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Instead of drywall, many homeowners use paneling to sheath their new basement walls. There are two types of paneling products available. The most popular is a laminate that comes in 4 X 8 ft. sheets with a decorative design on one side. The other type is wood or laminate tongue-and-groove strips that interlock to form the wall surface. Typically, 4 X 8 ft. panels are easier and faster to install. Remember to acclimate the panels before installation. That is, bring them into the basement and let them come to room temperature and humidity. Depending on the surface on which you are installing them, panels can be fastened with nails or adhesive. If nails, select finish nails of the same approximate color as the panel so the nail heads blend in. Alternately, you can fill the nail holes later with a colored filler. Drive the nails about 8 in. apart into the studs. Adhesive is applied on studs or directly on a masonry wall, then the panel is placed in position and pressed. Use a heavy roller to seal the panel to the adhesive. If you need to cut a panel, do so with a power saw finish side down. If cutting with a hand saw, keep the finish side up. These methods will minimize damage to the finish. Remodeling Tips To mark the location of fixtures that need panel cutouts, mark the perimeter of the fixture with lipstick and press the panel in place.
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