Common Historic Materials ~ Beaded boards, or beadboard, was a common historic building material from the 17th century through the Victorian era.
In the pre-steam mill era, these were flat boards with a bead run along one edge with a hand plane, generally used vertically in a wall of similar boards. These often varied in width. The bead helped disguise the junction between boards. Sometimes the boards are ship-lapped at the joints.
Common Victorian era beadboard appeared after the advent of steam powered mills. These tongue and groove boards are typically narrow with a bead at one side and an angle at the other. Double and triple width boards were also produced, creating the appearance of multiple single boards on each board.
The upper left illustration is the simplest type of beadboard, typically pre-1850. Board widths can be up to 20 inches. The bead is usually hand-planned, and the width of the boards can vary on the same wall. It is usually face-nailed into horizontal strapping for vertical installation or directly to studs for horizontal installation. At upper right, a variation on the previous example, with ship-lap joints.
At lower left is typical Victorian era beadboard, produced in a steam mill. Blind-nailed to horizontal strapping for vertical installation or directly to studs for horizontal installation. Lower right is a variation, installed the same way.
These are among the more than 2000 photos and drawings used to illustrate the text in “Restoring Your Historic House, The Comprehensive Guide for Homeowners.”
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