Designing Kitchens and Bathrooms - Beadboard paneling and moisture resistance.

Hi everyone,

This is my first post to the site, but I have enjoyed lurking for a while...

I want to put up a beadboard paneling kit in my bath on all the walls, except around the tub, from the floor to about chair rail height (approx 36"). I saw a beadboard kit at Home Depot (with chair rail and baseboard included along with the panel sheets), but it clearly said on the front "not recommended for high moisture areas" so I didn't think it would work in my bath. After some searching, I found a company on the internet that sells these kits using a moisture resistant material called Fiberstrate which is made by Georgia Pacific. This company, Nantucket Beadboard (www.beadboard.com), sells the panel sheets, but doesn't include the matching baseboard and chair rail pieces, so you would have to purchase your own moldings to go with the beadboard paneling. My question is, if I get my own chair rail and baseboard pieces and match them with the moisture resistant panel sheets, there won't be any moisture problems later on with the chair rail and baseboard, right? Is there a certain kind of wood I should use for the chair rail and baseboard? I know nothing about wood types. And should I prime the chair rail and baseboard, and for that matter, the panel sheets, with something other than regular latex primer? Or, should I purchase the panel sheets pre-primed since the company offers that? I would appreciate any advice you can give! Thanks.

You're on the right track. If it's a bathroom, it's better to go with solid wood than mdf or fiber board. And you can't over-prime! I would use a good oil-based primer and topcoat, they'll waterproof better and the finish wears much harder, fares better in a bath or kitchen. On your mouldings, it's a good idea to back-prime, too- prime the back and any cut ends before you install, so all sides ate protected. Good luck!

Thanks! I appreciate the advice.