Adding a Chair Rail

TIPical Mary Ellen : Episode TIP-912 -- More Projects »

Handyman Darcy Westlind demonstrates how to add instant character and a decorative touch to walls by adding a chair rail.

Materials:

tape measure
molding (found at your local lumber yard or home store)
miter box
wet string
backsaw
pencil
stud finder
hammer
nails
punch
colored nail putty
coping saw

Steps:

Figure A

First, measure the width of your walls to determine how much molding (figure A) you should buy. As a rule, purchase an extra foot to allow for mistakes. Paying for the length that you need is usually cheaper than buying a precut length.
Use a miter box to cut one piece of molding at a 90-degree angle and your other piece of at a 45-degree angle.

Figure B

Measure up on each end of the wall where the bottom edge of your molding will sit. Rather than using a messy chalk line, use a wet string to indicate where the molding will be (figure B). Before the wet mark dries, make tick marks every few inches with a pencil.

Figure C

Use a stud finder to locate your first stud. Make marks with a pencil every 16 inches from this first stud to find the additional studs (figure C).

Make sure the nails are long enough, then hammer them nearly all of the way into the studs. Use a punch to nail them in the rest of the way. Fill with the nail putty.

Cut the molding with a coping saw. To get the two pieces of molding to meet on the inside corner you will need to darken the outline of the molding's profile on its cut surface with a pencil. Cut along the line with the coping saw.

Also in this Episode

TIPical Mary Ellen : Episode TIP-912
•	Keeping in Touch
•	Adding a Chair Rail
•	Flavor Secrets
•	Tip of the Day

At Home

Adding a Chair Rail

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At Home

Adding a Chair Rail

Tools

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