Replies

1. 
   Matt_G. | Dec 30, 2000 09:01pm | #1

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   I like 36" to the top of the chair rail for 9' or 10' ceilings. 34" for 8' ceilings. Also, wider molding profiles for higher ceilings.

1. 
   Mad_Dog | Dec 30, 2000 09:02pm | #2

   *One's wife's wishes.

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   Greg_Dixon | Dec 30, 2000 09:36pm | #3

   *>Proportion is important when designing anything. Matt's numbers are great as a general guide; however, the height of the chair back should determine the height of the chair molding. Chair rail, like picture moldings are traditionally not only decorative but also functional. It wouldn't make any sense to install a chair rail at 36" in a dining room where the chair backs are 40" high. If your chair backs are lower than 36" Matt's numbers will look the best. If the backs are higher than 36" I would install the chair rail about two inches higher than the chair backs. Unless of course your wife disagrees

1. 
   Mongo_ | Dec 31, 2000 02:11am | #4

   *I concur with...everyone...Rule of thumb...run the rail at one-third the height of the room. But rules are made to be broken.Because not all RoT's work, some tweaking is desired based upon several things...what actually looks good to your eye, how that height blends with the physical scale (besides height) of the room, the actual height of the chairs in the room, the size/scale of other trim details in the room, etc.One caveat...there is a "standard" chair back height, so to speak...and if my chairs were markedly off from the standard, I'd weight other criterion more than chair height. Especially if there's a good chance that the furniture will eventually be replaced, or ownership of the house will change.All that said...it's got to look good to you and your spouse.My ideas do change somewhat if it's just a simple chair rail and not a rail capping a run of wainscoting. Then the rail should protect the wall from the chairbacks...especially if it's easily damaged drywall instead of plaster, and especially especially if the chairs are so close to the walls that there is increased risk that the walls will indeed suffer damage.

1. 
   L._Siders | Dec 31, 2000 08:09pm | #5

   *Bottom of the chair rail should be 32-36 off the floor

2. 
   Mark_T. | Jan 01, 2001 01:21am | #6

   *Sam:If the chair rail is part of a wainscoting project, you have a fair amount of flexibility as to the height as long as you go to 32" or >. On the other hand, if it is a chair rail that is to be installed without wainscoting, make it somewhere between 32" and 36" as directed above, depending on ceiling height. As far as setting the chair rail based on the height of the chairs to be used, if it is not a wainscoting job, it will look ridiculous to, say, set the chair rail at 42" in an 8' ceiling room.

2. 
   Samuel_Gaskins | Jan 01, 2001 01:21am | #7

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   Is there a correct or preferred height for chair rail moulding? Is the height dependent on the height of the ceiling or one's wife's wishes?