Chair rails are practical, as well as decorative and are applied to a wall, anywhere from 24 to 72 inches up from the floor. They were typically specified to protect the wall from scuffs and dents from the backs of chairs, but are now used as beautiful room accents. The chair rail runs along the wall, parallel with the baseboard. Adding a refined decor to any space, it’s the subtle choice that makes a big impact. The chair rail perfectly complements a wainscot design. Materials Finishes Then & Now CollectionsEdit ArticleHow to Install a Chair Rail Installing a chair rail is a project that you can do yourself with a few simple tools. The original purpose of a chair rail was to guard the wall against damage the backs of errant chairs, but a chair rail can also lend definition and elegance to a space. Select appropriate molding to be your chair rail. Determine the height of your chair rail. You can place a chalk line or strip of masking tape on the wall to help visualize the height while you decide.
It will probably be somewhere between 30 and 36 inches (75-90cm) high, though some go higher for dramatic effect. Here are other factors to consider. The height of your chairs. Whether or not you are installing the chair rail to prevent damage to the wall, compare its height to your furnishings. It will help achieve a unified look. Windows in the room. Will you break the chair rail for windows, or position the chair rail below the windows? The height of any paneling that will go above or below the chair rail. If the chair rail will mark the top edge of wainscoting, for instance, simply follow the top edge of that material. Measure and cut any miters for the chair rail, especially if you are turning any corners that are not 90º. If you have such a corner, look for an angle measuring device at your hardware store. Measure the angle, divide by two, and cut the chair rail on each side of the corner to the half-angle measurement. Measure the length of the chair rail carefully.
Paint or finish the molding. It is easier to finish the molding with it before it goes on the wall. Lay it on a drop cloth or newspapers or across a pair of sawhorses, and finish it to match other molding in your home. Paint, paper, or panel the wall behind where the chair rail will go. Locate the studs in the wall and mark them with a pencil or bits of masking tape. Measure up from the floor and/or use a level to mark the chair rail height at each end of each piece. Have an assistant help hold the chair rail at the marked height. Drive finishing nails through the chair rail all the way into the studs. Use a nail set to recess the nails slightly into the molding, so that the heads are inset. Putty over the nails. Touch up the paint or finish anywhere you have added putty or caulk. Show more unanswered questions For a cleaner joint at the inside corners, cope the joint instead of mitering. If you're painting or papering the wall behind the chair rail at this point, consider using different, coordinating colors or designs above and below the rail.
It is an inexpensive way to add definition and effect. Measure twice, cut once. If in doubt, cut a bit too long. It is easier to trim a little extra than to replace missing material. Appropriate 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 or something else. But don't use crown molding, because the pre-cut angle is unsuitable for chair rail. Use paint and varnish with plenty of ventilation and according to all package instructions. Make sure you know what you're doing. Hiring an expensive contractor can be a good idea if it means the difference between a small bill (for them) or a large bill from the hospital! Stud finders can find other things in the wall, such as water pipes. Most construction places the studs at a standard, regular intervals. (Usually 16" to 24" apart) Measure and be careful. Miter saw or wood saw and miter box
