Guide: How to Build a Wood Slat Wall

Building a wood slat wall yourself can allow you to make significant savings. Construction lumber generally costs much less than ready-to-install decorative panels, and you can easily get the materials at a hardware store.

The principle is quite simple: you choose your slats, you protect them with the desired finish, then you attach them to the wall. To get a solid installation, however, you will need to locate the studs (studs) behind the wall to properly install the slats.

Building your own batten wall also gives you much more freedom to personalize your decor. You can choose the wood species you like, the width and thickness of the slats, as well as their dimensions according to the size of your room. In short, you adapt the project to your space rather than trying to adapt your space to a prefabricated panel.

Obviously, this option requires more work. You will have to handle all the steps, from wood preparation to installation. You also need to be a little more comfortable with manual work than just attaching decorative panels to the wall.

That said, the project remains relatively accessible. With a little planning, the right tools, and good preparation, building your own wood slat wall is entirely achievable.

Here are the steps you will need to follow:

Preparing your wall for installing wood slats begins with a good surface cleaning. The goal is to remove dirt and grease that can hinder paint adhesion.

Clean the support wall

To clean your wall, use a surface preparation cleaner, such as T.S.P. It is important not to choose a cleaner that is too aggressive or that will leave a greasy residue on the wall. This could prevent the paint or glue you apply from adhering to the surface.

• Start by diluting the cleaner according to the dirt present on the surface. Refer to the mixing ratio suggested by the manufacturer. Mix in a plastic bucket.
• Spread the solution using a sponge or a lint-free cotton cloth. The sponge is practical for scrubbing stubborn stains without damaging the wall finish. If the wall is very damp or wet after cleaning, wipe it with a dry cloth to dry it.
• Allow the wall to dry completely before moving on to the next steps.

Painting your wall before installing the wood slats

Are you dealing with a new drywall? Or perhaps you are considering painting the wall a special color that will make your future wood slat wall stand out even more?

In both cases, now is the time to do it.

Once the slats are installed, painting the wall behind them becomes much more complicated. It is therefore preferable to complete all painting work before assembling your wood slat wall. This will allow you to work much more easily and achieve a clean result down to the smallest corners.

When should you apply a primer?

Primer allows you to seal the surface and prepare it to receive the finish paint. A coat of primer is necessary when:

• The wall has never been painted before.
• You want to cover a dark color or apply a dark color.
• Several special cases (smoke stains, humidity or mold problems, etc.)

If you want to know more about which primer to choose for your project, read the following article: Interior Primer Buying Guide.

Applying the primer

Primer is applied almost in the same way as finish paint.

• Start by cutting in (painting wall corners, around moldings, etc.) using a polyester brush. If you are applying an oil-based or solvent-based primer, choose a bristle brush instead.
• Once the cutting in is done, do the rest of the wall with a roller. Use a 10 mm roller. If you are working as a team of two, one person can handle the cutting in while the other takes care of the roller.
• Allow the primer to dry according to the manufacturer’s instructions. In the vast majority of cases, a single coat of primer is sufficient.

Applying the finish paint

Finish paint is the final touch given to the wall. For interior walls, a velvet finish latex paint is normally recommended. This finish offers some washability without making wall and paint imperfections too apparent.

• Start by cutting in. Then, cover the entire wall with a roller. You can do both simultaneously by working as a team of two.
• For applying latex paint, use a polyester brush and a 10 mm roller.
• Between coats, allow the paint to dry according to the manufacturer’s instructions (generally 2 to 4 hours).
• Apply a second coat and allow the paint to dry completely before proceeding to the next steps.

Once the surface is well prepared, you now need to locate the studs. Studs are the vertical supports that make up the wall structure behind the drywall.

This step is important, as it is into the studs that you can securely fasten your wood slats. If you only attach the slats to the drywall panels, they risk pulling away and damaging your partition.

The best tool to help you with this is a stud finder. This electronic device will indicate where the studs are thanks to resonances. You can easily find one at a hardware store for a moderate price.

Using it is very simple: you just have to pass the detector over the partitions and the screen will show you where the studs are.

You can also look for studs by tapping the wall and paying attention to the sound. It will sound solid when you hit a stud. Some people prefer to drive a nail into the partition to ensure there is a piece of wood on the other side.

These ‘old-fashioned’ techniques also work very well. However, it may take you a little longer, and you have to account for a larger margin of error.

Once the wall is well prepared and completely dry, you need to delimit the section where you want to install your wood slats. This step will allow you to plan your project well and determine the quantity of wood needed as well as the dimensions of your slats.

This is also a good time to think about the spacing between each slat. Do you want a denser effect, with closely spaced slats, or a more airy result? You will also need to choose their orientation: vertical or horizontal. This simple choice can completely change the appearance of the wall and the visual effect in the room.

Once you have made your choices, delimit the area directly on the wall with painter’s tape or a pencil. This will give you a clear visual reference to plan your installation and easily align your slats as you go.

Whether it’s to personalize your Lattö, Woodzco panels or to build a wood slat wall yourself, taking charge of the wood finish is an excellent way to save money.

