A: Wainscoting is usually a decorative panel or tile that covers the lower section of a wall.  Common types of wainscoting are Raised Panels, Recessed Panels, Shaker Panels and Beadboard panels.  Ceramic Tile is techincally also considered a wainscoting but most people would not classify it as tile.

A: All three have inner panels that are encased in between stiles and rails.  Raised Panels have raised inner panels, Recessed Panels have flat inner panels and Shaker Panels also have flat inner panels with no fancy routs around the inner panels.  Here are some pictures that show various wainscoting panel types.

A: Beadboard has vertically beades that are usually uniformilly spaced on 2 to 8 inches apart.  Traditionally beadboard is made from thin boards that have tounge and groove joints or lap joints.  Beadbaord can also be purchase in thin sheets but the sheet is really classified as a paneling and is more of an inexpensive product. Example courtesy of AmericanBeadboard.com

A: Stiles are the vertical flat sections that separate the inner panels. The rails are horizontal and diagonal flat sections. See drawing below for details.

A: The default stiles and rails widths and heights are in the following table.  You can modify them as necessary in the design tool.

Stile / Rail Type	Flat Width
Left Stile	3.5"
Middle Stile	3.5"
Right Stile	3.5"
Top Rail	4.5"
Bottom Rail	7.5"

A: The panels are 5/8” thick ±0.010

A: The smallest raised panel width is 5". If you have a section less than 5" we recommend using a blank panel. You need to reduce the right and left stile widths to 1/2" to achieve a 5" wide panel.

A: The smallest raised panel height is 6". If you have a section less than 6" high we recommend using a blank panel. You need to reduce the top and bottom rails to achieve a 6" high panel.

A:       Formaldehyde Emissions Regulations

• Meet EPA Formaldehyde Emission Regulation, TSCA Title VI*
• Standards Council of Canada Formaldehyde Emissions Standard for Composite Wood Products – CAN/CSA 0160-16*
• No Added Formaldehyde (NAF) Exempt – N-24-313A*

      Forest Stewardship Council® - Third-party certified 94.4% pre-consumer recycled content.

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A: Please measure twice and order once and please call us if you have questions so that you will minimize the chances of an error.  Each item is custom made to your specifications so, unfortunately, we can not accept returns once a panel is custom made.  Sometimes mistakes do happen and we will work with you to resolve your design issues.

July 14, 2014 Comic Courtesy of www.JohnHartStudios.com

A: It is best to take both a high and low wall measurement for each panel and use the longest of the two measurements when ordering so that you can compensate for walls that are slightly off.

A: You can use a butt joint or a miter joint for the outside corner.  Our recommendation is the butt joint because most installers find it easier.

A: Take your measurement so that one panel will go up against the opposing wall and the other panel will need to be shortened by the 5/8” panel thickness.   You may want to add 5/8" to the the end stile width of the panel going up against the opposing wall so that when installed both panel stiles will match.

A: Large Orders that are more than 120 lbs - Panels will ship in sections up to 90". Based on the length and the number of panels the Web Designer will optimize the length of each section and determine which stile to locate shiplap joint(s). Small Orders that are 120 lbs or less - Panels may ship in multiple sections so that standard UPS ground fees can be applied. If you need the panel to be in one piece up to 90" call our office to determine if there will be additional shipping charges to ship curbside LTL freight instead of UPS Ground.

A: We usually recommend moving the electical boxes a couple of inches to the left or right to miss the wainscoting panel rout.  However there are times when you just can not move the box or it is a heating vent .  For those situations we recommend using the reverse molding which is supplied with every Raised Panel order.   For new construction we recommend that you have your contractor adjust the outlets so that they are located in the center of the bottom rail.  One to two feet of reverse profile molding is shipped with every Raised Panel order.

A: Yes we have a video that shows our guys installing wainscoting and Pediment Heads and Pilasters.  The video is a work in progress because it does not have any audio, but it will provide a lot of good insight into the wainscoting installation process.  Click to Wainscoting America Installation Video.

