Could you give me some help with how best to install tongue and groove boards in a horizontal manner on an interior wall?
Signed,
Hoping to get groovy
Dear Groovy,
Be sure to select the tongue and groove boards that best fit your needs. Tongue and groove boards come in a variety of hard and soft woods. Their widths range from two to 12 inches and can be mixed with differing widths to achieve different looks.
Preparing T&G boards: Horizontally installed boards can be nailed directly to studs, furring and drywall or plaster (so long as you nail into studs) depending on local codes. If you’re installing the wood vertically, be sure to install horizontal nailing blocks between studs spacing them 24 to 36 inches vertically.
For proper acclimation, your boards should be stacked in the room where they will be installed. Use wood spacers across the pile to allow for air circulation. I recommend acclimating your wood for at least three days. You can pre-finish the boards with stain and sealer, prior to installing. Staining or sealing once installed can add additional odors within your home. In either event, staining or painting the edges first can prevent some normal shrinkage expected of unfinished wood.
For horizontal installation of tongue and groove boards, you will want to start at the bottom of the wall, working up and placing the tongue edges pointing up, and check that each board is level prior to nailing it. To join boards for a finished look, miter the ends for an overlapping joint. You will need to pull any electrical boxes out in order to adjust for the thickness of the boards. Always turn off the electricity to the outlets before starting any work on them.
Nailing techniques: Tongue and groove boards can be angle nailed through their tongues so that the groove of the next board covers the nails. Use six-penny finishing nails and a nail set to drive them flush with the surface of the tongue. Lapped-edge and other types of boards must be face-nailed through the surface and the nail heads countersunk with a nail set. Better yet, using an air compressor with a finish gun will reduce your labor time significantly if time is not on your side.
After staining and sealing the boards, cover the nail heads with colored putty. Face-nail with eight-penny finishing nails. Face-nail the last course or two of tongue and groove paneling, since the tongues won’t be easily accessible for angle nailing. For added security, I recommend apply wood adhesive to the back of each board, prior to nailing it to the studs.
Note: Remove any wall hangings, as the vibration from nailing could cause things to fall.
Kaile Warren of Windham is CEO/Founder of the national handyman franchise Rent-A-Husband. Kaile is also a national home improvement expert for the CBS Early Show, HGTV and Parade Magazine and appears locally on WCSH’s 207. When not on the road or working he spends his time teaching his newly adopted white shepherd, Maintenance, how-to ... Send your questions for Kaile to editor@themaineswitch.com.