Install knotty pine wall covering - global village style

This pine wall covering will surely add warmth and accent to any room. For a natural look, you can varnish the plank or you might prefer to colour the planks with paint or stain to add stigma to the room. Whichever finish you prefer, keep in mind that, with time, the knots will show. This simple and easy project will definitely add texture to your wall.

Before starting to install a pine wall covering, make sure that the wall is smooth and level and that there is nothing that will prevent the planks from lying up flat against it. Allow the wood to acclimatize to the ambient temperature of the room for a few days beforehand.

The following instructions are for wall-to-wall nail installation. We also suggest using adhesive on the back of the planks for greater solidity.


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List of materials
Step-by step instructions

List of materials

  • Planks of knotty pine
  • Mitre saw
  • Measuring tape
  • Hammer or pneumatic nailer
  • 18 gauge 1 ¾" finishing nails
  • Finishing mouldings
  • Adhesive

    • Step-by step instructions

    1. Decide the layout direction for your planks. The planks can be laid horizontally, as in our project, or vertically. They can cover part or all of the wall.
    2. Using a snap line, draw a guide line along the bottom of the wall, parallel with the floor. It is important for the first row to be straight and square.
    3. Determine the position of the wall studs (uprights) so as to nail the planks into these. Studs are usually spaced every 16".
    4. Decide which planks to use and in which arrangement (mix different shades or grains) for the first four or five rows. Choose the straightest full planks for the first row.
    5. The planks do not interlock at the ends. For a smoother finish, cut the ends at a 15o angle so that the planks fit snugly into one another as if you were making moulding. For a more rustic finish, plane the ends of the planks to create an angle.
    6. Lay the first plank along the guide line. Use spacers or shims to align the plank properly and ensure that it is level. Measure the length you need for the second plank and cut if necessary. Start laying the second row with a length of wood left over from the first row.
    7. The first row needs to be nailed by hand, with the tongue edge (male interlock) facing downwards. To do this, bore 1/16" holes in the planks at 45o, ½" from the grooved edge. Start 2" from one end and space the holes every 6".
    8. Push the first plank up to the inside corner of the wall, properly aligned with the guide line, and nail through the guide holes drilled in the previous step. Make sure you nail right through to the wall sill plate. Sink the nail heads with a nail set.
    9. Nail subsequent rows directly into the grooved edge (female interlock) so that the nails show less. Always make sure to nail into the wall studs. Stagger the joints at least 6" to 8" from those of the previous row, and alternate the length of the planks. Try not to use small pieces at the ends of rows.
    10. For the last (top) row, you may need to cut the planks length-wise to fit. Nail the last row in the same way as you did the first, directly into the wall plate, every 6".
    11. Install the baseboards and quarter-rounds along the base of the wall. Nail them directly into the planks. This trim will cover the gap between the wall planks and the floor.
    12. Put up crown moulding along the ceiling to cover the gap between the wall planks and the ceiling. Nail the moulding directly into the planks.
    13. Where the walls meet, use quarter-rounds, coving or simply rectangular wood strips to cover the gap between the ends of the wall planks and the corner of the wall. Glue and nail this trim directly into the planks.
    14. Paint or stain your new wall covering.
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