Interior Walls
The Warmth of Wood on Interior Walls
The Warmth of Wood on Interior Walls
Many homes have wood paneling that covers all or part of a wall in a living room, study, family room, or similar space. And sometimes paneling is paired with another material on a single wall, for example, it isn’t unusual for the top of a wall to be drywall and the bottom half to be wood paneling or wainscoting.
Wood paneling is typically installed as solid boards milled to overlap or to interlock with tongue-and-groove or shiplap edges. Wood paneling is also sold in 4-by8-foot sheets that are fairly thin, normally 1/4 to 3/4 inch thick. These sheets are made from different kinds of hardwood that can be given a clear finish, less expensive woods meant to be stained or painted, or with a wood-veneer or simulated wood surface.
Paneling may be applied to drywall, directly to wall studs, or to furring strips applied over masonry surfaces. In many areas, building codes require installing wood paneling over a fire-resistant backing of drywall.