I’m starting to plan a raised panel wainscoting project for my dining room. This will be paint grade and similar in style to houses of the late 1700s: View Image
Having priced out the premade systems, I’m leaning toward making the wainscoting myself (though the tooling for that ain’t cheap either). It occurs to me that since wainscoting sits against the wall, it might not be necessary to slot the rails and stiles for the panels. Could I just put a quarter-inch rabbet into the rails and stiles to create a frame that would sit over the panels? That would allow the back of the panel to sit flush against the wall. Comments? All other suggestions welcome. Pete
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Replies
Your idea is one that's been used many times - a slightly different approach, with a very similar effect, can be achieved by following the step-by-step in this article:
Here is the issue, if you want to buy a back copy: http://www.taunton.com/store/pages/fh_toc_165.asp
You can also buy the single article and download it to your computer. Search for it here (use "wainscot", or "raised panel wainscot" as keywords for search):
http://www.taunton.com/store/FHArchive/FHarch_Purch.asp
Justin Fink - FHB Editorial
Your Friendly Neighborhood Moderator
Yeah, I actually have that issue. Stock moldings won't get me the same profile, but the general method might include some ideas.
Pete
While we're on the subject, I'd like to use MDF for the panels since they're going to be 20" X 27" and I want to control cost and seasonal movement. How durable is MDF when you bump into it with a chair, etc? In the attached, pic, the center of the panel is raised 1/16" (circled). Is this edge ok?Pete
And here's a picture of the full profile of the panel and the rails/stiles. Pete
Edited 9/26/2006 8:16 am ET by PeteBradley
I have some edges similar to the 1/16th that you posted, and have had no problems with them going on 10 years.
Here's some raised panels I made from MDF. oil primed and two top coats painted. I set them in stiles and rails and added 1/4 rd. Did both sides of gables. Inside and out.
Probably cost me $50 in materials and the raised panel bit for my Williams and Hussey.
Could have done it on my table saw or router table but I love my Williams and Hussey....she's such a hussey : )
Alfred E. Newman for president (we'd be better off)
You made that stone wall on your Hussey? You da man ;-)
No, he "made" the hussy on the stone wall.
Forrest
Pete, what you;re proposing is perfectly feasible.
I've done a different type of wainscotting in most of the rooms of my house.
One style is from a basic set of raised panel router bits, with the stiles and rails done cope and stick.
Most of the others were "made up" using router bits. A couple other rooms were done just using the table saw. One of those is my favorite. A large swooped cope.
I've used MDF for the panels, and poplar for the stiles and rails. When I finished off the attic I used MDF for the stiles, rails, baseboard, everything. Looks great, though it's not a true "raised panel wainscotting".
I prime MDF with an oil primer and topcoat with either oil or latex paint. I still prefer an oil topcoat for trim, though I'm in the minority there.
Pete,
As Justin suggested Gary Striegler's article is quite good. Instead of a complex bolection molding, I've added a 3/8 bead and attach it around the rail and stiles locking in the raised MDF panel. If you're going to use a router to cut your MDF panels, make sure that you have a vacuum hook-up, and make several shallow cuts instead of one big cut. Good luck and have fun.
Jim
I copied the FHB artical to a t and used the molding from white river. I put the panels up my stairs and in the entrance way. I used mdf for the panels and cut them on my router with a raised panel bit, using a vacuum hooked up to the router table. I made three passes to make the panels, which kept the cut clean. I Used my Kregg tool to assemble the framing, which was made from popular, glued and nailed to the wall. I was real happy with the way everything came out, painted everything with latex white, Benj Moore paint. Sorry, I don't know how to add pictures, I would love to show you.
Sounds great! I'd like to see the pictures.
Adding pictures is easy. When you reply, push the "attach files" button and it gives you directions.
Pete
I gave my drywall guy my only copy of a particular FHB issue from about 5 years ago - there was an article on a new product, raised panel wainscoting in a drywall panel. Paper wrapped and all - stock size, of course, but you just cut and taped and mudded as with regular drywall.
Haven't ever seen the product out in the real world, but the idea intrigues me.
Anybody seen such a thing ?
Greg
Greg
I saw that stuff used on one of the home shows, Bob Vila or Hometime, not real sure.
Like you though, I've never seen it in the real world.
Doug