How to install DIY Wainscoting

Protect your flooring from sawdust, glue and paint with a drop sheet in the working area.

Cut end of Intrim Intense grip adhesive tube. Put the tube into the caulking gun and put aside ready for when gluing is required.

Measure from top edge of your existing skirting boards to underside of chair rail 900mm high, and mark at 3 intervals per 1.8m of wall length

A corner block is supplied for an internal corner. This is used instead of cutting an internal mitre join in the chair rail. Position the corner block with the bottom of the block with the bottom edge of the corner lined up with the pencil line in the step above. Apply some glue to 2 sides and glue into the corner.

Apply Intrim Intense Grip adhesive to chair rail, applying 2 beads of Intrim Intense Grip adhesive along the back of chair rail and install 1.8m length of chair rail, positioning the chair rail bottom on your marked pencil lines

Tip: Consider the length of the wall and where you would place the join in the chair rail. You may prefer the join to be in the least visible location or centred. Determine the lengths of each chair rail piece to acheive this before you start gluing.

Mark the next length of chair rail to be installed. Transfer pencil mark across the face of the chair rail as shown

Position the mitre box on a flat surface. Ideally, do this in the working area. To cut the shorter piece of chair rail on the long wall, place the chair rail into the mitre box, secure it with the wedges in the mitre box and cut a 90-degree straight cut on your pencil mark. Sand the end of chair rail to remove rough edges.  

Tip: If you are working on carpet, put a board under the mitre box to hold the mitre box hold steady as you are working

Take the piece you have just prepared in the step above. Apply the glue and position it on the wall. If you had cut this correctly above it should be a perfect fit.

Tip: Check the alignment of the 2 pieces at the join to the other piece of chair rail to ensure they line up perfectly. Hold for a few seconds until the glue has set sufficiently to hold the piece aligned.

Mark the short chair length on the return wall as shown. Cut a 90-degree square cut, sand the edge and check the cut fits the size before applying glue,

When the size is correct, apply the glue and hold the chair rail in place to allow the glue to bond.

The installation of the chair rail is now complete

You will have already measured the wall to determine how many DIY Kits to order. In the next steps, we will show you the exact dimensions of each wall panel frame. Measure the wall and refer to the Wall Panel Chart to determine how many wall panels and 90mm spacers are required.  

Grab a pencil and piece of paper to note down your workings.

The horizontal length of the wall in mm = X

Number of spacing blocks = Y

No of panels = Z

Horizontal panel size mm = (X – (Y x 90mm)) / Z

Use this formula to determine the individual horizontal length of each panel to the long points of each mitre cut. All panels are exactly the same size with 90mm spacing between them.

In the video example: The overall length of wall is 2635mm minus 360mm (4x90mm spaces) =2275mm (this is the overall horizontal length of the 3 wall panels). This length, 2275mm, needs to be divided by 3 (number of wall panels for this section of our wall) =758mm.

Note: These wall panel dimensions only apply to our wall. You will need to use the same formula for your particular wall.  If you have 2 walls, you may need to make the 2nd wall panels a different size to ensure they have the consistent 90mm spacing.

Identify the inlay mould horizontal and vertical pieces from each panel set. The vertical pieces are 720mm high and have been precut to suit the 900mm chair rail height. They will not be required to be cut, so separate them from the horizontal pieces and put them aside.

Measure and mark the horizontal lengths of the inlay mould to the long points of the mitre cut using the dimensions above. Then transfer 45-degree mark onto the face of the inlay mould to be cut.  

Use the Mitre Box and saw to trim the top and bottom horizontal pieces to the calculated length from step 11. 

TIP: if you have separated your vertical pieces in the step above you will not risk accidentally cutting the wrong piece. The vertical pieces will be 720mm long to long points of mitre cuts.  

Using the supplied 90mm spacer block place the block in the corner, ensuring it is hard up against the chair rail and edge of the wall. Mark the corner position. Repeat for the bottom placing the corner block above the skirting board and into the wall edge.

