Raised Panel Walls and Wainscotting

Walk into any older home from the late 1700's and 1800's and you will find an array of different types of wainscotting and in many instances entire walls that have been paneled. Some have been painted, others finished with a hand rubbed oil. Regardless of the finish, one comes away with the feeling of being surrounded in warmth and elegance. It is this warmth and elegance of years gone by that Maple Grove Restorations now offers for your home of today. New paneling that has the same richness and warmth as that found in the past can now be designed and manufactured for your home.

All wainscotting/raised paneled walls are constructed from solid wood 7/8 inches in thickness. The raised panels can be molded in a variety of profiles as can the stiles and rails (vertical and horizontal pieces that frame the panels). Molding profiles are determined by personal choice, historical precedent and by the influence of other moldings that may already be present in the home.

Panel size and configuration is as much a personal choice as it is dictated by the placement of doors, windows, fireplaces, etc. A sketch of your current room environment would aid in determining the panel size and configuration for your particular application. Design and assembly of the paneled wall or wainscotting sections is always performed with ease of installation in mind.

• Molded Stiles and Rails with a Raised Panel

The molded stiles and rails with raised panels is generally what one tends to think of when a raised panel wall is mentioned. With this type the stile (the vertical pieces of the frame) and the rails (the horizontal pieces of the frame) that form the frame have the edges facing the raised panel molded with a particular profile. See the following diagram.

• Molded Stiles and Rails with a Flat Panel

This type of paneling is very similar to the type previously described, but with one exception.  Instead of incorporating a raised panel, a flat (recessed) panel is substituted.  See the following diagram.

• Flat Panel with Bolection (Applied) Moldings

This type of paneling was much more commonly found in the last one hundred years of home building.  There is a flat panel with stiles and rails that have not been molded, but rather left as a square edge.   To this square edge a band of molding was applied.    See the following diagram.

• Beaded Board Wainscotting

This type of paneling/wainscotting became very popular around the turn of the century. This type of wainscotting is now being manufactured in both 3 and 5 inch face widths in both 3/4 and 1/2 inch thickness. It can be made from any type of wood available suitable for painting or staining. The examples below show the 5 and 3 inch beaded board in a 3/4 inch thickness. The only difference between the 3/4 inch and the 1/2 inch beaded board is the thickness, the profile remains the same.