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Fine Homebuilding Project Guides

Finish & Trim Carpentry

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Chapter
  • Trim Design
  • Tools and Materials
  • Interior Trim Basics
  • Window and Door Casings
  • Baseboard and Crown Molding
  • Wainscot and Paneling
  • Mantels and Fireplace Surrounds
  • Coffered Ceilings
How-To

Trimming a Window on a Paneled Wainscot Wall

Learn how to measure, cut, and install window casings before fitting shop-built wall paneling.

By Gary Striegler, Justin Fink

In this Project House video series, Justin Fink visits Arkansas, where longtime finish carpenter Gary Striegler teaches his simplified technique for building and installing paneled wainscot. Although Gary has done wainscot many ways, this is one of his favorite approaches because it’s fast but doesn’t sacrifice appearance for speed. The heart of the approach is using a pocket-screw-joined frame assembled on a workbench or sawhorses, which is then finished with a piece of plywood attached to the backside and panel molding attached to the front. Then, the wainscot is installed in prebuilt sections.

Episode 1: Windows, Doors, and Backband Molding

Before the wainscot panels can be sized and cut, the trim surrounding the windows and doors has to be measured, cut, and installed. The standard package includes an extra deep window stool and casing around the windows and doors, but Gary also shows us how to get a bit of extra depth on the edge of a piece of casing by adding a backband to the outside edges of the casing.

windows, doors, and backband molding Episode 1: Windows, Doors, and Backband Molding

Whether new house or remodel, wainscot always starts the same: trimming windows and doors.

Sizing and assembling wainscot panels Episode 2: Sizing and Assembling Wainscot Panels

Plan the wainscot panels on the wall, but build them on the bench

Wainscot cap and two-piece baseboard molding Episode 3: Wainscot Cap and Two-Piece Baseboard Molding

With the panels in place, it’s just a matter of adding molding to finish the job

Installing crown molding Episode 4: Installing Crown Molding

No wainscot job is complete without a run of crown molding above to visually anchor the whole installation


Read the companion article:

Project House: A Simple Approach to Paneled Wainscot

A Simple Approach to Paneled Wainscot

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Previous: Precision Window Trim Next: Window Casing with a Fillet

Guide

Finish & Trim Carpentry

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Window and Door Casings

View Comments

  1. User avater
    Aspectman | Jul 23, 2018 04:50pm | #1

    MAYBE in Episode 1, the contributing editor of the magazine should not lean all the way over into the center of the Window to install a nail - while taking one foot off the ladder to make the reach (@ 6:44 point of video). I know I'm a pot calling the kettle black here, but I don't publish a major magazine touting safe work habits. I just read and enjoy all the great tips and information.

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Trim Design
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Wainscot and Paneling
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Mantels and Fireplace Surrounds
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Coffered Ceilings

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