How to Use Wall Paneling for Flooring

As long as the type of wall paneling you are thinking of using is thick enough and made of a durable enough wood, you can use it as flooring.

1. Inspect the wood paneling to ensure that it is thick enough and sturdy enough to use as a flooring material. The wood should be at least 1 inch thick (or ¾ inch for areas such as closets where there is little foot traffic) and there should be no warps in the planking. If you are dealing with older woods, check for weaker sections and see if you can simply cut them out, leaving the rest of the board good.

2. Mark the pieces of wood to fit over the substrate that is already in place (normally plywood). Put on your safety glasses and work gloves prior to operating the chop saw, and cut any pieces that need it. Dry lay the floor (cut the pieces to fit and lay them together without actually installing them).

3. Put foam padding or glue underneath the wood if you wish. Tap a piece of wood into place with a rubber mallet and nail it with the nail gun. Work your way down an entire row and then work your way back along the next row, butting up each new row against the previous ones. Repeat this process until you have finished the entire room.