How to Make Fancy Chair Rails
- 1). Place a wooden dining room chair against the wall. Use the height of the chair to figure out where your chair rail should go. Typically, a chair rail should be placed behind where the top of the chair would touch the wall, usually 32 to 36 inches from the floor.
- 2). Place a piece of chair rail against the wall and move it around until the chair rail is where you want it to be. Measure the distance from the floor to the top of the chair rail and mark it with a pencil or a piece of chalk on the wall. Snap a chalk line into place where the top of the chair rail should rest.
- 3). Probe the wall with a finishing nail or use a stud finder to find the studs in your walls. Studs are typically 16 to 24 inches apart. Mark the studs with a piece of chalk.
- 4). Measure the length of your walls with a tape measure. Cut your chair rails to length, using a circular saw or miter saw. If your rail is made up of more than one piece, cut all the pieces.
- 5). Drill holes into your chair rail, using the stud marks on the wall. Each drill hole should correspond with a stud mark on the wall. You'll use the holes to put your finishing nail through once the chair rail is on the wall.
- 6). Place the chair rail or the top piece of your chair rail against the wall. Fit any pieces together so they fit snugly, especially corners. Miter, scribe and sand the ends of the rail to get a good fit in the corners if needed.
- 7). Place the rail against the wall. Align the top of the rail with the chalk line. Nail it to the wall with finishing nails, using the pre-drilled holes. If your chair rail design includes multiple pieces of trim, attach the other pieces to the top rail and the wall, using finishing nails or brads.
- 8). Fill any gaps, gouges or nail holes in the chair rail with sandable wood putty, using a putty knife. Scrape off any excess. Wait for the putty to dry. Sand the chair rail until the surface is completely smooth and ready to paint.
- 9). Fill gaps between the wall and the rail with caulk. Prime your chair rail with primer paint. Let it dry. Paint the chair rail, using a paintbrush.
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