I’m going to put up some wainscoting and I’m not sure what kind of wood to use. I plan on staining it, and I plan on going to a lumber yard rather than the local home center. It’s going to go up about 2/3 of the way up the wall (sort of an Arts and Crafts look). Any thoughts?
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Replies
I used oak wainscotting in the study I'm remodeling (slowly...). If you are going to stain it, I'd think you'd want to go with a hardwood like oak, cherry, mahogany, etc.
Be warned that a friend of mine installed pine wainscotting from a lumberyard that was not dried enough. After one season, there are huge gaps because of excessive drying/shrinkage. I've had some of mine installed for over a year and the was some movement over the winter, but nothing unexpected.
If arts and crafts style is what you are looking for, I would check out oak--either red or white would be nice. I'd stay away from pine, too fussy and it bangs up easily.Justin Fink - FHB Editorial
For stained woodwork, you can't beat cherry, my favorite wood in the whole wide world. Arts and crafts, however, almost demand a fumed white oak. Forgo the fuming for staining.