apartment therapy changing the world, one room at a time

I've been considering using beadboard to cover some slightly uneven walls (that would take too long, and more skill than I have, to make smooth) specifically in a bathroom and as kitchen and laundry backsplash. I asked a professional painting contractor what to use on it to make it water resistant and he said it couldn't be done. However, I've seen a great many Victorian bathrooms with beadboard around the wet zones and the beadboard's lasted for decades (so clearly it can be done). Any ideas anyone?

Rucy -
Wood is used in bathrooms still today - painted or clear - it's not an outrageous idea.

Ventilation in the room will affect your decision as to how to finish it. Typically, these rooms have windows for ventilation and they are painted with oil paint - for a nice hard gloss finish. During your annual cleaning, it is a good idea to check the condition of the paint and the wood to determine if touch-ups may be required.
If the room is really damp (no good ventilation) you might consider a top coat of marine grade varnish.

I just put beadboard in the bathroom of a condo I renovated. There's even a system where the panels interlock with both the base moulding and the chair rail, the whole thing took about 30 minutes.

I ripped out (such fun!!!) the ceiling in the living room at my country house and found gorgeous old beams. I put bead board inbetween the beams and left it the natural color rather than stain or paint, then I framed all the corners like a picture. Looks great!!

you may want to check debbie travis's site. i know i've seen her use beadboard on kitchens and baths before, and she paints the hell out of everything.

There are a few incarnations of bead board. There's real wood individual planks that fit together via a tongue and groove on the edge. usually two flavors of these. a3/4 inch thick traditional size board and a skinny about 1/4 inch board. the thick you would nail the thin glue. Paint the back of either in a bath for more moisture resistance.

You can also find an MDF product that is primed and ready to paint. Probably not a good choice in a bath. These come in planks and sheet goods.

You can also find plywood panels grooved to look like beadboard. With lots of paint on both sides, might work in a bath.

It is also available in as a PVC based product, both as a plank and as a panel. No moisture problems but it is pricey.

This really helps, thank you for the ideas!!!

I've been thinking for awhile about putting up beadboard in my bathroom. Does anyone know if it is possible the install beadboard over an existing tiled wall? Or would you need to rip out the tile first?

I have an old farm house and we have beadboard ceiling & walls that we just took the sheetroock off of. It was painted with milk paint and we have stripped it. It has a little bit of the milk paint left in in the grain. We have primed the ceiling and will paint it. We now need to finish the walls in a light English Walnut or Ipswich Pine or Provincial (probably to dark) or natural in a satin finish.
We will do the floors in a rich waxed finish that will be darker than the walls.
Do we paint the trim or stain it?

Let me know.
Jim