When setting out to build a new home, cabin, cottage, she shed, man-cave, shack, barndominum, airbnb; one of most important steps is deciding how you will finish the walls and ceiling. After framing, running electric wire, plumbing and insulation you will be ready to start the paneling process.
It's recommended that you plan for your paneling material before the insulation is finished, but it's never too early to start thinking about what type of finished walls you're going to have. There are a few important aspects of a finish: type of paneling, stain, installation orientation and seal. Even within these options, there are variations that must be considered.
Wood paneling has different dimensions and shapes. Although there is 2" paneling, today's focus is going to be on the 1".
One way to attack this is by determining a material width first. Common sizes are 1x4, 1x6, 1x8 and 1x10. You can also find custom widths by custom shops if need be. Expect to pay more for the wider and longer pieces per square foot.
1x4 can save money, but won't save you time. You'll need to put in more cutting, pushing and nailing to cover the area that you're working on. The slim, slender boards will provide a classic look. Narrower boards seem to have been more popular in previous generations. We often see this width used in restoration projects and also in projects trying to maintain a smaller budget or for certain applications like a chair rail. Typically a 1x4 tongue and groove will have a 3 1/8 reveal.
1x6 is the most commonly used width of wood wall paneling. It provides a nice balance of flat space, style in the joints and affordability. It installs at a moderate pace. This is what the majority of projects will incorporate, especially for exterior ceilings over porches, decks, patios, pool houses and outdoor kitchens. 1x6 tongue and groove generally has a 5 1/8" reveal.
1x8 is a bit wider and goes up fast. And 1x10 is rare but is generally the widest and fastest to install. Both of these tend to have a more bold appearance. These options can be favored for larger areas with high walls, but also used instead of 1x6 in most interior purposes. 1x8 is usually features a 6 3/4 inch reveal. And the 1x10's reveal is 8 3/4" wide.
There are many decisions that need to be made when choosing wood wall paneling. How much to use? What type of wood should you use? What width to use? What length material? What profile use to use? What stain to use? What finish to use?
But concerning the width, you will want to verify with the supplier what the reveal of the material will be when you calculate how many pieces the job will require.
Wood is a great option and superior to dry wall for durability purposes. Consider using wood wall paneling in high traffic area. Even if you want to do dry wall for a portion of the wall, you should think about using wood for the bottom portion, especially in areas that tend to be used for more rugged purposes.
This article is the first in the series of 1" wood paneling.
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