- Always apply a piece of masking tape over the wainscoting before cutting. This will reduce splintering. The tape needs to be applied on both sides of the wainscoting. If you feel unsure about cutting the wainscoting your home store can cut it for you.
- The best option is to use a saw that creates high speeds and uses a very fine toothed blade. The circular saw is perfect for this cutting project. The high speeds the saw can reach allow the small teeth to remove all of the debris from the cut reducing the potential for splintering.
- Staining wainscoting can be done before you hang it and after you cut it. This will greatly reduce runs and drips on the surface of the wainscoting. If you are staining and then adding a clear coat, you can apply the stain with a cloth instead of a brush. This will eliminate brush lines. If you are painting the wainscoting, make sure that you use a foam brush. This will cut down on brush lines.
- Wainscoting is only 1/4 inch thick so you do not need large nails to hang the material. The best choice is using a brad nailer. This small staple-like gun works similar to a nail gun. It uses an air compressor to produce the force needed to shoot the tiny nails into the wainscoting. Since a chair rail made of trim will also be applied, it is not necessary for every brad to go into a stud. Only the chair rail nails need to be in studs. The brad nailer can be rented at a home store..
- The chair rail is added to the top part of the wainscoting. It is similar to trim and can be found in the same aisle at the home store as trim. The difference is that there is a ledge on the back of the chair rail that is as deep as the wainscoting is wide. it is meant to fit over the top and give a clean look to the addition. The chair rail will also help keep the backs of chairs from damaging the new wainscoting by giving it a space between the chair and the surface.
Cutting Wainscoting
Saw Blade
Staining or Painting
Hanging
Adding a Chair Rail
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