DIY: How to Install a Chair Rail

Chair rails were originally designed as a means to protect walls from dents and dings inflicted by furniture. While they still perform this function, these days chair rails are more often used to add a dramatic decorative effect. One way to do this is to use the chair rail as a boundary between two dissimilar paint colors on the wall.

Installing a chair rail is an easy home improvement project that can add both beauty and value to your home. A measuring tape, level, hammer, finishing nails, and a miter saw or wood say and miter box, are the only tools you will need for this project, but a stud finder may come in handy. Nearly any homeowner is capable of installing a chair rail, and it can be a single-person project.

The first step in installing a chair rail is to measure your walls. Remember that the molding will extend past any outside corners. The back of the railing will have a length equal to the wall length, but the front length will vary based on the corners that they must cover. A general rule of thumb is to purchase an amount of molding 10% longer than your wall measurement. This will cover the cuts you need to make for corners and for overlays if you need to join straight lengths.

Next, you will select your molding. Home improvement stores will sell products labeled as chair rails, but any molding with a flat back will do. Select a style of molding that you like, remembering that you will be installing this railing above floor level.

When you have your molding, you will want to decide on your rail height and mark your walls. The most common rail height is approximately 1/3 of the way up the wall, about 32-34 inches high in an 8-foot room. A higher chair rail may make a more dramatic effect, or you may want to take your cue for the rail height based on the furniture you plan to have in the room. In any case, use a level to mark a line all the way around the wall at your desired height. Floors may not be perfectly level, especially in rooms with carpeting, so do not rely on marking across the wall based on measurements from the floor.

To install the chair rail, you will want to nail the molding to the wall at the studs. You can use a stud finder to locate these or locate them yourself by tapping gently on the walls. The sound will be hollow in the spaces but return a duller thud at the studs. Most homes will have studs placed 18 or 24 inches apart. Mark the location of these studs above the installation line for ease of finding them when hammering in the nails.

The easiest location to begin your chair rail installation is at an inside corner, such as where two walls meet. Cut a 45 degree angle from one end of the molding to fit into this corner, cut the molding to the necessary length, and cut the opposite end to suit your need. Drive the finishing nails into through the molding and drywall and into the studs.

If your wall length is longer than your molding, use opposite 45 degree cuts to overlay one strip with the other. Then drive a nail through these overlaying ends at a stud. This will give you both the best looking joint and the strongest one. When making your corners, the joint at your wall may not be perfectly square. Make 45 degree angle cuts, then use a chisel or sharp knife to whittle away some of the back of the chair rail to make the joints fit tight and flush. Remember, people will only see the front of the railing. For a more professional look, use a nail punch to tap the nail heads into a slightly recessed position.

When you have finished installing the chair rail, inspect the wall and the molding for any retouching that may need to be done to the paint or finish. Then clean up your work area and enjoy your new wall!