike From:
Elite Mouldings Inc.
Head Office Contact Information
Toronto 416-245-1115,
Concord 905-760-1665,
FAX 905-760-1519
Postal address: 6-201 Millway Ave. Concord (Toronto), Ontario, Canada L4K 5K8
Email: General : marino@elitemouldings.com

What is Wainscot or wainscoting?

wain·scot ( P ) Pronunciation Key (wnskt, -skt, -skt) n.

A facing or paneling, usually of wood, applied to the walls of a room.
The lower part of an interior wall when finished in a material different from that of the upper part.

tr.v. wain·scot·ed, or wain·scot·ted wain·scot·ing, or wain·scot·ting wain·scots or wain·scots
To line or panel (a room or wall) with wainscoting.

Bring back the warmth and beauty of fine wood to your home with wainscot paneling. There is nothing like the warmth and beauty that real wood wainscot bring to a room. In fine homes throughout history, wood paneling can be found in living rooms, dining rooms, libraries, family rooms, bedrooms, entry foyers, and along staircases. Today, they are even being used in kitchens and bathrooms.