What To Look For In Knotty Pine Paneling

When you wake up in the morning, what do you want to see on your walls? If you like rooms with a rustic appeal, knotty pine paneling is an ideal choice. It takes you away from the dull and drab painted drywall that is commonplace.

Look for high-quality wood at fair prices when you purchase knotty pine paneling. You can find superior pine paneling online that is a better buy than at lumber yards and DIY stores. It’s easy and fast to order from leading suppliers.

What Is Knotty Pine Paneling

Knotty pine paneling is a wood product primarily used for walls and ceilings. The best all-around wood is red pine, also called Norway pine, because of its qualities and cost. It looks as good or better than hardwood paneling for about one-third to one-half the cost.

Knotty pine paneling is milled from mature trees into various lengths, widths, and thicknesses. It is strong, stable, durable, and beautiful for ceilings and walls in any style home. A variation of wall paneling is knotty pine flooring that is popular in log homes, cabins, and cottages.

Pine paneling can be purchased in a pre-sanded condition ready for installation, staining, and clear coating. It is also available in a pre-finished condition ready to install. The best results are obtained when using tongue and groove (T&G) paneling with the end-matching design.

Select Tongue And Groove With End-Matching

Knotty pine paneling with the tongue and groove, end-matching design has simplified and strengthened the installation process. This is what you should buy because it is superior to the old-style flat-edge and end boards. You will appreciate its advantages, including:

  • There is no face-nailing and screws or nails do not show
  • The nails are placed in the grooves that secure paneling to the wall framing
  • It is virtually a “no-waste” product and the wood does not end up in landfills
  • The tongue and groove design is found on the sides and ends of each board
  • Two pieces can be end-butted anywhere between the studs for a secure fit
  • This design saves a lot of measuring and sawing
  • Anyone with essential woodworking knowledge and skills can install it

If you like rooms with a rustic appeal, knotty pine paneling is an ideal choice.


Quality Features You Should Seek

In addition to the tongue and groove with end-matching design, there are a few features you should look for in paneling. These features will provide the best long-term results for your walls, ceilings, floors, and other projects. Purchase paneling that is correctly kiln-dried to the correct moisture content for stability and staining. You should ask if it has been professionally stacked and stored before shipping it to you.

Determine that the paneling has been sanded sufficiently so you won’t need to sand it. Ask if all pieces have been hand-inspected for quality and are free from defects. Your supplier should have wood available in the widths, lengths, and thicknesses you need for your projects. It should be ¾” thick for strength and available in 4”, 5”, 6”, and 8” widths in various lengths.

Don’t forget to use knotty pine trims to match.

Unfinished Or Pre-Finished Knotty Pine Paneling

The best suppliers give you a choice of unfinished and pre-finished knotty pine paneling. Unfinished is cost-effective, and you or a painter must apply the stain and a clear top coat. It is typically easier to finish the wood before you install it, although finishing after installation also works. These are the advantages of purchasing pre-finished paneling:

  • There’s no need to wait on the weather, such as when it’s humid or cold
  • You don’t need to hire a painter or do it yourself that saves a lot of time
  • Saw the end of the row pieces to length and use the last one for the next row
  • Stain and clear top coats are professionally applied in a controlled atmosphere
  • It’s virtually a “no-waste” product you will be proud to own
  • Nail it up and you are finished

Other Uses For Knotty Pine Paneling

We’ve discussed knotty pine for walls, ceilings, and floors but there are other projects that can be made with this versatile product. If you plan to create other items from pine paneling, add the paneling to your wall and ceiling order. These are some favorite projects that are simple and enjoyable to make:

Bookcases Shelving Islands Beverage Bars
Hope Chests Wardrobes Pantries Closet Linings
Backsplashes Cabinets Picture Frames  


Knotty pine paneling has been used successfully for generations and will continue to be a favorite wood product for decades to come. Plan your projects and talk to one of our paneling experts for additional ideas and excellent service.

References and Resources: