Many homes have wood paneling that covers all or part of a wall in a living room, study, family room, or similar space.

And sometimes paneling is paired with another material on a single wall--it isn't unusual for the top of a wall to be drywall and the bottom half to be wood paneling or wainscoting, for example.

Wood paneling is typically installed as solid, interlocking boards.

Sheets of wood are fairly thin, normally 1/4 to 3/4 inch thick, and are made of different kinds of hardwood that can be given a clear finish or less expensive woods meant to be stained or painted.

Boards may be milled to overlap or to interlock with tongue-and-groove or shiplap edges.

Wood paneling is also sold as a 4-by-8-foot sheet material with a wood-veneered or simulated wood surface.

Paneling may be applied to drywall, directly to wall studs, or to furring strips applied over masonry surfaces.

In many areas, building codes require installing wood paneling over a fire-resistant backing of drywall.

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