Chair rail is a molding typically applied about 36" (or 1/3 of the wall) up from the floor, which encircles the room. it was used to prevent chairs from damaging walls, but today it is used primarily as a key decorative piece to set the tone of a particular room - especially in traditional and colonial design. Chair rail molding, in rooms with higher ceilings, can often times be used in conjunction with other moldings for a "compound"Installation Tip: When a chair rail intersects a window or door casing, consider a simple mitered return on the chair rail. Priced per LINEAL (RUNNING) FOOT $ USD 6' - 16' Random Lengths - click here for specified lengths Non-stock moulding orders less than 500 lineal feet per are subject to a $50 setup fee per profile. DISCOUNT: 1,000 lf - Less 10% � 2000 lf - Less 15% please call for greater volume discounts. apply to minimum footage per item on a single order. note that varied sizes of the same profile and matching
patterns, as noted, may be combined to achieve discount Alternate species available and quoted on request. diverse offering and customized nature of our mouldings, most profiles are milled to order unless marked as "stock". Stock mouldings and over runs are available without per item minimum footage requirements or setup fees. Please keep in mind that many of our mouldings may be slightly modified to match an existing pattern. However, if you are unable to locate a particular item, we can affordably replicate an existing profile with just a sketch or sample trim piece. us with your special requests. Astragals / MullionsBalusters / Lattices / Skew BacksBar Rails / Hand Rails / Porch RailsBases / Base Caps / ShoesCap MouldingsCasings & Back BandsChair RailsCorner GuardsCrowns / CovesDentil MouldingsDrip CapsEdge & Center Beads / Wainscoats / Wainscoat CapsExtension JambsFlooring & SteppingGlass Beads / Edges / PicturesPanel Mouldings / Nose & CovesPlinth BlocksQuarter Rounds / Half Rounds / PolesRake MouldingsRopesRosettes / KeystonesSaddlesShiplapStools / Sills / Sill NosingsStop Mouldings
CedarFirOakPlatinum ProtectedPoplarPrimed MDFPrimed PinePrimed PoplarPVCSolid Pine The Designer CollectionThe Estate SeriesThe Metro CollectionThe Prestige Line 1268B Rabbetted Stool1274 200 Series Stool138BBPVC Backband693 Base Moulding8013 Crown8016 Bed Moulding8017 Bed Moulding8018 Bed Moulding8024 Cove8026 Cove8027 Crown8047 Solid Crown8052 Cove8054 Cove8057 Quarter Round8058 Quarter Round8060 Cove8061 Cove8062 Cove8063 Quarter Round8064 Quarter Round8065 Quarter Round8066 Quarter Round8068 Quarter Round8070 Half Round8071 Half Round8072 Half Round8073 Half Round8076 Half Round8077 Half Round8080 Half Round8121 Stop Moulding8144 Stop Moulding8180 Rake Moulding8186 Chair Rail8187 Chair Rail8200 Corner Guard8201 Corner Guard8202 Corner Guard8268 Rabbetted Stool8279 Lattice8280 Lattice8281 Lattice8282 Lattice8288 Picture moulding8313 Backband8409 Base Cap8409 Panel Moulding8412 Base Moulding8412 Panel Moulding8416 Base Moulding8416 Panel Moulding8417 Base Moulding8417 Panel Moulding8422 Base Shoe8423 Floor Moulding8427 Floor Moulding8432 Parting Strip8462 Rake Moulding8463 Rake Moulding8469 Rake Moulding8470 Rake Moulding8535 Neck Moulding8565 Glass Bead8575 Nose & Cove8576 Nose & Cove8577 Nose & Cove8578 Nose & Cove8590 Glass Bead8610 Edge Moulding8611 Edge Moulding8711 Colonial Base8711 Colonial Casing8712 Base Moulding8746 Special Casing8753 Colonial Casing8900 Baluster8901 Baluster8902 Baluster8904 Baluster8908 Pole8926 Drip Cap8938 Rabbetted StoolA8090 Stop MouldingA8121 Stop MouldingA8173 AstragalA8712 Base MouldingA8926 Drip CapB34 Base CapB34 Panel
