How to Install Beadboard & Chair Rail

Beadboard is a popular type of wainscot paneling that originated in 19th century Victorian and cottage-style homes. The casual look of beadboard makes it perfect for kitchens, bathrooms and hallways, as well as country-style dining rooms. Adding chair rail trim to the top will provide a professional, finished look. You can install beadboard two ways: you can buy prefabricated panels to cover more area at once or you can install the tongue-and-groove planks individually.

Before Installation

When you bring your beadboard paneling materials home, it’s important to let the wood acclimate to the surrounding environment. The wood will need a minimum of 48 hours to acclimate to the room’s temperature and humidity. This will allow the wood to expand or contract. Use spacers between stacked planks for better air circulation. If you purchase unfinished planks or panels and you plan to paint them, do so before installation and allow ample time for drying.

Measuring for Individual Beaded Planks

If you go with individual beaded planks, measure the room to find out how many planks you need to buy. You can use an easy formula to determine this. Add the length of each wall together to determine the total linear footage of the room. Divide the total linear footage by the width of each plank and round up this number. That number will be the number of planks needed to cover the room. Use the linear footage to determine how much baseboard and chair rail molding you will need as well. Beaded planks are typically sold in heights of 32 inches for standard wainscot or 8 feet for covering entire walls. If you want your beadboard to be higher than 32 inches, buy the 8-foot planks and cut them to size.

Installing the Baseboard

You can carefully remove the existing baseboard, using a pry bar. The wall will need to be marked at each stud (use a stud finder) at both the baseboard level and the height of the chair rail. If you purchase baseboard designed for paneling, it will have a notch already cut into it, allowing the planks to slide under the top edge. The corner ends of the baseboard will need to be cut at 45-degree angles, using a miter saw (see the chair rail section for tips on cutting mitered corners). The baseboard can be installed first, using construction adhesive and nails at each wall stud. To avoid splitting the baseboard, drill pilot holes for the nails. A nail set should be used to countersink the nails so that the holes can be filled in later. If you decide to reuse your existing baseboard, you will need to install it after the beadboard is in place.

Installing the Planks

If you need to trim the planks to height, measure from the baseboard upward, accounting for the notch in both the baseboard and chair rail. If the baseboard hasn’t been installed yet, measure upward from the floor, leaving a 1/8-inch gap at the bottom for expansion. Dry-fit the first plank in the corner, using a level on the outside edge to ensure it fits squarely. If the corner isn’t plumb, as many are not, use a scribing tool to scribe the plank and trim on the inside. The first plank will need to be nailed and any other plank covering a stud should be nailed. You can use construction adhesive alone on the rest of the planks. Add each plank by locking the groove onto the tongue of the adjacent plank. Leave a 1/8-inch gap at the corners for expansion.

Installing the Chair Rail

The chair rail molding will need to be cut according to the length measurement of each wall. For inside corners, cut through the face at a 45-degree angle so the edge of the cut is visible from the front. For outside corners, use the same 45-degree angle but in reverse, so the edge of the cut is hidden from the front. Dry-fit your cut pieces to ensure the cuts are accurate, then install the molding by applying construction adhesive to the back. Use finishing nails at each stud for a secure fit and countersink the nails as you did with the baseboard. Provide a professional, finished appearance by filling in all nail holes with wood putty and lightly sanding each when dry. Touch up with paint, if necessary. Paintable caulk can be used along the edge of the chair rail where it meets the wall.

Using Beadboard Panels

If you decide to use beadboard panels to save time on your project, installation will be similar to the method for installing the planks. One advantage in using beadboard panels is that you won’t have to worry about expansion or contraction between the joints. When cutting panels, make sure you lay the panel face down so that the base of the saw will not damage the finished side. Try to avoid trimming a panel directly on a joint. Cuts should be made within the flat area of each board.