WM 390 9/16 in. x 2-5/8 in. x 96 in. Primed Medium Density Fiberboard Chair Rail Moulding Set your store to see localChair rail molding is a nice touch that adds a sense of refinement and proportion to rooms, especially if you’re planning to add crown molding, too. But many folks make the mistake of putting the chair rail at the wrong height — a mistake that can make a room feel lopsided and out of proportion. “Moldings are sending you messages,” says Brent Hull, an author and molding expert. “Their purpose is to establish the scale and proportion of a space. And no molding does this job better than chair rail because it visually divides the room and instantly allows you to read the size and scale of the space. The Myth About Chair Rails The popular myth is that chair rails protect walls from damage caused by the backs of chairs. The truth is that architects as far back as the ancient Romans and Greeks used chair rails and wood trim to divide walls into visually pleasing proportions, often with different colors to accentuate scale.

By the way, the name “chair rail” came into popular usage with the Shakers, who installed boards with pegs on dining room walls to hang chairs off the floor for sweeping and cleaning. Correct Height for Chair Rail Molding Most experts place chair rails at one-third the distance of the ceiling height. For a standard 8-foot ceiling, they should be installed about 32 inches from the floor. Hull cautions that most people install chair rails too high on their walls. “About 28 to 32 inches is an optimum range for chair rail height,” says Hull. “Lower is always better than higher. For me, a good rule of thumb is to install chair rail molding at 25% of the height of the room. In a room with a 10-foot-high ceiling, the chair rail should be 30 inches off the floor. Chair Rail Size and Cost A good baseline width for a wood or composite chair rail molding is 2-3 inches. Chair rail molding is available in other materials, such as metal, polymers, and vinyl. Depending on the width, complexity of design, and type of material, expect to spend from a few dollars up to $100 for an 8-foot length.

And if you’re going through the trouble of installing chair rails, crown molding can complete off the look. Of course, you could opt for something entirely different. “If you’re a Modernist, you don’t even have to have a chair rail molding,” Hull says. “Simply use paint color to divide the wall, but follow human scale on where one color ends and another begins.” The 8 Most Financially Savvy Home Improvements You Can Make Measure the wall according to the length to determine how many lengths of chair rail molding will be needed. To determine the height of the chair rail, measure the height of the ceiling and divide it by three. The general rule is that the chair rail should be about 1/3 of the way up from the floor (between 32" and 36" for an 8’ ceiling). You can also slide a chair up to the wall and mark where it would hit the wall. Once you've determined the height, use your tape measure and level to make a level line along the whole length of the room.

Floors are not always level, so using a level to set your line will ensure that your chair rail will be straight. At your miter saw, mark the molding for your first piece (Image 1). used dental chair for sale ukIt's simplest to start with an inside corner (or a door or window frame) and use a square (90-degree angle) cut. wooden chair leg extensionsCut one piece of molding for each stretch of wall, remembering to use 45-degree angled cuts for the corners (Image 2).dining room chair rail molding If a wall is longer then the length of a single piece of molding, two pieces should be mitered together. bean bag chair new york

Use opposite 45-degree cuts at the ends that meet to create the miter (connecting each length of molding with a 45-degree mitered edge will create a cleaner, smoother joint). pc gaming chair euMake sure you position the seam over a wall stud so that the two ends can be nailed into the wood. cheap floral armchairsIn most cases, wall studs are spaced 16 inches on center.office chair mesh vs fabric When all your pieces of molding are cut, begin installing them starting with an inside corner (Image 1). chair back support dubaiAlign the bottom of the molding with the level line you marked earlier. leather armchairs for sale uk

Attach the first piece to the wall with wood glue and then secure it to the wall using a pneumatic nailer and 2 1/2" finishing nails (Image 2). Insert the nails into the high parts of the molding to prevent splitting. As shown in Image 3, the nails should be placed into the molding one above the other. Additionally, the wall or molding might not be perfectly straight, so you may have to maneuver the molding to align it as you go along. When all of the chair rail molding has been installed, use a nail set to recess the nail heads, and then cover up the nail holes with wood filler. Give the molding a light sanding to smooth the joints and puttied nail holes Apply a bead of paintable caulk to the edge of the molding where it meets the wall, and fill in any other holes or gaps if needed. To finish the project, apply your choice of paint to the chair rail to give it a clean, finished look. Sign up for weekly project ideas and advice from experts Privacy Policy Sign Up for More