QA

How To Install Chair Molding

How do you hang a chair rail border?

Which way does chair rail molding go?

As a general rule, chair rail should be applied one-third of the way up the wall from the floor—so for a room with an 8-foot ceiling, installing the chair rail at around 32 inches is a safe bet.

What kind of nails do you use for chair rail?

Use a pneumatic nailer or hammer with 2-1/2 inch finishing nails to attach the chair rail to the wall (image 6). Insert the nails through the thick parts of the molding to prevent the wood from splitting.

What’s the difference between chair rail and wainscoting?

Wainscoting is usually a complete piece of paneling (usually wood). Panel molding reaches above the chair rail (typical chair rail height is approximately 32″ above the floor) and sometimes covers the entire wall.

What kind of molding is used for wainscoting?

Your materials depend on which style you choose to install. The least expensive wainscot detail is to use a chair rail molding and a picture molding (not to be confused with a picture-rail molding). You can use this to create the simulated panels below the chair rail.

Does wainscoting go behind baseboards?

The baseboard serves as a foundation for the wainscoting panels and other elements. With the baseboard installed, begin installing the individual bead-board panels using construction adhesive applied to the back corners of the panels (Image 3).

What is the trim on the side of stairs called?

A stair skirt or baseboard is the trim that runs along the bottom of the wall beside the steps. Often, it is made from the same baseboard used throughout the home, but it can also have a different appearance entirely. Baseboard trim can be cut with mitered corners and follow the angles of each tread and riser.

What is chair rail molding?

Chair rail is a type of moulding that is used in the middle of a wall. Originally, chair rail moulding was added to dining rooms to protect plaster walls from getting damaged by dining room chairs. It’s a decorative element that can elevate a room’s design.

What can you use instead of chair rail?

Chair Rail Alternatives Ribbon. Use ribbon as a chair rail alternative by adhering it with a thin coating of wallpaper glue. Paint Shades and Patterns. Fabric. Vinyl Appliqués. Decorative Buttons.

Can you put chair rail on only one wall?

A chair rail, also known as a dado rail, is a horizontal piece of trim that usually runs the perimeter of a room approx 36″ from the floor, but can also be awkwardly placed on a single wall (popular in the ’90s).

How high do you put chair molding?

As a general rule of thumb, the best height for most walls sits around one-third the distance up the wall from the floor. So, in an eight-foot-tall room, you’d want to hang your chair rail moulding at around 32 inches from the ground. Other experts say that around 25% of the wall’s height is a better placement.

Is chair rail out of style 2020?

Chair rails are still used today to create a more formal and traditional design. If that’s the look your sister wants, chair rails would be a good choice.

Do you caulk chair rail?

As with any woodwork, chair rails require a certain amount of maintenance. Most moldings are attached using nothing but nails and over time can become loose. Using caulk to seal the seams of chair rails can give them just the extra bit of flex they need to maintain their position for years to come.

Can I use baseboard as chair rail?

It is easier to trim a little extra than to replace missing material. Molding for chair rails may not always be sold as such. If you think molding of a particular shape would look good as a chair rail, use it, even if it is labeled for use as a baseboard.

Does the darker color go above or below the chair rail?

“A lighter wall color is better below the chair rail if the furniture is dark. If the furniture is lighter in value, the wall color below the chair rail can be darker.”.

When should I use chair rail?

Chair rail creates a decorative element in a room, but it also acts as a protective barrier from wear and tear in high traffic areas or spaces where furniture is moved around often. This trim is commonly used in dining rooms, breakfast nooks, living rooms and foyers.

How do you measure for chair rail molding?

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.

Do you glue or nail wainscoting?

The fastest and least expensive wainscot installation is the glue-and-nail method. You apply panel adhesive to hold the bead board in position and then nail it to the drywall with a fine finish nail or even a pneumatic pin nail. A large nail will increase the clamping effect.

When should you not use wainscoting?

“When applied correctly, wainscoting should run from the baseboard to the chair rail and it should not be any higher than 32 inches.” Riodan explains that if it’s higher than that, it’s paneling, not wainscoting.

Do you have to remove baseboards to install wainscoting?

You really only have 3 options for dealing with the baseboards during a board and batten or wainscoting project: Remove the existing baseboard and replace with a new “baseboard” the same thickness as the battens and usually 4-6″ tall. The top edge of most baseboards is no more than 1/4″ thick.

Do you caulk wainscoting?

Caulk it. Only where it connects to the base. Run a decent bead and wipe it with your finger first.