How much does wainscoting or board and batten cost in the Chicago suburbs?

Most homeowners in DeKalb County, the Fox Valley, and the northwest suburbs pay between $600 and $1,600. Labor per room with materials supplied by the homeowner. Painting is separate. Homes built before 1978 may need lead safe practices.

How long does it take?

One to two days on site for a typical job.

Does this job need a licensed pro in Illinois?

No state license is required for this work in Illinois. Every pro we send is insured and background checked.

You pay the pro directly. Carpenter Next Door never asks homeowners for payment.

Wainscoting or board and batten

A pro adds panels, battens, or beadboard to the lower wall with a cap rail on top.

One to two days on siteLead-safe work if the home is pre-1978

What this job involves

This adds wood trim to the lower part of a wall, often in a dining room, hallway, or bathroom. The pro lays out the spacing so the panels look even around doors and outlets. The boards are glued and nailed, then a chair rail or cap goes on top. Seams and nail holes are filled and caulked, and outlets in the panel area get box extenders. Painting is separate but the pro can prime the trim.

What to have ready

The feet of wall and the height you want
Photos of each wall with outlets and doors
A picture of the style you like
Whether the materials are bought

What a fair price looks like

Most homeowners in our area pay between $600 and $1,600 for this job. Labor per room with materials supplied by the homeowner. Painting is separate. Homes built before 1978 may need lead safe practices.

This is a range to help you judge a quote, not a quote. The pro you are matched with gives you their own price, in writing for anything over $1,000, and you pay them directly. We charge the pro a small flat fee only after the job is done. We never ask you for payment.

What a good pro will ask you first

Which walls, and how high up?
Beadboard, flat panel, or board and batten?
How many outlets or switches are in the area?
Will you paint it, or should the pro?

People often add

Doors, trim, and carpentryCrown moldingA pro cuts and fits crown molding where your walls meet the ceiling.One day per two rooms Doors, trim, and carpentryInstall baseboard and casingA pro removes old trim and installs new baseboard and door or window casing with tight corners.One day per two rooms Walls, ceilings, and paintAccent wallA pro turns one wall into the focus of the room with paint, wood, or panels.One to two days Walls, ceilings, and paintInterior painting by roomA pro preps, cuts in, and rolls one or more rooms with two coats of paint.One day per room