Tools and Materials
How to Install Panel Over Drywall
Follow the steps and tips to install paneling over drywalls in your home:
Remove all the outlets, wall plates, hooks, nails, baseboards and crown molding from the walls. Prepare to install wall paneling over drywall by first cleaning the walls with a damp cloth. Then, sand down any bumps on the walls so panels lay flat.
It is important to remove these bumps or irregularities because they can affect the panel’s appearance. A smooth surface will ensure better adhesion between the panels and the drywall.
Check your walls for dampness if you plan to use wood panels. Dampness can damage the panels.
If you plan to install paneling over drywall, your walls must be straight. If your wall is not straight, you will have to install furring strips in a grid-like pattern. Add shims when necessary to achieve straightness. Begin from the top and add the vertical strips every 16 inches. Then, add a horizontal strip and continue adding horizontal strips every 47 inches.
Installing paneling on a misaligned wall can result in gaps. Therefore, it is important to install properly aligned furring strips wherever necessary to create a stable framework for your panels.
Next, you will need to ensure the wood panels are acclimatized to the room. This process allows the wood to adjust to the room's humidity and temperature. It prevents future warping, shrinking, or expansion. This prevents any shrinkage or expansion of the wood while putting paneling over drywall.
Now, place the panels flat in the installation room. Keep the shims between them. Wait at least 24 hours before installing them. If you’re installing panels in a basement or below ground, wait 48 hours before installation, as basements are prone to moisture accumulation. This means the wood panels need more time to acclimatize.
If you use a panel with exposed joints, paint the background wall with a similar or darker color than your panels. This will help camouflage the gap that occurs when they contract or expand.
Take note of the area of one sheet of the panel. Theen, measure the area of your wall with a measuring tape. Divide the area of your wall by the area of one panel sheet you recorded earlier. This will give you the number of sheets needed.
Add 10% to the total measurement of the area to your calculation. It will account for the material wasted while affixing the wooden panels.
Using a Stud Finder, identify where your studs are placed and mark the position of each with a pencil. Next, using a leveler, draw a straight line to mark the location of each stud from floor to ceiling.
Position the first panel in one corner of the room but without the panel adhesive. Check the inside edge of the panel with a level to make sure it is straight.
Ensure your first panel is hung at the right level to align the remaining panels correctly.
The next step in attaching wood paneling to drywall is to trim the next set of panels as required to fit or stay at the same level. Using a fine-toothed saw blade will help avoid splitting or fraying on the front of the panel.
Wear safety goggles, safety gloves and other safety gears when working with sharp tools.
Use a jigsaw with a fine-cutting blade to cut the openings. This tool will make cutouts for the outlets, wall plates or electrical boxes. Separate the panels that will be placed over these spaces, map out the area needed for the cutouts onto the panels and then make fine cutouts using the saw.
Before you start applying adhesive, arrange all panels and number them. Make sure the cut openings are lined up. Then, using a caulk gun, apply adhesive in a wave pattern. Place and press the panel into the position needed. Then, tap lightly with a rubber mallet for better placement.
If you would rather nail the panels to your walls, then skip this step and go directly to step 10.
Position the panels in the desired place. Use finishing nails to attach panels to the wall. Continue until all walls are covered.
Add a beak of caulk to any required corners to fill holes or gaps. Finally, paint the panels in your desired color.