I work as a finish carpenter in the Santa
Barbara, Calif., area. Although some of
my finish work has included installing
the cheap, faux-walnut panels found on
the walls of mobile homes and basements,
I've also had the pleasure of working
with intricate hardwood paneling
and ornate frame-and-panel wainscoting.
On those occasions, I've had to use a couple
of tricks to prepare the out-of-true
walls to receive the paneling.
Spot Check
It's crucial to thoroughly check the
floor, walls, and ceiling of the room for
level, plumb, and square. I start at the
floor and use a builder's level or water
level to locate the highest point in the
flooring. Because I've been caught
before, I also make