Knotty Pine Paneling Is A Gorgeous Natural Product

Installing Knotty Pine Paneling Over Drywall

If you want knotty pine paneled walls but already have painted drywall, it’s still workable. Pine boards can be installed on top of drywall with a few basic modifications. The easiest way to put up the paneling is to lay it out horizontally or diagonally so it can be nailed to the wall framing. The basic decisions you need to make are:

Measure the walls for the correct square footage needed
Place the order – sizes and unfinished or pre-finished
Locate the wall framing and install the paneling
Make the necessary modifications
Apply stain and/or a clear coat product

Decide who will install the paneling before you place the order – a carpenter or you. With the necessary skills, you can save a lot of money by installing paneling! The best results are achieved with tongue and groove paneling with the end-matching design because it is a virtually ‘no waste’ product.

Measure and Order the Knotty Pine Paneling

Measure the square footage of each wall you intend to panel. Be sure to include the basement, garage, or workshop if you plan to do them too. Add all the walls (and ceilings if you want them paneled) to find the total needed.

You are dollars ahead by purchasing square-foot packages. Divide the total square footage needed by the square footage of each package. If you need 6 but the order gives you a little extra, it may be needed for a few errors you may make.

You must decide if you want 1x4, 1x5, 1x6, or 1x8 sizes before ordering. The wider pieces go up faster but cost more. The easiest and fastest way to determine the quantity needed is to use the square foot calculator.

Locate the Wall Framing and Install the Paneling

Once your order of paneling arrives, lay it out in the house to acclimate to the temperature and humidity levels for 3 or 4 days. In the meantime, you can locate the wall framing behind the drywall and mark the studs. The most accurate way is to use a quality stud-finder. If you do not have one, try one of these other ways:

Use magnets to find nails
Tap the walls for sounding out studs
Remove switch and outlet plates
Look for dimples in walls and trims
Download a stud-finder app
Drill holes in walls

The standard spacing for wall framing is 16” on center from one stud to the next. Beware that older houses or houses built on the ‘cheap’ may have studs placed 24’ on centers. Remove the baseboards before putting up the panel boards.

Now it’s time to install the paneling with a nail gun. Place the bottom row about ¼” above the floor and cut the end piece to length. Use this piece to start the next row and so on to the top of the wall. Use a long level to ensure it is going up correctly. The next section is a must read!

“Pine boards can be installed on top of drywall with a few basic modifications.”

Make the Necessary Modifications

When placing ¾” thick paneling on top of drywall, you must make allowances for door and window casings and door jambs.You should consult with an experienced carpenter to help you make these decisions.These three approaches are used from easiest and least expensive to more labor intensive and more expensive.

Retain Trims and Jambs 1: Chamfer the ends of the panel boards that butt up against the door and window casings. This is necessary because the panel boards will most likely be thicker than the casings. If the door jambs and casings are a different color than the paneling, you will need to match them. This is the easiest and less costly option.
Retain Trims and Jambs 2: Remove the door and window casings and secure the ends of the paneling to meet flush with the inside of the door jambs. Keep the door and window jambs in place. Use a larger outside corner molding to cover the cracks between the paneling and the edges of the jambs. This option costs more than the first.
Replace Trims and Jambs: Remove the door and window casings, doors, and jambs. Replace the door and window jambs with wider ones to meet flush with the paneling. Now that you have a flat surface, you can install the casings. Follow up by installing the doors. This is the most expensive option because it takes more labor and more new materials.

Unfinished or Pre-Finished Knotty Pine Paneling

Before you place the order, decide between unfinished and pre-finished panel boards and their sizes. Each has its advantages and you should confer with your installer before making the decision. A wide variety of stain colors are available if you decide to go either way. These three colors are favorites, and you can buy the stain or have them pre-stained by your supplier.

Trims, Corners, Moldings

Many styles of standard trims, corners, and moldings are on the market. The baseboards are available to go at the bottoms of your walls. The baseboards should complement the trims so they look coordinated. You may need to shop around more if you modify the door and window jambs.

We know you will find knotty pine paneling to be everything you want it to be. Our customer representatives are available to answer your questions and help estimate the quantity of pine paneling and supplies needed.