MouldingB608 Base CapB608 Panel MouldingB658 Base CapB658 Panel MouldingB660 Base CapB660 Panel MouldingB662 Solid CrownB672 Glass BeadB8090 Stop MouldingB8121 Stop MouldingB8173 AstragalB8712 Base MouldingB8712N Base MouldingB8746 Special CasingB8753 Colonial CasingBB138 Base CapBB138 Panel MouldingBB458 Base MouldingBB514 Base MouldingBB514N Base MouldingBB518 Base MouldingBB6 Base MouldingBB7 Base MouldingBB714 Base MouldingBB738 Base MouldingBBCAP12 BeadBoard CapBC5 Crown / CoveBC78 Panel MouldingBDB25 Base MouldingBDB25 Casing MouldingBDB35 Base MouldingBDB35 Casing MouldingBDB45 Base MouldingBDB45 Casing MouldingBDB55 Base MouldingBNS18 BullnoseBP512PVC Edge & Center BeadBRI234 Plinth BlockBRI312 Plinth BlockBRI334 Plinth BlockBRI434 Plinth BlockBRI833 Plinth BlockBS134 Panel MouldingC103 Clam CasingC105 Clam CasingC106 Clam CasingC8090 Stop MouldingC8121 Stop MouldingC8712 Base MouldingC8753 Colonial CasingCAM312 RosetteCAM334 RosetteCAM434 RosetteCAM512 RosetteCAM712 RosetteCAM834 RosetteCB312 Crown BackerCCL32 Cedar closet liningCGM31 CasingCHIBAR Chicago Bar RailCOV312 Crown / CoveCOV412 Crown / CoveCOV7 Crown / CoveCSM MullionCTSHOE Base ShoeD10 Exterior CasingD693 Base MouldingD8090 Stop MouldingD8121 Stop MouldingDC400 CasingDC412 CasingDC450 CasingDC499 CasingDC512 CasingDC550 CasingDCAS5 CasingDCAS5 Chair RailDCB525 Base MouldingDCB534 Base MouldingDCB714 Base MouldingDCB775 Base MouldingDCB8 Base MouldingDCB825 Base MouldingDCB925 Base MouldingDCBB5 Base MouldingDCLK CasingDCR512 CrownDCR558 CrownDCR612
CrownDCR634 CrownDCR725 CrownDCR734 CrownDCR814 CrownDCWC5 CasingDTL112 Dentil MouldingDTL158 Dentil MouldingDTL334 Dentil CrownDTL512 Dentil CrownE2E432 Sanitary CasingE693 Base MouldingE8090 Stop MouldingECB4 Edge & Center BeadECB55PVC Edge & Center BeadECB6 Edge & Center BeadECBCAP BackbandECBCAP Edge & Center Bead CapES1 CasingES10 MantelES11 Rabbeted PanelES12 CasingES13 BackbandES14 BackbandES15 Rabbeted PanelES16 BackbandES2 CasingES3 CasingES4 CasingES5 Chair RailES6 Chair RailES7 Chair RailES8 Chair RailES9 Chair RailES9 Panel MouldingF1021 Flat StoolF233 PoleF693 Base MouldingF8 Keyhole Hand RailF8282 LatticeF8911 PoleF8912 PoleF8913 PoleFR214 Fluted/Reeded CasingFR314 Fluted/Reeded CasingFS225 Flat StoolFS312 Flat StoolG8090 Stop MouldingG8282 LatticeGS119 CasingGS400 CasingGS419 CasingGS425 CasingGS434 CasingGS441 CasingGS694 CasingGSB412 Base MouldingGSB512 Base MouldingGSB534 Base MouldingGSB725 Base MouldingGSC412 CrownGSC512 Crown / CoveGSC614 Crown / CoveGSC738 CrownHB158 Hearth borderJC412 CasingKEY312 KeystoneKEY412 KeystoneKEY512 KeystoneL1021 Flat StoolL1084 Rabbetted StoolL239 BalusterL265 LatticeL623 Base MouldingL634 Base MouldingL723 Base MouldingL724 Base MouldingL8009 CrownL8010 CrownL8013 CrownL8027 CrownL8065 Quarter RoundL8080 Half RoundL8200 Corner GuardL8202 Corner GuardL8269 Rabbetted StoolL8279 LatticeL8282 LatticeL8288 Picture mouldingL8422 Base ShoeL8423 Floor MouldingL8535 Neck MouldingL8712 Base MouldingL8746 Special CasingL8753 Colonial CasingL8938 Rabbetted StoolL8940 Flat StoolL953 Stop
MouldingL995 Skew BackLEX312 RosetteLEX412 RosetteLF8834 Porch Rail – BottomLF8835 Porch Rail – TopLK3 CasingLK4 CasingLS6 Casement StoolLT312 Landing TreadLWM135 AstragalLWM204 Corner GuardLWM264 LatticeLWM297 Chair RailLWM321 Unique CasingLWM390 Chair RailLWM410 Sanitary BaseLWM410 Sanitary CasingLWM412 Sanitary BaseLWM412 Sanitary CasingLWM432 Sanitary BaseLWM432 Sanitary CasingLWM445 Beaded CasingLWM47 CrownLWM49 CrownLWM70 Bed MouldingLWM903 Stop MouldingLWM972 MullionLWM973 MullionLWP709 Base MouldingM8753 AstragalMCAP1 Base CapMCAP1 Panel MouldingMCAP2 Base CapMCAP2 Panel MouldingMCAP34 Base CapMCAP34 Panel MouldingMCAP54 Base CapMCAP54 Panel MouldingMCB512 Base MouldingMCB525 Base MouldingMCB712 Base MouldingMCB725 Base MouldingMCBB1 Back BandMCBB2 Back BandMCC212 CasingMCC312 CasingMCC412 CasingMCOV5 Crown / CoveMCOV6 Crown / CoveMCOV8 Crown / CoveMCR514 Crown / CoveMCR714 Crown / CoveMCS1 Modern ShoeMSC175 Solid CrownMSC225 Solid CrownMSC275 Solid CrownN138 NosingN8753 Colonial CasingNB514 Base MouldingNY102 Picture mouldingNY109 Rake MouldingNY127 Solid CrownNY128 Solid CrownNY212 Rake MouldingOAK8 Keyhole Hand RailOS12 SteppingP214 PoleP329 Oval Hand RailP514 PilasterP714 PilasterPB418 Plinth BlockPB518 Plinth BlockPB550 Plinth BlockPL118 PanelPL134 PanelPL138 PanelPL2 PanelPL378 CasingPL458 CasingPL514 CasingPL78 PanelPLANK PlankPLB612 Base MouldingPLB714 Base MouldingPLB8 Base MouldingPLB8416 Base MouldingPLB9 Base MouldingPLC1012 CrownPLC612 CrownPLC634 Crown / CovePLC712 CrownPLC812 CrownPLC99MDF CrownPLP312 Double Rabbeted