What is the proper size of Base, Crown and Chair Rail to use with an 8-foot ceiling? I want the large substantial look but not too big and overpowering. All the trim will be painted white.
My initial thought was to use a 4-5/8″ one piece MDF Crown, a one piece 5-1/4″ base, and a built up 3-1/2″ chair rail. I can’t decide if I should wrap the existing 2-1/4″ colonial casing with a back band, or replace it using a 3-1/2″ profile. The molding is all a colonial style.
Suggestions?
Replies
Those sound fine. It also varies by size of room to some degree. I have seen 8" base work in larger rooms. For colonial, you want larger casing than 2-1/4". I'd probably replace it.
Depends on the detailing though. with a wainscot, adding thickness of backband can provide a stop intersect
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Sounds good - make sure that you take the casing thickness vs. the chair rail projection into consideration.
Jeff
"make sure that you take the casing thickness vs. the chair rail projection into consideration"
What do you mean by that?
One option for my chair rail was to use a piece of cheap 3" colonial base turned taper side down, place a bull nosed 1x2 on top forming a right angle with a piece of 3/4" cove under to bridge the two together. If my casing is about 3/4 thick the chair will stand proud 3/4". I suppose I could slightly overlap and run the 1x slightly over the casing.
"make sure that you take the casing thickness vs. the chair rail projection into consideration"
Sounds like you've already taken it into consideration. I think he was just pointing out that it's easiest (obviously) if the outboard edge of the casing is thicker than the profile of the chair rail.
At what elevation will you be installing the rail? I think what you're describing is going to look nice. And you're right about letting the 1x2 cap run long. Let it run over the casing by about an inch. It's also important to cut mitered returns on the 3/4" cove, and I set the length of the cove so that the overhang of the 1x2 cap at the end of the rail is the same as the overhang along its length.
What do you mean by that?
Exactly what Ragnar said.
Jeff