In many batten wall projects, the labor cost for finishing can be equal to or even higher than the price of the materials. This is where you can make a good portion of the savings on your project.

In addition, wood finishing is a relatively simple step to do yourself. With the right products and a little preparation, you can achieve exactly the look you are looking for without unnecessarily increasing the bill.

• Option 1) Apply a natural oil

If you want to preserve the natural look of the wood as much as possible, single-coat oil can be a particularly interesting option. As it penetrates the wood, it enhances its grain while giving it the desired color when tinted.

You could also choose another natural oil, but single-coat oil offers a significant advantage: a single coat is enough to completely protect the wood. You therefore get the desired finish and protection without having to apply multiple coats, which saves you time on your project.

Steps to oil your wood battens

A) The wood must be clean

The wood slats or Lattö or Woodzco panels must be clean to allow the oil to penetrate. If necessary, clean with a surface preparation cleaner and let the wood dry completely before sanding.

B) Sand the wood slats/battens

To allow the oil to penetrate well, offer good durability, and obtain a uniform finish, the wood must be well prepared before application. Sanding therefore plays an important role in the final result.

The grit of the sandpaper to use depends notably on the wood species.

• For soft wood like pine, used notably for Lattö panels, a 150 grit is suitable.
• For harder woods like maple, birch, or oak, prefer a 100 or 120 grit.

Some tips for successful sanding:

• Always sand in the direction of the wood grain.
• If you use an electric sander, avoid staying in the same place for too long. You risk digging into the surface or creating marks that are difficult to remove.

C) Dust off the wood slats

Once sanding is complete, all dust must be thoroughly removed before applying the oil.

• For hardwoods, you can wipe with a cloth lightly dampened with methyl hydrate. In addition to removing dust residues, it helps open the pores of the wood, which can promote more uniform coloring.
• Be careful with softer, more porous woods like pine. In this case, it is better to dust dry. Using methyl hydrate can accentuate color penetration and result in a darker finish than expected.

When in doubt, always do a small test on a wood scrap before treating all your slats. This way, you can check the color and appearance of the finish before you start.

D) Apply the oil to the wood slats or battens

Once your wood is well prepared, you can move on to applying the oil to the slats.

• Start by applying the oil to the surface using a bristle brush, an applicator pad, or a clean, lint-free cloth.
• Allow the stain to penetrate the wood for 5 to 10 minutes.
• Then, wipe off the excess oil from the surface using a clean, lint-free cotton cloth. It is important to wipe off the excess oil following the direction of the wood grain. This way, the oil penetrates better into the wood fibers. Wiping the oil in the direction of the grain also helps you achieve a beautiful, uniform result.
• Allow the oil to dry for 24 hours. Then, you can install the boards or battens on the wall as you wish.

Option 2) Paint your wood slats

Paint is another interesting option to give your wood slats a completely different personality. Unlike oil, which leaves the wood grain clearly visible, paint offers an opaque finish that masks the grain and much of the wood’s natural character.

Therefore, it is not the preferred choice if you want to preserve the warm and organic appearance of wood. However, if you are looking for a cleaner, modern, or chic look, paint can be an excellent option.

In addition, the choice of colors is practically unlimited. You can therefore match your slats to the color of your walls, create a contrast, or simply choose a shade that integrates with the rest of your decor.

Painting the slats step by step

A) Clean and sand the wood

Preparation is the same as for applying a natural oil. With one difference: you are not obliged to sand the wood if the surface is smooth to the touch. Paint will adhere to the wood even if it is not sanded.

However, if you want as smooth a finish as possible, it’s a good idea to do a light sanding.

B) Seal wood knots (if necessary)

Do your wood slats (or battens) have very apparent knots and you want to make them disappear? You will need a primer shellac to permanently seal the knots.

• Apply the primer locally to the knots with a bristle brush.
• Remember to ventilate the room well while applying the sealant. Shellac-based primers often have a very strong odor.
• Wait the drying time recommended by the manufacturer – 45 minutes, in the case of BIN – then move on to the next step.

C) Apply the paint

La peinture minérale Fusion est un excellent choix pour tes lattes de bois. C’est une peinture très résistante qui peut être appliquée sans vernis. Un autre point qui joue grandement à sa faveur : Fusion adhère directement sur le bois, pas besoin d’appliquer un apprêt.

• Do you want an artisanal-looking finish? Use a chalk paint brush. This brush will reproduce a texture similar to that of antique furniture. If you are looking for a smoother effect, for a more modern look, use a flocked foam roller or Staalmester.
• Apply a first coat of Fusion paint following the wood grain for a more uniform result.
• Allow to dry for 3 hours, then apply a second coat to properly cover the wood grain and achieve maximum durability.
• If you want to add extra resistance or change the look of the Fusion paint, you can cover it with a varnish, but this step is not mandatory.

Option 3) Stain and varnish the wood slat wall

This is probably the most elaborate finishing system and therefore also the one that requires the most time. You must first apply the stain to give the wood the desired color, then add a coat of varnish to protect it. You will therefore need to plan for two finishing products rather than just one.

