Fig. 360 shows a section taken vertically through a simple wainscot composed of matched sheathing with a base and a cap mold. The sheathing itself is shown at B, the plaster being at G, with the sheathing placed close against the plaster surface. At C is the base, with the top beveled to receive the sheathing. This method of receiving the sheathing on a beveled top to the base is the best, because dust and dirt will not then collect between the joints of the sheathing at the bottom, and whatever does collect there can be easily cleaned away. At A, is shown tne cap molding which is grooved on the bottom to allow the sheathing to fit up into it. This cap mold runs the full length of the wainscot and stops against the architraves around the windows, so that its projection can not be greater than the thickness of the architrave molding, and it should be about k inch less than this thickness.
In Fig. 361 is shown another kind of wainscoting, the section being taken horizontally through a portion of it. This form of wainscoting is more expensive than simple matched or beaded sheathing, but it is not so expensive as is paneled work. It consists of pieces called "battens," as shown at C, with other thinner pieces grooved in between them, as shown at B. The battens may be inch or 1-1,- inches in thickness, while the panels are usually made inch thick. The width of the various pieces depends upon the design of the wainscoting which can be altered to suit the taste of the designer.
Fig. 362 shows the joint between the panels and the battens in simple paneled wainscoting. In this case, the battens C are grooved as in Fig. 361 and the panels B are tongued into them.
In Fig. 363 is shown a better way to fasten in the panels B, the piece A being separate from the panel and the batten, but the molding is still a part of the batten C itself.
Fig. 364 shows a form of paneling where both the molding D on the face and the piece A on the back are separated, and the batten C is cut with a rabbet to receive the molding on the face so that it will not extend too far on the face of the panel B, in which case it is likely to curl up a little at the edge and become separated from the panel instead of lying flat against it. This latter method is much the best, especially in the case of raised panel moldings.
In dining rooms and in some other rooms it is customary to carry the wainscoting to a height of 5 or 6 feet from the floor and in this case it is usually capped with a member called a "plate rail." Fig. 365 shows a section taken vertically through such a plate rail. The wainscoting or dado A stops underneath the blocking C, and a molded piece B is planted onto the face of the blocking to form a finish. The projection of the rail from the wall is about 31 inches.
Wood Cornices. In many cases the only portion of the cornice around a room which is made of wood, is the picture molding, which is a small molding to the top of which picture hooks may be fastened. Fig. 366 shows several forms which such a molding may take.
When it is desired to have the entire cornice in wood, it should be built up out of comparatively thin pieces, say i-inch stuff, and these thin pieces should be blocked out with rough blocking to the extent desired. In Fig. 367, A, B, and C are furring strips placed about 2 feet apart and the shaded portions represent the pieces out of which the cornice is built up.
Wood Ceiling Beams. It is often necessary or desirable to have beams showing in the ceiling of certain rooms, and these beams may be either true or false, that is, they may be either an ornamental covering for beams which really exist, or they may be entirely orna mental, enclosing nothing which forms part of the real construction of the building.
Fig. 368 shows how a steel beam may be covered and ornamented so as to give a finished appearance in wood in the ceiling. AA are the floor joists, and B is the steel beam. C is the line of the finished floor above, and D is the line of the finished ceiling. E is the finish of the ceiling beam, and F is a little molding to cover the joint between the plaster and the wood.
In case the beams are false, they are constructed in the same way except that the shell is filled in with blocking to take the place of the real beam shown in Fig. 368.
Staircase Finish. The subject of stair building, including the finishing of staircases, is completely covered in the article entitled "Stair Building."