Board and batten

Chase the Star
by Chase the Star
What height is recommended? 1/2 wall or 3/4?
  23 answers
  • KMS Woodworks KMS Woodworks on Jul 22, 2013
    This depends a bit on the style of your home. Most wainscoting is done in the 32" high area. Which room it is in may also play a role, as some is set to vanity heights in baths etc. http://www.thisoldhouse.com/toh/article/0,,20304701,00.html
  • Therese C Therese C on Jul 22, 2013
    It really is a matter of personal taste. Depending on what room it is going into, I would say kitchen: 3inches higher than the light switch, or 3 inches below it (same with a bathroom). Living room or bedroom 3/4 height is common, but I prefer 1/2 with paint/wall paper/ or fabric-covered walls to accent the room. Again it comes down to what you like best.
  • Z Z on Jul 22, 2013
    @Kevin beat me to it. He is correct ofcourse. Wainscot is historically 32 inches but can vary according to where it's used as he mentioned. What room are you wanting to install it? @Therese, is also correct in that anymore it seems to have more to do with personal preference than how it was historically used. I've seen it used as high as just a foot short of the ceiling in a bathroom and it looked awesome. If you share photos of the room you'd like to install board and batten that would help us help you better.
  • Chase the Star Chase the Star on Jul 22, 2013
    @Z I want it for my dining room..which is attached to my kitchen.
  • Chase the Star Chase the Star on Jul 22, 2013
    @KMS Woodworks thanks so much! That article says chair height for a dining space...that's what I was leaning towards :)
  • Z Z on Jul 22, 2013
    Barbara, you might want to take your counter height into consideration then.
  • Therese C Therese C on Jul 22, 2013
    Becky ...my thoughts exactly! I do believe that standard counter height is about 36 inches. My dining chairs are 36" as well, but many counters are slightly higher or lower than standard, and chair heights really vary anymore!
  • Chase the Star Chase the Star on Jul 22, 2013
    @Therese C and @Z Would you guys suggest going up to the counter or above it? Why is this so difficult for me?! lol
  • Z Z on Jul 22, 2013
    Barbara, please share a photo. Without it, it would just be a guess on our part.
  • Z Z on Jul 22, 2013
    Sorry, I didn't mean to ignore you @Therese, I was talking to hubby on the phone. Standard height for kitchen cabinets is 34.5 inches without counters. You can get them in other sizes, but that was the standard of the brands we looked at. Bathroom base cabinets are an inch shorter.
  • Chase the Star Chase the Star on Jul 22, 2013
    @Z You're so right..here's one of my kitchen/dining room from last year. Thanks so much for your input!
  • Z Z on Jul 22, 2013
    Thanks for the picture Barbara. Personally I'd have it match up with the height of the base cabinets excluding the counter which is pretty close to standard wainscot height. This would give a continuation of the line of the base cabinets where as if you chose to go with the top of the back splash you'd have the jog up. I love the brick back splash between the counters and upper cabinets. Have you ever thought of bring it up the ceiling above the base cabinets on the left, ending at the edge of the black back splash?
  • Chase the Star Chase the Star on Jul 22, 2013
    @Z Yes I have! Unfortunately the brick was installed by the previous owners and I cannot find the exact match (or close enough). I hate the short granite backsplash it's useless..they did that too! Thanks for the advice, I will definitely take the height you suggested into consideration..I'm really excited to get this project going!!
  • Z Z on Jul 22, 2013
    Those low back splashes used to be standard on most homes Barbara. We have them in our kitchen just because I thought they had to be there, but have both tile and wood above them. though I must say in the case of the wood it was wise to have them. I'd show you want I mean, but I can't access my photos from this laptop. It's running Windows 8 and though my hubby set it up to share with my desktop like our last Windows 7 laptop did, it's refusing to do so. I hate Windows 8. It's too bad you can't find more bricks.
  • Chase the Star Chase the Star on Jul 22, 2013
    I hate windows 8 too! I have it on this new laptop and I mess it up all time! Thanks again for your input!!
  • Z Z on Jul 22, 2013
    I keep hoping they come out with a fix for it. It's worthless. I feel for you. I've been using a computer for nearly twenty years now and this is the worst Windows they've ever came out with. I have an iPhone so I know how to use apps so it's not that. It's just plain user unfriendly. Oh and I posted a photo of our kitchen a year ago before we got our new DW and had to hand wash them so the counters are messy. {{blush}}
  • Therese C Therese C on Jul 23, 2013
    If it were in my kitchen/dinette I would, as Becky suggested, go to the height of the base cupboards. Looking at the picture you posted of your kitchen, I noticed the brick stops when the upper cupboards stop. Have you given any thought to continue the brick up the wall above the solo counter? Jus thought it may look really cool and then the wainscoting would really set the kitchen off and pull the dining room in like one bigger unit instead of individual spaces. Just a thought is all. @Becky..no problem, I didn't feel ignored and loves to the hubby!
  • Chase the Star Chase the Star on Jul 23, 2013
    @Z you call that messy? HA! You should see my kitchen after my 3 boys (one of which I am married to!!) are through with it! :) Looks great!
  • Z Z on Jul 23, 2013
    @Therese, I already brought the brick up. It was done by the previous owner and though Barbara has searched they can not find any matching brick. Yep, I call that messy Barbara. I'm on a cleaning up clutter frenzy and right now that looks cluttered. I'm sure at the time I didn't think so or I'd have not taken the picture. Ha ha ha.
  • OK, I'm confused. B&B is an exterior siding type. In forty some years of remo I never have seen it inside. Why is everyone talking kitchens?
  • Z Z on Jul 31, 2013
    It's been used in interiors for quite some time @Nichter's Home Services Corp. Most notably in Craftsman/Arts and Crafts style of archtechture as shown in the following links... http://artsandcraftshomes.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/1-2-svendsen.jpg http://howtobuildahouseblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/Craftsman-Style-Home.jpg http://arborweb.com/arborview/150.2.jpeg http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-3iUyvE2EZUw/T8ErZu6IkkI/AAAAAAAACXQ/5uD2KTW-9eM/s1600/True+craftsman+style+c.jpg As you can see in the photos linked above it was not painted as you see so often now though.
  • KMS Woodworks KMS Woodworks on Aug 01, 2013
    @Z If I lived in another part of the country I would most likely be living in an arts and crafts style home. They are my favorite hands down. Unfortunately they are non-existent here in my mountain wilderness.
  • Z Z on Aug 01, 2013
    @Kevin, my hubby and I love them too. Looking back I think we might have been wiser to build a Craftsman style home, but I've loved Vics since I was a little girl. The interior of our home leans to the crossover period when Arts and Crafts style homes were new and late model Vics woodwork was simpler. We're pretty sure we're going to do stained board and batten in the Gentleman's Parlor. I can certainly see you living in an Arts and Crafts style home. It would fit you well.