How to Decorate Stair Walls With Chair Railings
- 1). Place a mark on the side of the level to denote the mounting height of the chair rail. Place the level on the first stair tread on the staircase and hold it flush against the wall. Measure up from the bottom of the level with a tape measure and place a mark on the side of the level at the desired height of the chair rail. For example, if you want the chair rail 4-feet off the ground, place the mark 4-feet from the bottom of the level.
- 2). Leave the level on the first stair tread and transfer the mark from the level onto the wall with a pencil. Move the level to the next stair tread and transfer the mark on the level onto the wall again. Repeat this with each stair tread. This gives you a consistent height from each stair tread to ensure you maintain the proper height from the stairs as you install the chair railing.
- 3). Place a chalk snap line over the marks and snap the string onto the wall. Secure one end of the chalk snap line to the end mark on the wall (by having a helper or a nail hold it temporarily in place) and release the chalk line until it runs the length of the line on the wall. Stretch the line taut, then lift and release it to allow the chalk to transfer to the wall. This provides a straight line for installing the railing.
- 4). Measure the distance from the bottom of the stairwell to the top of the stairwell with your tape measure. Use this measurement for the required amount of chair rail. This generally requires more than one piece of molding, depending on the length of the stairwell.
- 5). Cut the required pieces of the molding to extend the full length of the stairwell with your miter saw. Ensure edges are smooth and cuts are even.
- 6). Place the first piece of chair rail against the wall with the bottom edge of the chair rail against the line on the wall. Tack the molding to the wall with finishing nails and a hammer. Repeat this for each piece of molding. Slightly countersink the finishing nails into the molding. Use a countersink and place it on each nail. Tap it slightly with the hammer to set the nail beneath the surface of the chair rail.
- 7). Fill in the countersunk holes in the chair rail with a small amount of wood putty. A small putty knife works well for filling the holes with putty. Allow 24-hours drying time before you paint or stain the railing. If you opt for stain, use a wood filler that takes a stain and matches the wood type of the chair rail. If the putty appears uneven with the surface of the chair rail, lightly sand the putty with sandpaper until it rests flush with the surface of the chair rail before you paint or stain.
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