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How to dress a dining room with personalized Wainscoting

Step 1

How to dress a dining room with personalized Wainscoting

Install vertical pieces near doors and corners

Start by installing all of the vertical pieces that go against the door casings and corners. The boards next to the door are 3-12" wide. To match the corners, first install a 4-1/4" board that has been ripped to 1x6.

Install a 3-1/2" plate next to it. Both plates will have 3-1/2" exposed. Use a finish nailer with 2-1/2" finish nails.

Use a utility knife to cut away any paint buildup on the decks so the boards fit flush.

The process is the same for the rest of the room, until all the other corners and end pieces are up.

Step 2

How to dress a dining room with personalized Wainscoting How to dress a dining room with personalized Wainscoting

Route and adjust sockets

Measure between the end boards and cut and separate the ends of the 1x6 skirting boards. When placed on the wall, they will fit perfectly with the vertical end boards. Now just nail them in place (Image 1).

With the toe kicks facing up, follow the same process to install the top rails. Measure and cut the 1x4s to length then lay the ends on the router table.

Like the baseboards, secure the top rails to the wall with 2-1/2" finish nails (Image 2).

Step 3

How to dress a dining room with personalized Wainscoting

Measure, cut and install studs

Now it's time to measure the mounds. Each one must be taken separately since they can vary a little, and must be personalized.

Take several measurements at once, and then cut them to their proper lengths.

Once this is done, route the "female" endpoints in the files using the router table. Then go back in to install them.

Put a stud in place, add a nail and check it is plumb, then fasten it to the wall. This covers all the seams where the oak panels meet.

Use the guidelines previously drawn on the wall to line up the studs in their correct locations. Since the studs were pre-cut, they should go up easily.

Stage 4

How to dress a dining room with personalized Wainscoting How to dress a dining room with personalized Wainscoting

Measure and install the chair rails

Now it's time to install the chair rails. Measure the wall of each and then cut them to saw length, making sure to give them 45 degree ends (Image 1) for the corners.

Attach them to the top rail and secure using 1-1/2" finishing nails. To make it look even better, leave about a 1/2" overhang (Image 2).

Go around the room and once everyone is there, the woodwork is complete.

Fill all nail holes with appropriate wood filler and give it a good coat of polyurethane.