The advantage of this method is that it gives you a lot of control over the final result. You can choose the color of the stain and the level of sheen of the varnish to create exactly the desired effect. For example, a glossy varnish will give a more chic and modern look, while a matte finish will maintain a more sober and natural appearance.

Varnish also offers good wear resistance and makes the surface easier to clean daily. It is therefore a particularly interesting option if your wood slat wall is in an area where it is likely to be touched or soiled regularly.

Stain and sand step by step

Good wood preparation is essential to obtain a beautiful finish. Like oil, stain must be able to penetrate the pores of the wood to color the surface uniformly.

A) Clean the wood slats

Start by making sure your slats are clean and free of dust, grease, and any other contaminants.

• Clean the surface with methyl hydrate or a cleaner designed for surface preparation.
• Allow the wood to dry thoroughly before moving on to the next steps. The surface must be perfectly clean and dry before applying the stain.

B) Sand the wood slats

For the stain to penetrate the wood uniformly, sanding is an essential step. This is what allows you to obtain a regular color and prevent certain areas from absorbing more product than others.

For a uniform result with minimum effort, the electric orbital sander remains the most effective option. It allows you to work quickly while offering good control. In this case, use sanding discs adapted to your sander.

You can also sand by hand if you want to avoid renting or buying an electric sander. The result can be just as effective in preparing the wood to receive the stain, but manual sanding is generally less uniform and requires more time and effort. In this case, use sheet sandpaper with a sanding block to obtain more regular pressure.

The grit to use depends on the wood species. Here is a table that explains it in detail:

• To avoid sanding marks, always sand in the direction of the wood grain.

C) Dust off the surface

After sanding, you must thoroughly remove all dust that has settled on the slats. You can simply dust dry.

To promote more uniform stain absorption, you can also wipe with a cloth lightly dampened with water or methyl hydrate. This method thoroughly cleans the pores of the wood before application.

However, be careful: if you dampen the wood with water, the stain may appear darker, as it penetrates further into the surface. It is therefore better to do a small test before staining the entire surface.

D) Apply the stain

You can apply the stain once your wood is properly dusted.

• Apply the stain with a clean, lint-free cotton cloth, an applicator pad, or a polyester brush.
• Saturate the wood grain by applying a generous coat of stain.
• Allow the stain to penetrate for a few seconds. Then, wipe off the excess stain from the surface with a clean cotton cloth. Always wipe in the direction of the wood fibers.
• Allow to dry for 3 to 4 hours. Do you want a darker color? Apply a second coat.

E) Varnish the wood slats

Varnish will ensure the protection of your wood slats, in addition to facilitating cleaning.

Before you start varnishing your wood slats, make sure you have enough space to work comfortably. The varnish must be applied to at least three sides of the boards, specifically the three outer faces. This therefore requires a little meticulousness.

Take your time to avoid drips. A good tip is to elevate the slats by placing them on pieces of wood or any other suitable support. This will give you enough space under the slats to apply the varnish and easily wipe away drips as you go.

• Apply a first coat of varnish with a quality polyester brush.
• Apply the varnish along the length of the slats. Make sure to cover the entire surface well.
• Avoid multiple brush strokes, as they can leave marks in the finish. Also avoid applying too thick a coat.
• Allow to dry for 3 to 4 hours.
• To obtain a softer and smoother finish, lightly sand by hand between coats with 220 or 320 grit sandpaper. Then dust off the surface dry before applying the second coat.
• Apply a second coat in the same way as the first.
• Allow to dry again for 3 to 4 hours. If you want an even more uniform and resistant finish, you can apply a third coat.

Once the wood finish is completely dry, you can install your slats on the wall in the manner you wish.

Once the slats are prepared with the finish of your choice, you can now install them on the wall!

• Refer to the lines you previously drew with painter’s tape to guide you.
• Use a level to draw a perfectly straight line that will serve as a guide for installing the first slat. This first slat is particularly important, as it will serve as a reference for all subsequent ones. So take the time to level it properly.
• To facilitate installation, use a template to maintain regular spacing between each slat. For example, if you want to leave a 1-inch space between the slats, use a 1-inch wide wood scrap as a guide.
• To attach the slats, it is preferable to apply a bead of wood glue to the back of each one.
• Once the glue is applied, attach the slat to the wall with a nail gun. One nail at the top and one at the bottom should generally be sufficient. However, avoid nails that are too wide, which could damage the slat or the wall. If you do not have a nail gun, you can also use a hammer. In this case, work carefully to avoid damaging the wood or the wall.
• Repeat the same steps for each slat, using the first one as a reference point. Use your template each time to maintain uniform spacing between the slats.

Start your project now!

You’ll find all the products you need directly on our website.

1. Start by carefully planning how you want to create the wood slat wall. This will influence the type of wood slats or battens you will use for your project.
2. Choose between oil, paint, or stain + varnish for your wood finish, then calculate the surface area to know how much product you will need.
3. Place your order online and choose between in-store pickup and home delivery.