How to Remodel a Family Room Using Barn Siding

Reclaimed Wood for Wall Paneling

• 1

  Find the wall studs with an electronic stud finder. Mark the location of the studs with a pencil.

• 2

  Acclimate the wood to your home's environment. Let the wood panels sit in your home for 48 hours before working with them.

• 3

  Clean off the wood. Reclaimed wood may not be clean, or it may have insects. Use a wood cleaner and a rag. Scrub off any surface dirt. Use the end of a chisel to remove stubborn dirt.

• 4

  Sand down splintered areas. Reclaimed wood may not be in good shape. While the rustic look may be desired, actual splinters can cause injury. Sand these smooth.

• 5

  Measure out the length and width of the wall to determine how many panels you will need.

• 6

  Cut the wood panels to fit with a circular saw.

• 7

  Nail up the panels with a nail gun. Lay the boards horizontally across your wall. Drive in a nail through the panels into the studs. Continue until the entire wall is done.

Reclaimed Wood for Rustic Mantels

• 8

  Insert a pry bar behind the old mantel to pry it free from the wall. Be careful not to splinter the wood -- you can recycle it.

• 9

  Remove any old nails that may remain in the wall studs with the back of a hammer.

• 10

  Chisel off the dirt or debris from the reclaimed wood beam.

• 11

  Nail up the reclaimed wood beam to the wall studs. Use the old nail holes from the former mantel as your guide.