Installing an accent wall in your home can be relatively easy if you do your homework and plan ahead. We are here to make sure you have the tools and knowledge to make your project a success.

Tools Needed

• Caulk gun
• Construction adhesive
• Dust mask
• Hammer or brad nailer
• Jigsaw or small hand saw
• Leve
• Miter saw or miter box
• Nails
• Paint
• Pencil
• Roller brush and Pan
• Safety glasses
• Square
• Tape measure

Step 1: Calculate Wall Square Footage

You’ll need to figure out how much shiplap to buy. To do this, measure the height and width of the wall and multiply those to get the square footage. If your wall was 9 ft. high by 12 ft. wide, you would multiply 9x12 to get 108.

Once you have the square footage of the wall, you will want to look at the square footage per board. Our weathered wood accent boards come in 10 piece kits and cover 10.3 square feet per kit. To cover a wall with 108 square feet, we’d need 11 kits (108/10.3 = 10.5, rounded up to 11).

Before Installation

Once you have bought your product, it is a good idea to let the products acclimate to the temperature and humidity of the room. We recommend at least 48 hours to acclimate since boards may warp and cup slightly after being exposed to different levels of temperature and humidity. 

Step 2: Prepare the Surface

When installing square-edged boards with no lipped edge, it is recommended you paint your wall a dark color. The dark color will help hide and cracks or crevasses that may develop between the boards if boards shrink or cup slightly during the acclimation process or after installation.

Start by cleaning the surface of the wall with soapy water, then remove any nails and outlet covers.  Make sure you allow plenty of time for the walls to dry so they won’t be sticky when installing the product. We recommend doing this while the boards are acclimating.

Step 3: Locate your Studs

Use a stud finder and a straight edge to mark your stud locations. (Studs are typically spaced 16 inches on center.) We also recommend pointing the stud finder at yourself or a significant other and making the beeping noise at least once before locating all the studs! 

Step 4: Pick a Pattern

You may want to consider a vertical staggered, horizontal staggered, herringbone or diagonal staggered pattern to complement your decor. 

Installing vertically will require the addition of furring strips along the wall. Full-length furring strips must be installed a maximum of 24 inches on center. Use standard construction nails or screws. Fastener length should be long enough for 1 1/4”-1 1/2” of penetration into solid wood framing.

Step 5: Draw a Reference Line

Once all the studs are marked, pick your starting point on the wall. We recommend you use a level to create a reference line. Even if you are starting at the floor, you should always use a reference line since not all floors and ceilings are created level. 

Step 6: Install Boards on Reference Line

For a permanent installation, apply a liberal amount of construction adhesive, per the manufacturer’s instructions, to the back of your board before nailing in place. Place the first board along your reference line and press it onto the wall. Make sure this board is level, then nail into studs. (For a semi-permanent installation, attach your board with nails only.) Continue adding pieces end-to-end following your reference line. Trim the final piece as needed with a miter saw for an even fit. 

Recheck with level again. (Due to the natural characteristics of hardwood, each row should be rechecked with a level.) If the row of boards is level, continue with each row until the wall is complete. Be sure to stagger the boards as you install each row. Avoid placing two seams directly above each other in adjacent rows. Be sure to lay out the boards ahead of time to get the desired finished appearance.

Step 7: Measure and Cut Around Outlets

If a board needs to be cut to make room for an outlet, place the board in place and mark the area that needs to be removed. Be sure to account for the outlet and the cover plate, as the cover plate needs to be mounted flush on the drywall, not on the weathered wood board. (Consult a licensed electrical contractor for any electrical modifications.) Mark these measurements on the board with a square and cut out with a jigsaw before attaching to the wall.

Watch the full installation video

Download our Weathered Wood Accent Boards Installation Instructions for quick and easy reference. For all other installation instructions, visit our installation instructions page.