Have you noticed chairs damaging the walls in your home? It is very important to protect your walls with chair rail molding in order to avoid being damaged by chairs.While this can be a simple DIY (do-it-yourself) project, you may opt to hire professionals. And if you would like to hire professionals for the job and you live in the Columbus, Ohio area, then don’t hesitate to callPunch Out Plus, a company that specializes in home carpentry projects, to assist you.Below are the tools you will need and the installation process:

Tools and Materials Needed:

• Nail punch
• Putty knife
• Miter saw
• Sand paper
• Caulking gun
• Try square
• Hammer
• Chair rail molding
• Wood filler
• Finishing nails
• Interior grade caulk
• Paint or stain

Installation Process

The most popular woods that are used when fabricating chair rail moldings include: oak, maple and poplar. Simple chair rail molding styles are often used for small rooms but in most cases it will depend on your personal preference and budget.

Steps

Determining the measurements and marking the level lines

Measure the length of the walls so as to determine the amount of chair rail moldings that you will need. You also need to measure the height from the ceiling and then divide it by 3 (so that the chair rail will be 1/3 of the total height from the floor).

Marking and cutting the molding

Mark the molding for your first piece at your miter saw starting with an inside corner. After that, cut a piece of molding for each stretch of the wall (for the corners, use 45-degree angled cuts).

Attaching the molding to the wall

Once you have cut all your molding pieces, begin installing them (starting with an inside corner). Ensure that you align the bottom of the molding with the levels you marked earlier. Attach the pieces with wood glue then with the help of a pneumatic nailer & finishing nails, secure it to the wall. You can also insert the nails into the high parts to prevent splitting.

Finishing touches

 Once you have finished installing all the chair rail moldings, the final step is to smooth the surface and apply the paint. You can recess the nail heads with a nail set and then use a wood filler to cover up the nail holes. Use a sand paper to smooth the puttied nail holes and the joints and then apply caulk to the edge where the chair rail molding meets the wall. Finally, apply the paint to give it a beautiful, finished look.