Skinny Board and Batten Tutorial

Materials:

·       Cove molding: 11/16 x 11/16 in. Oak

·       Top board: 1 x 3 inch Pine

·       Vertical boards: 1 x 2 inch Pine

·       (Optional, I did not use this) Base/Bottom board: 1 x 3 or 1 x 4 inch Pine

·       (Optional) Cap- Decorative ornamental molding or slightly deeper ledge to hold pictures, etc.

·       Adhesive (Recommended: Loctite Power Grab Heavy Duty)

·       Paintable, Adhesive Caulk (Recommended: DAP Kwik Seal for bathrooms)

·       Nail/Wood Filler (Recommended: DAP plastic wood filler)

·       # 4 or # 6 finish nails

·       (Optional) Nail Setter

·       Sand paper

·       Primer

·       Paint and brush/roller– I used Sherwin Williams Alabaster for the walls and Sherwin Williams Balanced Beige for the Board and Batten

*When picking boards, look down the top of the boards to ensure you are choosing the straightest ones. If a board is very warped it will make the process of adhering to the wall more difficult.

Let me know if you want specific links for exact materials used!

Tools:

·       Level

·       Hammer

·       (Optional) Table or Miter Saw. Home depot / Hardware stores can also do cuts for you if you take precise measurements.

·       (Optional) Nail Gun

Step 1: Measure your space.

Measure the area you want to do to determine how close together you want your boards (painter’s tape can help you visualize this if desired). This will help you determine how much material to buy. Remember – 1 x 2 inch boards are actually about .75 x 1.5 inches so make sure you take this into account when measuring and spacing. I recommend making a “spacer” to help space your boards apart instead of needing to measure each time.

Step 2: Use the adhesive and finish nails to first attach the cove molding on top of the baseboards. This allows for a flat edge for the vertical boards to rest on. Next, use your spacer (or measure) to attach your vertical boards. Use just a moderate amount of adhesive- you don’t want any squeezing out of the sides. If you are not using a spacer, use a level to ensure boards are straight. Once the vertical boards are on, add the top horizonal board and decorative molding. Just rest them directly on top.

Step 3: Use your nail setter and hammer to push finish nails a bit deeper into the wood, fill with wood filler, and lightly sand down once dry. It is also helpful to add wood filler where boards meet for a more seamless look. Finish by caulking all seams.

Step 4: The final step is to prime all your boards and then paint with color of your choice! I did one coat of primer and 2 coats of paint, with a paint brush around edges and trim and a roller on the rest.