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Installing board and battenpaneling in a bathroom adds a traditional look.
This layered design creates texture when light catches the raised battens.
Caulk and latex paint make the board and batten wall waterproof and ready for bathroom use.
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Before You Begin
When planning the board and batten layout, keep these design tips in mind.
For this 8-foot wall, the baseboard will be at the bottom of the wall.
The bottom edge of the top rail will be 48 inches high.
The Spruce / Jacob Fox
Horizontal batten spacing for an 8-foot wall with five battens:
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Start at one end and work down the wall until you’re free to remove it by hand.
Mark the Wall Studs
Use thestud findertolocate the studsin the wall.
The Spruce / Jacob Fox
Cut the three one-by-fours in half (at 48 inches) for the vertical battens.
Attach the Baseboard
Nail the baseboard one-by-six to the bottom of the wall.
Nail into the studs.
The Spruce / Jason Donnelly
Keep a 1/4-inch gap between the bottom of the one-by-six and the floor.
Attach the Side Battens
Nail the left and right side vertical one-by-four battens to the wall.
Attach the Top Rail
Rest the top one-by-six rail on the side battens.
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Nail the rail to the wall studs, as you did with the baseboard.
Attach the battens to the wall with brads or finish nails.
Let the caulk dry for a full day.
The Spruce / Jacob Fox
Let the boards dry for about two hours.
Many board and batten walls are painted in the same color from top to bottom.
Another option is to paint the lower section a darker color and the upper section a lighter color.
The Spruce / Jacob Fox
The wood can be applied directly to the bathroom wall.
Softwoods like pine or poplar or MDF are the best woods for board and batten in a bathroom.
All are susceptible to water damage if left unprimed and unpainted.
The Spruce / Jacob Fox
Prime, paint, and caulk the boards thoroughly once they are installed.
So, a board and batten wall should be about 48 inches tall in a bathroom with 8-foot-high walls.
The Spruce / Jacob Fox
The Spruce / Jacob Fox
The Spruce / Jacob Fox
The Spruce / Jacob Fox
The Spruce / Jacob Fox
The Spruce / Jacob Fox
