DIY Network

Knoxville Home Renovation: Stairway Completion and Recap From "Restoration Realities" episode DRTR-106

	The cracked plaster BEFORE the repair.
	AFTER. The repaired plaster, prior to repainting.

In this episode of DIY's Restoration Realities, we visit Knoxville, Tennessee and the home of Sean and Jennifer Bolen. In this final segment, the crowning touch is put on the stairway with installation of a red-oak chair-rail to complement the newly installed anaglypta wall-covering.

Tools and materials:

For installing the chair-rail
Nail-set
Finish hammer
4' Level
Miter saw and power-miter box
Stud finder
Brad gun
Pre-milled chair Rail
10d brite finish trim-nails or 2" pneumatic straight or angled nailer
Wood Filler matching the wood's finish
Tinted polyurethane
Measuring tape

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Installing a Pre-Milled Chair Rail

Here are the basic steps followed for installation of the chair-rail.

• Measure the lengths needed for the chair-rail pieces, and determine the angles needed for the miters.

• Trim pre-milled chair-rail to lengths needed with using a miter saw and miter box. In our case, we used a power chop-saw with a miter gauge to cut the three pieces of chair-rail we needed.

  Safety Alert: Always wear eye protection when cutting wood and working with power tools.
  

  	Figure A
  	Figure B
  	Figure C

  
  

• Use stud-finder to locate the studs for anchoring.

• Position the chair-rail sections (figure A) nail them to the wall, being certain that you're nailing into the studs for proper anchoring.

• Check the fit where the pieces are joined together to be sure that the joints will be tight (figure B).

• Where there isn't a stud, you can use a brad-gun to toe-nail sections together (figure C). You can also glue the joint to ensure that it stays together.

• Once the sections are attached, counter-sink the nail heads below the wood surface using a nail-set.

• Fill the nail-holes with wood filler to match wood finish.

• For additional protection, cover chair rail with tinted polyurethane.
  

  	BEFORE. The stairway before the addition of wall-covering and chair-rail.
  	AFTER: The stairway with anaglypta wall-covering and chair-rail installed.

  
  

RESOURCES :

Renovating Old Houses: Bringing New Life to Vintage Homes
Author: George Nash
Publisher: Taunton Press
ISBN: 1561585351
Order this title from Amazon.com.

Renovating and Restyling Older Homes: The Professional's Guide to Maximum Value Remodeling
Author: Lawrence Dworin
Publisher: Craftsman Book Company
ISBN: 1572180293
Order this title from Amazon.com.

Selecting and Renovating an Old House: A Complete Guide
Author: United States Department of Agriculture
July 2000
Publisher: Dover Publications
ISBN: 0486409562
Order this title from Amazon.com.