Replies

1. 
   hammer1 | Feb 01, 2007 07:50pm | #1

   Solid wood is going to shrink and swell with seasonal changes. Solid wood raised panels over 24" wide could move 3/8" +-. With plywood, you can go full width 48". The wider the stiles and rails are, the more they may move. Personally, I try to stay under 24" for my solid raised panels and under 4" for the frame. However, a lot depends on the look you are after, as well as the size of the walls. Some of the old New England homes could have 36" wide, single board, panels over the fireplace along with very wide stiles and rails. Normally you want the panels throughout a paneled room to be relatively the same size in width. This will depend on the different wall widths and perhaps interruptions, like doors and windows. If you do the math for the room, there are often, only a few choices. I like to draw out one of the options on a large roll of paper, cut it out and tape it up in the space. You will get a pretty quick idea if you are on the right track.

   Beat it to fit / Paint it to match

2. 
   lokiloki1 | Feb 02, 2007 02:06am | #2

   How big are you thinking of making your panels?  If you are going to do something like wainscotting I would make the rails and stiles 2 inches to the edge detail on them.  If you are thinking of floor to ceiling I would make them 4 inches to the edge detail.  Whatever you do, good luck.