How To Install A Reclaimed Wood Wall
Tool List
Gloves
Goggles
Ear Plugs
Dust Mask
Before You Get Started
As with any wood planking, be sure to acclimate boards in the room they will be installed in for 3-5 days to avoid contraction or expansion.
Preparation
Make sure that your surface is relatively flat, smooth, clean, dust-free, and structurally sound. Painting the wall or ceiling a color similar to your wood is an optional step, this will help camouflage any knot holes or slight gaps between boards.
Reference line
We recommend starting your reclaimed wood wall installation at the top or bottom of your wall. Prior to starting make sure the area where you will begin your first row is level.
Reclaimed wood varies in texture and color hues. We recommend laying out 1-2 packs of planks prior to installation to see how the different boards will look together once on your wall.
Do not remove banding from the bundles of wood that you do not plan on installing that day.
Gaps
There may be small knot holes and/or slight gaps between boards. If you didn't paint your wall ahead of time, a sharpie can be used to color in these spaces.
Construction Adhesive
Apply construction adhesive (Liquid Nails or similar) to the backs of the planks. Keep the adhesive away from the edges so the adhesive won’t ooze beyond the plank once applied to your wall. A continuous “S” pattern or squiggle line works best.
Are you a visual learner? Check out our helpful videos on how to install a reclaimed wood accent wall.
Secure With Nails
Place the board flush with your selected straight edge (floor, ceiling, or reference line). While holding the board in place, put nails in the four corners approximately 1/2 inch from the edge of the board. The nails will keep the reclaimed wood from warping or cupping as the adhesive sets.
If your project involves trimming the boards at angles, you can reference 1:51 in the She’s the Carpenter installation video further down the page.
Continue
Repeat step 5 with the next board. Continue until you reach the edge of your wall or ceiling. Remember to stagger your reclaimed wood planks so the ends of your boards don’t line up and create seams that are too close together. A good rule of thumb is to keep the edges of the planks at least 8 inches apart from row to row.
When finishing a row, keep the cut piece. This piece can be used to start your next row, or fill gaps later on in the project.
Repeat Until Complete
Repeat steps 1-6 until your wall or ceiling is completely covered by your reclaimed wood planks.
Trim Final Boards
Trim final boards to length and apply them to the wall in the same fashion as the planks in the steps above.
Video Tutorials
She's the Carpenter
Centennial Woods
need more information?
Installing a reclaimed wood wall can be intimidating, but by following the steps above you’ll be on your way to a beautiful accent wall in no time. If you are unsure how to install wood wall planks or have questions about the process, talk to a reclaimed wood expert at Centennial Woods - we’re happy to help!
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