This will show the starting position of your first piece of inlay mould.

Tip: It doesn’t matter if you work left to right or right to left when installing. However once you have determined which way always work in that direction.

Start installing the first inlay mouldings for wall panels from one end of the wall. Identify the 2 horizontal pieces and 2 vertical pieces that will make the frame. Taking the horizontal bottom piece apply 1 bead of Intrim Intense Grip adhesive along the back of inlay mould.

Place the horizontal inlay onto the wall. Using the 90mm spacer block to support the end that has no location mark on wall. Apply pressure for 10 seconds to each piece of inlay mould when gluing to wall.

Install the first precut 720mm vertical piece to wall onto the pre–marked corner locations. 

Take special attention to the corner mitre joints. You may move the individual inlay pieces slightly, after the initial glueing, to align the corner joints, remembering that you will have to re-apply pressure for 10 seconds to any inlay piece you move before it sets.

Put the 90mm space block into position, and mark the top right-hand corner of the wall panel using horizontal top inlay mould length and 90mm spacer block.  

Install the 2nd vertical piece of inlay to align with this point.

Install the top horizontal pieces of inlay mould to form the full first wall panel box. Check all 4 corners are still aligned and move slightly if required to ensure the best alignment of the corners. Hold in place for 10 seconds. 

Tip: If your corner still has a slight gap after adjusting you can always fill it with a gap filler prior to painting. Hand cutting with the mitre box will not be as precise as a machine cut.

Mark out the next adjacent wall panel by using the 90mm spacer blocks and repeat the preceding steps to make next wall panel. Continue these same steps to complete the installation of wall panels along the length of wall.  

To complete your DIY project. Check the panels and determine if you need to use gap filler for any gaps. This is always recommended before painting to provide a superior finish. Sand smooth any gap filler once set to ensure a quality finish.

As the Intrim DIY Wainscoting kits come pre-primed you do not need to apply an undercoat. You can simply paint the mouldings in your preferred colour and gloss level.

Repeat the same process as for Kit A for installation of wainscoting the higher section of the wall.  

Identify the horizontal and vertical pieces of inlay. Separate the vertical pieces and put them aside.

Cut all the horizontal 850mm long inlay moulds at one end to the same length as used on Kit A installation.  You want your panels to line up perfectly so you should not need to adjust these dimensions.

Place a skirting block on top of your chair rail and mark this position. Measure between the underside of the existing cornice to the top of the spacer block mark.

Subtract 90mm (the top spacer) to determine the length of the vertical inlay.

Use 90mm spacer blocks for this.

Cut all vertical inlay moulds to lengths using mitre box and saw, using the same steps as set out in Option A kit for cutting the 850mm horizontal inlay moulds to length.  

Start installing inlay mouldings for wall panels from one end of the wall by gluing the first base horizontal piece onto the wall, followed by the two vertical inlay mould pieces, then install the top final horizontal piece to form the full wall panel box. Apply 1 bead of Intrim Intense Grip adhesive along the back of inlay mould. Apply pressure for 10 seconds to each piece of inlay mould when gluing to wall, taking special attention to the corner mitre joints. Remember that you will have to reapply pressure for 10 seconds to any inlay piece, you move.  

Install the first horizontal piece of inlay to wall using the 90mm spacer block to support the end that has no location mark on wall, as well as installing first vertical piece to wall onto the pre–marked corner locations.  

Using horizontal top inlay mould length.

Install the vertical and horizontal pieces of inlay mould to form the full first wall panel box of upper wall.  

Mark out the next adjacent wall panel by using the 90mm spacer blocks and repeat the preceding steps to make next wall panel.  

Once completed check for any gaps and apply gap filler if required. Sand the filler when dry for a smooth finish. Paint as desired.

You now have a stunning Wainscoting wall.