A chair rail is an attractive way to give any room a polished look and a welcoming atmosphere. Chair rails were formerly intended to protect walls from damage by seatbacks for chairs, but they are now used largely as a beautiful accent.
Chair rail molding is a great way to decorate a room while also protecting the walls from the backs of naughty chairs. At the time when our ancestors first learned to sit, the chair rail was discovered in Europe. Find out how to install chair rail molds in one weekend to transform your home from average to gorgeous.
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What is the Difference Between Wainscoting and a Chair Rail?
Wainscoting is often a single panel of boards (usually wood). The panel molding extends over the chair rail (usually 32 inches above the floor) and sometimes covers the entire wall.
This post will show you how to install chair rail molding, as well as give you some pointers on how to make the job go faster, easier, and with less waste.
To Install a Chair Rail, We Will Need the Following Tools.
- A complex made of electricity
- Sandpaper
- Stud site
- Draw a snap line in chalk.
- Trim brushes
- Bubble level or a laser level
- Laser measuring device
- Nail cutting and finishing
- Wood glue
- Wood filler
- Pencil
Chair rail installation steps
Take measurements and put level lines
You will need to measure the length of the walls to see how many chairs rail molds you will need. You will also need to multiply the height from the floor by three (so that the chair rail is 1/3 of the total height from the floor).
Get some stuff
Shop for your favorite shaping style, considering the room’s current decoration. Moldings should be similar to, but not thicker than, the trim around the room’s doors and windows for the fastest installation and best appearance.
Most large home improvement stores have a wide range of templates to choose from, whether you want a classic, restrained look or something a bit more detailed.
If you go alone, your local mill dealer or lumber yard will almost certainly offer options to suit your taste.
Choose the right mold for your chair bar
Depending on the aesthetic you want to add to the area, it can be narrow or wide. However, going in the middle of the wall should be appropriate. It should also be able to lay flat against the wall.
Draw a chalk line
Level the chair railing on the walls using a laser or bubble level. Continue at this level across all walls where the chair railing will be installed, marking the line with a chalk line.
Slide a finishing nail into one end of the run, then hook the chalk line hook over the nail to loosen it. Stretch the line before picking it up.
The railing of the chair must be cut
Chair railing lengths must be measured and trimmed to match the lengths of the walls. Cut the ends of the chair railing pieces at a 45-degree angle so that two adjacent pieces form a 90-degree angle when they meet.
Putting molds on the wall
When you’re done cutting all of your molding pieces, start installing them from the inner corner. Align the bottom of the mold with the level line you marked earlier. Attach the first piece to the wall with wood glue, then use a pneumatic nail and 2 1/2″ finishing nails to secure it.
To prevent the mold from splitting, place the nails in the raised areas. The nails should be inserted one on top of the other into the molding, as shown in Picture 3. Furthermore, since the wall or molding may not be completely straight, you may need to adjust the moldings as you go.
Corners should be rounded to get an accurate fit
Even if the angle isn’t exactly square, the bracket joints compensate by clamping them tightly to the adjacent piece, even if the angle is a few degrees away.
Cut the piece for the first side of the 90-degree corner and put it in place – for now, keep the screws 1 foot away from the corner.
Next, cut off the copied end of the next piece and tighten the crossover. You may need to stick a bit of foil under the bottom edge of the first wall to tighten the junction if it’s not completely plumb.
Hold the bow hinge in place and mark the cut at the other end once it looks perfect. There has to be one end to it. The opposite end will always be a 90-degree cut-off or an outside angle.
Add the finishing touches
After you have installed all the chair rail molds, you will need to smooth and paint the surface. You can use a nail kit to loosen the nail heads, then cover the nail holes with wood filler.
Smooth the holes and joints of the bolted nails with sandpaper, then sand the edge where the chair rail template meets the wall. Finally, paint it to give it a nice, finished look.
What Kind of Chair Rail Screws Do You Use?
Fasten the chair rail to the wall with a pneumatic nail or hammer and 2-1/2-inch nails. To prevent the wood from splitting, slide the nails through the thicker sections of the mold.
Chair Rail Installation Costs
The average cost of materials to install chair rail molds is $1.29 per linear foot, with a range from $1.03 to $1.55.
The total cost of labor and materials per linear foot is $6.81, and prices range from $5.32 to $8.29.
The Chair Rail Can Be Used in Many Ways
The practical goal of a chair rail, as its name suggests, is to protect walls from damage from chair backs. On the other hand, most people add a chair rail to a room for aesthetic reasons rather than utilitarian ones.
Conclusion
Installing a chair rail on the wall is both useful and elegant, and takes very little time or money. This traditional molding can instantly give any area an attractive, traditional look. Dining rooms, living rooms, staircase walls, and home offices with chair rails look more attractive than ever.
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