How to Install New Wood Wainscoting | This Old House

Tom Silva and Kevin O’Connor install new wood wainscoting at the Charleston house.

On the second floor of the Charleston house, Tom Silva and Kevin O’Connor install new wood wainscoting to replace the worn out, poorly made version that used to be there.

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This Old House is America’s first and most trusted home improvement show. Each season, we renovate two different historic homes—one step at a time—featuring quality craftsmanship and the latest in modern technology. We demystify home improvement and provide ideas and information so, whether you are doing it yourself or hiring out contractors, you’ll know the right way to do things or the questions to ask. Our experts including general contractor Tom Silva, plumbing and heating expert Richard Trethewey, landscape contractor Jenn Nawada, master carpenter Norm Abram, and host Kevin O’Connor give you the tools you need to protect and preserve your greatest investment—your home.

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How to Install New Wood Wainscoting | This Old House

[TonyCollumtheHOWTOHERO]

Awesome tip about scribing to the floor and wall corners! A couple of other tips….(I’ll leave a reference picture on my community tab)

1st - I use a backer board that covers the drywall wall.
2nd - Then I pre-assemble the frame pieces using pocket holes
3rd - for a more formal finish I use a raised panel molding to trim out the “boxes”. Using this method, nailing the pre-assembled frame to the wall becomes easier on the finishing step…all the nails are hidden where the panel mold sits…meaning less nail holes to fill (basically I nail the frame to the wall around the perimeter of the boxes then install the panel mold, only nailing where necessary)

[WingingItDIY]

If you want it to look pro dont forget to cover up any texture you may have preexisting on the wall. Easiest is to cover it with a 1/4 in sheet of MDF plywood. Seen lots of DIY wainscoting with the texture behind it and it looks off.

[adamguymon]

I can't wait to see it all painted up and looking pretty?

[craigdiianni]

I did a wainscoting with MDF and the edges were a nightmare to clean up. I had to sand, fill, and sand each piece. It took forever. Would suggest using plywood and also to use caulking at the edges to hide gaps to the wall.

[BobSmith-gqwe]

Wish you had shown it all painted and finished

[arth.]

Tommy & Crew always Great 👍 Techniques 👍👍👍👍👍

[heydaydevelopment]

Excellent! I look forward to trying this myself!

[jordanveverica]

Won’t those flush joints crack with seasonal change since there is no mechanical fastener?

[pklemm]

With the labor shortage Kevin has been getting his hands dirty.

[beninformato]

Is there a traditional height for wainscoting?

[jamesmharvey]

Any particular reason the rails were cut to short lengths rather than running them the length of the wall?

[JA-jmbk]

No 1/4" ply over the drywall? Seems cheap to use the drywall as part of the paneling.

[djr]

Why didn't you show the completed project?

[jalynnsmith]

I want to put wainscoting on my living room walls. They are block walls covered in wood paneling. Do you have any suggestions? Do a video please! ❤️

[fireblaster]

Won’t this restrict the door opening back

[kategeren]

Hello Kevin I’m texting about the NewOrleans projects I guess it hasn’t been up loaded yet I’ve been watching you’all on sundays on PBS I’d love to find some house plans for the shot gun houses any idea where I might find some like the one’s your working on I’m learning so much ty kate in Lasvegas 🐰

[snaredude]

I have been watching TOH since the beginning so I have a lot of respect for you guys. Having said that, what they heck do you think you are doing cutting freehand on a table saw? I would expect to see this on some random guy's you tube channel but not on TOH. You guys should know better.

[avalon]

ImAgin doing this job now with a hammer and not a nail gun?
And no picture framing with mounding around the styles and rails?

[carpenterpilot]

I rather use ply, MDF is a mess and really don't look good.

[creativecompulsion]

Freehand on a table saw….I’ve done it, but even with professional experience-pretty dangerous