A: Yes our web designer has multiple configurations available for staircases and stairwells.  We also have a How To Measure a Staircase page that provides step by step measuring instructions.

A: Depending on the configuration and number of inner panels it may be required to fabricate the panels in two or more sections. If more than one section is required the joint(s) will be either a biscuit or lap joint. If we biscuit slot the panels we will provide the biscuits with the order. Joint(s) should have glue applied to the biscuits before joining panels together on the wall. A thin layer of wood fill should then be applied over the joints and sanded smooth prior to priming.  We also recommend using some construction adhesive between the sheetrock and the back of the panel to also ensure there is not movement in the seams.

A: The system will calculate the shipping when you enter your city state and zip.

A: Typically we will fabricate and ship your order within 5 business days. Occasionally orders will spike and the lead time will increase to 7+ days.

A: We will ship your order standard freight from our Wolcott, Connecticut facility. Depending on your proximity to our business the shipping time will be 2 to 7 business days.

A: The size and weight of the order will determine how it will ship. Small orders will ship either UPS or Fed Ex Ground. Large or heavy orders will mostly likely ship with XPO and are curb side delivery for residential addresses. Curb side delivery is where the freight carrier will pull the truck up to the curb and the customer will be required to move them from the curb to the house. The wainscoting panels will be boxed and on a pallet.

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A: All our moldings and beadboard ship in lengths up to 94".  An 8FT molding is considered 94" long.  This 94" limit is based on UPS and Freight Surcharges of $375 for box and pallet lengths 96" or greater.

A: Yes, you must prime all MDF surfaces.  Prime the wainscoting and moldings with a good acrylic primer. We have had great success with Fresh Start Primer (high hiding) from Benjamin Moore because it covers well, dries fast and sands easily.

A: Old timers will tell you that Oil Paints is better than Waterborne Paints because it is more durable and will lay better (less brush lines). Paint Technology has changes dramtically in recent years and we believe the benefits of Waterborne Alkyd Paints out weigh the benefits of Oil Paints and we recommend using them. There are 3 cons to Oil Paints - they yellow over time, have high VOCs (Smell), and the clean up requires harsh chemicals. A good quality Latex Trim Paint will not yellow, is durable and will self level giving a great apperance that will last.

A: There are a number of good quality paints on the market.  Our favorite at this time is Benjamin Moore's Advance Interior Paint.  It is a premium quality Water Reducible Alkyd that is low VOC.  We like this paint because it covers well, does not drag and levels very well (minimizes brush marks). You can go with a satin or a semi-gloss paint sheen. The satin sheen will be more forgiving and will hide most imperfections from your nail heads and seams.

A: This all depends on the type of paint that is used.  If the paint is thick it may leave brush drag marks so you may need to add a paint additive.  We recommend using a good quality primer and paint so usually you will not be required to thin it out.

A: This really is a personal preference. If you are going to spray paint the panels Semi-Gloss is a good choice. If you are going to brush paint the panels then we recommend a Satin Finish. The Semi-Gloss Finish will show imperfections such as filled nail holes and seams if they where not prepped well but the Satin Finish will be more forgiving.

A: No. We use customer information only to process orders.  Paypal handles all payment information to ensure the highest level of security.  We also leverage Trustpilot to send customers 1 email 3 weeks after an order is placed so that we can get accurate customer reviews to provide good informational customer feedback.  This is the only time we will email customers. We do not sell or share information with other vendors.

A: Click on the Contact Us to go to the Contact Us page where you will have an option to call, fax or email us with your questions.  If you have attachments you can email them to info@WainscotingAmerica.com

A: It is critical to store in a dry and low humidity location.  Moisture and water can cause damage and will void our workmanship warranty.

A: We warranty our Wainscoting America panels against defects in material and workmanship for 3 years from date of shipment. Defects caused by improper storage, improper installation or improper finishing will not be covered by this warranty.