How to Install Chair Rail

A nicely installed chair rail can make any old plain room a masterpiece. Not to mention it can break up a tall room and even make a plain white wall look a little more interesting. However, installing a chair rail is very time consuming and requires a lot of patience. My step by step guide on how to install a chair rail surely should help you along your way on your home improvement project.

Step One
Select the type of molding you would like for your chair rail. Chair rails come in all shapes and sizes from narrow to wide.

Step Two
Determine the height you would like your chair rail at. Place masking tape or painters tape along this line to help you visualize where the chair rail will be. You usually will always place the chair rail in the middle of the walls height, however some factors may prevent you from doing that and you will either have to go a little higher or a bit lower.

Step Three
Measure and cut any miters for the chair rail. This step is especially important if you are trimming any corners that are not 90 degrees. If you have an angle that is not 90 degrees then ask your local hardware store for a measuring device that will help you. Then measure the angle, divide by two and cut the chair rail on each side of the corner to the half-angle measurement.

Step Four
Measure the length of the chair rail carefully. Miter corners, interior corners first and then measure the height where the chair rails go.

Step Five
Paint or finish the molding. If you did not buy a already to install chair rail, then go ahead and finish the chair rail before installing it. It makes it so much easier.

Step Six
If you are diving the room in half with the chair rail and you are painting the room in two different colors, one color on top and another different color on bottom. Then the best thing for you to do is go ahead and paint the walls, or put up the wall-paper before putting up your chair rail.

Step Seven
Locate studs in the wall and mark it will a pencil mark.

Step Eight
Measure up from the floor, use a level to draw a line around the room so you have an exact match. Basically double checking step two.

Step Nine
With a helper, have them hold on end and you hold the other. Hammer in, slowly, finishing nails into the chair rails at the stud findings mark.

Step Ten
Use a nail set to recess the nails.

Step Eleven
Putty over the nails to cover them up. Sand down the putty, but be careful you do not sand the chair rail. Then paint over the putty, and touch up any nicks you may have created.

If you need a lesson in putting up a chair rail before you go head first into this project then check out your local home improvement store for a workshop they may offer for free.