Only the very best woods are chosen, selected for their beauty, their durability, and their ability to take all kinds of finishes. They accept stain beautifully-antique, cherry, old walnut, or mahogany, or whatever finish you choose and many distinguished decorators have praised the authentic look of Hyde Park Raised Panels. We recommend you take the following precautions to ensure you get the very best from your Hyde Park Raised Panel System.

Installation Tips

1. Lay out and identify all materials, noting lengths of the rails and moldings, so the long lengths get used on the proper walls.
2. Once you have established which rails go on each wall, you will need to check the floor to make sure it is level. Chalk a line around the room, at the height shown on the drawings for the bottom of the bottom rail.
IMPORTANT - The bottom rail must be level and line up at all corners - try to position the nails or screws in the rails low enough to be covered by the base mold.
3. Check the actual wall width measurement with the elevation drawing. If they are the same, proceed with ripping the end stiles to width shown and install. If they are different, correct the difference by ripping the end stiles wider or narrower to fit.
4. Install the end stile. We recommend you apply a bead of latex caulk to the back of the stiles it helps secure it in place until the top rail is in place. We also recommend gluing the spline at the joint of the stiles and rails. If nailing is required on a stile, do it within a 1/2" of the edge where the hold down mold will cover it.
IMPORTANT - Make sure the stile is plumb.
5. Using a tape measure, mark all the locations for the stiles. Do not use the panels to mark off locations for the stiles. The panels are an 1/8" undersize and will cause the panel layout and the hold down mold to not work properly.
IMPORTANT - All stiles must be plumb. A plumb chalk line from the ceiling will help keep stiles aligned properly.
6. If the ceiling is not level, the difference can be accounted for at the ceiling space above the top rail or at the space covered by the chair rail.
7. Use smaller finish or brad nails to secure the hold down mold and all trim where possible. These nail holes are easier to hide with filler for a better look.

Suggested Steps For Finishing:

1. Sand any imperfections or blemishes with 80 grit sandpaper.
2. Sand all parts lightly with 100 or 120 grit sandpaper.
IMPORTANT - Do not fill nail holes or gaps before you stain, the filler material may not stain the same as the wood.
3. Apply a wood conditioner. This prevents the stain from appearing blotchy or looking uneven.
4. Apply stain. Brush, wipe, or spray it on.
5. Seal the wood with a sanding sealer and sand using 220 grit sandpaper.
6. A glazing stain may be applied at this time. Glazing stain is used to bring out the highlights of the grain or to darken.
7. Apply sanding sealer and sand with 220 grit sandpaper.
8. Now fill the nail holes and any gaps using a filler the same color as the stained wood. Dap #33 glazing compound mixed with stain to the proper color works very well.
9. Apply varnish, polyurethane, lacquer, etc. and rub or sand as directed. Apply as many coats as necessary to achieve the desired finish.