Tools + Materials
beaded-board-look panels
tape rule
pencil
carpenter's level or water level
safety goggles
handsaw or circular saw
jigsaw or keyhole saw
electrical outlet box extenders
construction adhesive
hammer and nail set or air-driven nail gun
finishing nails and brads
miter box
cap molding
base molding
caulk gun
paintable caulk
wood putty
putty knife
paintbrush
latex paint

Get Ready
A few days before installation, acclimatize the panels to your house. Stack the panels horizontally, placing thin blocks of wood between each sheet so air can circulate. This allows any excess moisture to escape and helps prevent expansion or contraction. Remove any base moldings; you'll add new ones to complete the project. If your panels are unfinished, you may want to paint or stain them before installation.

1. Measure and Mark. Because most floors are not level, you'll want to create a level line on the wall to mark the top of your installation. Base molding installed later will disguise any variance at the bottom edge. Choose a starting point on your wall, and measure the desired height of the wainscoting. (Remember that the cap molding applied above the beaded-board panel will add slightly to the finished height.) From that point, use a level to draw a horizontal line and extend it around the room.

2. Cut. Using a handsaw or circular saw, cut the panels to the desired height. Measure the positions of any outlets or other electrical boxes on the wall, then sketch the dimensions onto the back of your panel with a pencil. Use a jigsaw (shown) or a keyhole saw to cut the holes. You'll need to install a box extender at each electrical point to contain wires.

3. Glue and Nail. Squeeze construction adhesive in a zigzag pattern onto the wall side of the panel and press into place. Nail along the edges as indicated by the manufacturer. If you're hammering the nails by hand, use a nail set (shown) to indent each nail so you can cover it with putty. As you apply the panels, make sure you space and overlap them according to manufacturer recommendations. This allows the panels to expand and contract in response to seasonal humidity and temperature changes.

4. Install Molding. Use a miter box to cut the angled joints where walls meet. Fasten the cap molding with brads at the tops of the panels. Also use brads to install base molding.

5. Finish. Fill visible nail holes with putty, and caulk gaps as necessary. Touch up with paint.