Tips for Installing Knotty Pine Paneling

Knotty pine paneling lovers know it looks great on the walls of any home. The best results are achieved by using tongue and groove with the end-matching design. It provides many benefits:

• Easy to Install
• Goes up faster
• Less measuring
• Less sawing
• Virtually no waste
• Skilled homeowners can do the job

There are a couple of decisions to make before placing your order. One is to select the width of the panels. They come in standard ¾” thicknesses and random lengths. The second is estimating the correct amount of paneling needed for walls and ceilings. The easiest way to do this is by using an online estimator. Once the order arrives, follow these steps for installation.

Knotty Pine Paneling Tips: Let Paneling Acclimate When It Arrives

Since temperature and humidity vary between climates, you should put paneling in each room and let it acclimate for a few days. It will adjust to the current conditions for better installation. Stack it on the floor with blocks and space between each layer.

Since our paneling is milled consistently to high standards, there is no need to sort through it to find the best pieces. Unlike shipments sent to the big box stores, we hand-inspect each piece for defects and quality. You save time and effort that makes the installation job more efficient.

Knotty Pine Paneling Tips: Measure Wall Heights Before Installing 

To do a professional job, you want the top and bottom pieces of paneling the same width. To avoid ending up with a narrow piece at the top and a full-width piece at the bottom, measure the total vertical distance. Divide the wall height by the width of one panel. If it comes out even it is no worry.

If the measurement does not come out even, rip a top and bottom piece to the same width. Cut the groove off the bottom piece and the tongue off the top panel. Install the bottom panel about ¼” above the floor. This illustration assumes you are installing the paneling horizontally and the flooring has already been laid.

“Knotty pine paneling lovers know it looks great on the walls of any home. The best results are achieved by using tongue and groove with the end-matching design.”

Level as You Go

Do not level the paneling by using the floor as a guide because the floor may be uneven. If the first row is not level, all the following rows will be off. By the time you get halfway up the wall, the boards will be obviously slanting.

Start with the bottom row and place the first piece tongue-side up. Place your level on it and put wedges under it if it is not level. Start securing the boards in place by face nailing to the studs about 1” from the bottom. The baseboards will cover this face nailing. Next, nail through the tongues at a 30° to 45° angle to the studs all the way to the end of the row.

Place the second row on the first and tap it in place with a wood block and mallet. Any sawn piece left over at the end of the first row will be the first piece for the second row. Proceed up the wall to the ceiling where the trim will be put into position.

Make Accurate Cutouts for Electrical Fixtures

Before we move on, it is essential to say you should stagger the end joints by using different lengths of paneling. Avoid stacking them so the joints are on top of each other.

You must cut holes for electrical outlets, light switches, and any unique features on the walls. Set a piece of paneling in place and mark the location of the fixture on it. Place a fixture on the panel and draw around it for the correct size. Cut the hole accurately with a jig saw, tap the panel, and nail it.

Knotty Pine Paneling Looks Just as Great on Ceilings

Many log home and cabin owners elect to put knotty pine paneling on the ceilings as well as the walls. It is installed on the floor joists in the same way it is installed on wall framing. You can achieve a lighter color if desired by applying a whitewash finish.

Applying Finishing Versus Pre-Finished Paneling 

There are four general choices for finishing knotty pine paneling you should consider before buying it. The amount of time, labor, and materials involved varies among the following:

• Install sanded, unfinished paneling first
• Finish it after it is installed or
• Finish it first, then install or
• Purchase all paneling in a pre-finished condition

All four approaches work, and you should consult with a hired painter if you do not plan to do the work yourself. You may want to seal the back of each piece before installing it for superior performance. Pre-finishing the front of the paneling can prevent oily fingerprints on bare wood.

We hope all these paneling tips will be useful to you. Knotty pine produces a gorgeous yet rustic look in homes and cabins that will last for generations. Learn more about its virtues in this helpful article.

References and Resources

• Install Pine Paneling
• Pine Paneling Virtues