EASY step-by-steps TO BUILD A WOODEN FEATURE WALL

Here’s how

STEP 1 Measure distance from skirting board to top of wall. Deduct 10mm, then use a circular saw to cut backing boards to this length. Remove dust and apply undercoat to one face of board.

STEP 2 Use stud finder to locate studs in plaster wall. If you don’t have a stud finder, tap along wall until sound changes from hollow to solid. To exactly confirm location, drill small holes along this area until you hit the stud and mark its edge. The centre of stud is about 25mm from this point. Draw a plan showing the distance from one corner to centre of each stud along whole wall.

STEP 3 At corner where you measured from in Step 2, place 5mm packing on top of skirting board. Sit backing board on top of packers and push against wall. Nail sheet at the corner to hold it against wall.

STEP 4 Using the plan drawn in Step 2, measure along backing board and mark position of centre of studs. Use a spirit level to draw a plumb line at each mark to act as a guide for your screws.

STEP 5 Predrill for screws along drawn lines using a countersinking bit. Space screws roughly 300mm apart. Screw through drilled holes into wall to secure backing sheets.

STEP 6 Fill screw holes using quick-drying filler. Let dry, then sand smooth. Remove dust.

STEP 7 Apply 2 coats of matt interior paint to backing boards. Allow to dry after each coat. STEP 8 With fence attachment on saw, cut decking along its length. Don’t cut it exactly in half so that you end up with strips of different widths.

STEP 9 Use sander with fine sandpaper to sand the cut edges of decking smooth. To make finishing the timber strips easier when they’re on the wall, apply 2 coats of water-based polyurethane to edges of strips. Allow to dry after each coat.

STEP 10 Cut strips of timber to length to suit height of wall. Position first strip against wall and make plumb. Use nail gun to fix strip to backing board, nailing every 300mm. Nail another strip adjacent to first, using 10mm plastic packers between them to maintain an even gap. Continue fixing strips to wall in this manner until wall is covered.

STEP 11 Fill nail holes using wood filler colourmatched to timber colour. Allow to dry, sand smooth and remove dust.

STEP 12 Apply 2 coats of polyurethane to faces of timber strips.