knotty pine paneling

[Sandra F. Schillfarth]

We are purchasing a home built in 1929. There is a small room that was used as a nursery. It has knotty pine paneling and obviously once had a window in it. There has been an addition added beyond that room, so we need to purchase knotty pine paneling to try and cover the area where the window once existed. Does anyone have any ideas to resolve this issue?

[Henry in MI]

Sandra, the knotty pine paneling that you have and what you know as paneling are very different. The knotty pine paneling that was used up through the 1960’s was individual boards milled from boards that were about 1″ x 8″ nominal. Few pine trees are allowed to get that big before harvesting today, which is why plywood has taken over the wall paneling market.

You definately can find the wood boards and you may be able to find boards milled with the tongue and groove edge joints and decorative treatments that yous have. The best place to start is with the oldest lubber yard in your area. They will want to know as much about size and detail as you can provide. A rubbing across the entire edge would be best if you can get to a spot to do this. Probably you will not be able to get this so you might take a couple of pictures in to them. If you include a 12 inch long ruler so they can get some idea of scale, this might help or at least get you to the next step. If they don’t know of a source for matching boards, they should know who could mill new ones for you. They can also give you some idea of cost. It might surprise you what the cost of new will be but that just indicates also the worth of what you have.

Henry in MI

[rocket scientist]

another thing to consider…….gut out the window opening and build a built-in bookcase/display case in the opening using pine. Finish to match existing paneling, add some moulding…done

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