DIY: Installing Chair Rail Moulding

Chair rail is basically just a piece of moulding that runs all the way around your room. Chair rail moulding will protect your walls from the scuff marks caused by furniture (such as chairs) rubbing up against the walls. But even if you're careful not to scuff your walls, you may enjoy the decorative look of chair rail moulding. Here's how you can add this easy but dramatic design element to your home...

First, let's see how much moulding you'll need. Measure the length of each wall in the room (or rooms) that you want to add chair rail moulding to. Add the lengths of all the walls together, to get the total perimeter of the room in feet.

Off to the building supply store! You'll see a selection of mouldings to choose from. They all install essentially the same way, so just choose whatever design appeals to you. moulding typically comes in 8-foot pieces. If your room didn't come out to a multiple of 8 feet, round up. (You might need a little extra for working it around the corners anyway.)

While you're at your favorite building supply or home improvement store picking out moulding, be sure to pick up a box of small nails and a nail-punch and container of wood filler. Ask the store staff for help, to make sure that you get the right size nails for your moulding.

Once you get home, it's time to mark where your chair rail moulding will go. Don't skip his step!! I know it's tempting to skip the tedious marking parts of some projects, but for this one it's essential that your entire room is marked before you start nailing.

Measure up from the floor 23 inches, and make a mark on your wall. Move over about 2 feet and do it again. Go around the whole room doing that about every two feet. Use a straight-edge to connect all the marks. You should end up with a continuous line going all the way around the room. If your line doesn't connect smoothly all the way around, it usually means that your floor isn't even. That's a common problem, especially in older houses.