How to Paint Chair Rails
Chair rails are decorative trim moldings that are usually between 32 and 36 inches from the floor. These versatile and popular moldings were originally used to protect vulnerable plaster walls from the damage of dining room wooden chairs being thrust against them. The chair rail provided a buffer, but quickly moved beyond simple function into a decorative element. Often the chair rail is used to divide one third the height of the room and a paneled effect is created below the chair rail to add formality and a traditional style to a dining room. Painting a chair rail is easy. Does this Spark an idea?
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Things You'll Need
- Wood filler
- Putty knife
- Fine grit sand paper
- Tack cloth
- Caulk
- Painter's tape
- Plastic sheeting
- Angled two-inch paint brush
- Acrylic high gloss paint
Instructions
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1
Repair any holes, gaps or dents in your chair rail using wood filler and a small putty knife. Lightly sand with fine grit sand paper after the filler has become dry to the touch (typically within an hour). Wipe clean with a tack cloth.
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2
Recaulk between the wall and the chair rail if the molding has pulled away from the wall. Smooth the caulk by moistening your index finger and dragging your finger along the corners, joints and cracks to remove any excess caulk. Allow the caulk to dry (some brands take as little as 30 minutes, while others may require a full day to cure).
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3
Apply painter's tape to the walls and any adjacent trim against which the chair rail rests.
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4
Drape plastic sheeting under the area where you will be painting.
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5
Paint the chair rail (with the grain) using a two-inch angled paint brush. Use an acrylic high-gloss paint and more than one coat if you are changing color. The color most commonly used is white.
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Tips & Warnings
Prime the chair rail if it is raw wood, particularly if the wood is pine. You may also need to seal any knots to prevent sap seepage problems with some woods.
