Our entryway wall needed a simple yet impactful wall treatment to create a customized feel to our builder-grade home, and adding floor-to-ceiling board and batten was the perfect solution. This modern twist to the traditional board and batten is the perfect wall treatment for any home.
Supplies you’ll need:
- Box cutter
- Crowbar
- Hammer
- 1″ x 2″ x 8′ primed eased MDF boards (we used 12′ boards because of the height of our ceiling)
- 3.5″ x 8′ craftsman style baseboard (we used 12′ board because of the length of the wall)
- Miter Saw
- Level
- Tape measure
- Finishing nails
- Finishing nailer
- Tape
- Caulk
- Caulk gun
- Spackle
- Putty knife
- 320g Hand Sander
- Paint (we used one gallon of Sherwin Williams Extra White)
- Paint roller
- Paint tray
- Ladder
Remove the Existing Baseboards
Using a box cutter, you will cut the caulk along the top of your existing baseboards to allow for easy removal of your baseboards. You will then wedge your crowbar between the wall and baseboards and lightly tap the crowbar with your hammer to remove the baseboards. Continue this process until your baseboards are removed.
Measurements
You will need to figure out the amount of eased MDF boards for your project and the appropriate spacing. I knew I wanted to try and stick with the traditional 16″ spacing, but with the length of our 16′ 9.25″ wall, I knew our measurements would not be an exact measurement, but we made it work. Thankfully, the Hubster was able to figure out things pretty quickly, but if math isn’t your thing, my friend, Jules @meadowplacehome, shared an awesome website that figures the measurements out for you!
We ended up using 12 vertical eased MDF boards for our wall spacing each board 15 5/8″ apart. 1 piece of eased MDF board for along the top, and one and a quarter of our baseboards.
Cut and Place MDF Boards
After measurements were finalized, the Hubster began by adhering the baseboards into place with our finishing nailer and 2″ finishing nails. We then placed an eased MDF board on each end of the wall and along the top of the ceiling. Because our walls have minimal texture, we did not have to add any smooth panel boards to the wall to achieve the overall look for this wall treatment. If you have heavy textures on your wall, your application will require the smooth panel boards to be adhered to the wall.
Once the wall was outlined, we then used our tape measure to measure 15 5/8″ from the secured eased MDF board. We measured from the bottom first and used our level to make sure that each piece was straight, secured the piece with our finishing nailer, and then moved up, repeating the same process.
Caulk and Spackle Nail Holes
Using caulk and caulk gun, you will caulk any gaping between each eased MDF board and the wall. This provides a finished and flawless look. Then using a putty knife and spackle, you will fill in each nail hole.
After the spackle has dried, you will use your 320 grit hand sander and remove the remaining spackle from the eased MDF board to complete a smooth and even finish.
Paint
Before you begin painting, you will tape off surrounding areas to ensure clean and crisp paint lines. I used both a small and large roller brush to paint the floor-to-ceiling board and batten wall. I found that painting the eased MDF boards first with a small roller brush and then painting the middle panels with a larger roller brush last was the fastest way to paint. I ended up using three coats of satin paint for this wall.
Finished Project
Overall, this floor-to-ceiling board and batten wall was the perfect way to customize our entryway wall entrance. Although I was sick for most of this project, this floor-to-ceiling board and batten wall was a quick and effective wall treatment. We spent a total of $140 for this 16′ 9.25″ x 12′ wall, which is a killer deal! It adds the perfect statement to our home and compliments our other wall treatment perfectly!
Since we are always working on new things at the Farmhouse, I like to share these projects’ snippets and other parts of my everyday life craziness on my Instagram account.
DISCLAIMER
The power tools listed above are dangerous and if not used properly can result in fatal injures or death. If you are not comfortable using these power tools please consult someone who does.
