- 1). Remove everything from the walls. Anything hanging above the area to be paneled can fall off the wall while the panels are being installed.
- 2). Remove the baseboard from the wall, gently, using a slender crowbar. Number the baseboard pieces as you remove them so you can reinstall them easily in the right order.
- 3). Hold a yardstick or a large carpenter's square flush with the wall to check if the wall is smooth. Any areas that are not flush or smooth must be repaired, patched, or covered with drywall to create a smooth, flat surface for the wall panels.
- 4). Cut all the panels to the desired height, using an electric saw. Common heights are full wall, three-quarter wall and half wall.
- 5). Set the panels against the walls, adjoining each other, to determine where they need to be cut to cover the walls. Measure and mark the places where cuts are needed for outlets, light switches and wall-mounted light fixtures. Make the cutouts, using a saw.
- 6). Apply adhesive to the panel back if the manufacturer recommends it. Some thinner panels require adhesive, while thicker wood panels may not.
- 7). Nail or staple the panels according to the manufacturer's exact spacing recommendations. The material and thickness of the panels determines the spacing requirements. Do not skimp on nails or staples, or your panels could bow.
- 8). Apply wood filler, or the manufacturer-recommended compound, to cover the staples or nail heads and the spaces between panels. Allow the filler to dry according to the package instructions.
- 9). Paint the panels, if desired, using a roller or a paintbrush.
- 10
Reinstall the baseboards over the wall panels. They may need slight trimming to accommodate the thickness of the new panels. - 11
Make any adjustments needed to bring the outlet, light switch and fixture boxes flush with the paneling. Reinstall the outlet and switch covers and wall light fixtures over the paneling.
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