The Custom Appearance of Raised Panel Wainscoting

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Are you looking for a unique way to dress-up your walls? There are many enticing ways to bring style to a home's interior and a simple, affordable choice is raised panel wainscoting.

The term wainscoting is used to refer to the technique of covering the lower portion of a wall with wood paneling. Wainscoting is a great way to bring variation in design to a room, and can also be used to hide unsightly blemishes. There are many styles of paneling to choose from, and a popular favorite is raised panels.

Have you ever seen raised paneled cabinets? Well, the raised panels used for wainscoting utilize the same concept. Instead of a simple paneling, the raised design has more of a custom appearance with beveled edges.

Installing Raised Panel Wainscoting

Raised paneling comes packaged in kits to help make the time-consuming installation easier. The kits normally include base and top rails, stiles (the vertical boards that separate the panels), panels, shoe molding, and cap rail.

• When installing, first determine your layout. You want to know before you begin how the stiles and panels are going to fit on the wall, and how they will line-up around electrical outlets.
• Once you know your layout, stain or paint the materials the desired color.
• The next step is to install the base molding. Use a level to ensure the molding is level with the wall as this will be your guide for the whole project.
• After the base molding is nailed securely in place, install the stiles and panels resting them on the base molding.
• After all panels are in place, install the cap rail and shoe molding. Fill any holes and seams with caulking and then touch-up paint where needed.

Raised paneling is normally made out of MDF with a veneer covering, which can be painted or stained. For additional cost, it also comes in solid wood. The MDF installs cleanly without warping or other imperfections, and can still have the appearance of real wood when veneered with oak, cheery, maple, or poplar.

Paneled wainscoting has been used in homes for over 200 years, and just recently sparked renewed interest. Dress-up your home with some classy paneling. Request free estimates from drywall contractors in your area.

Tongue and Groove Wood Paneling / beadboard / MDF Wood Paneling / Raised-Panel