Installing Pine Panelling

Q: I plan to install 5/8 x 6-inch tongue and groove pine paneling on a 17-foot wall that’s covered by drywall in an unheated cottage. I’m concerned that this much wood will cause trouble by expanding and contracting seasonally. Exactly how should I secure this wood to avoid problems?

A: The first thing to understand is that you can do an excellent job in this situation. Installing paneling of this sort is a breeze if you start correctly. Assuming you'll be orienting the pine vertically, start by securing horizontal strips of 3/4 x 3-inch plywood along the length of the wall, about 2 feet apart with strips also at the floor and ceiling. You'll be nailing into these strips to secure the paneling, so fasten them with #10 x 2 1/2-inch wood screws driven into underlying wall studs. Next comes the paneling itself. Tongue and groove material is best nailed along one edge only, with nails driven through the tongues at an angle. Use a level to ensure that the first boards are installed truly vertical, then check every third or fourth board as you go. By varying the position of the top or bottom of new boards, you can steer the installation back to plumb if needed. You'll find 1 1/2-inch finishing nails are sufficient to hold your pine paneling to the underlying anchor strips. If your wall is an exterior one and could use some extra insulation, consider installing rigid sheet foam between the horizontal anchor strips. Seal the joints between insulation and anchor strips using expanding polyurethane foam for best energy performance.