Replies

1. 
   ccal | Jan 24, 2004 09:37pm | #1

   In general the crown that is most common has a large cove near the center and a small cove on the bottom against the wall. I see it installed upside down all the time and most people probably never notice. Chair would probably be with the large round portion above the smaller.

1. 
   HeavyDuty | Jan 26, 2004 06:06am | #4

   ...and I have seen dentil crowns installed upside down all the time. I guess to most people it doesn't really matter.

2. 
   WayneL5 | Jan 24, 2004 09:41pm | #2

   Ditto on chair rail, larger on top is the usual way.

1. 
   hurnik | Jan 26, 2004 04:17am | #3

   Great!  Thanks!

3. 
   tkh | Jan 28, 2004 07:27am | #5

   Sorry to get in on discussion so late. As a traditionalist carpenter, a couple of things that feel like crewing aluminum foil to me is chair rail and crown installed incorrectly. The large portion is nearly always (depending on profile) on the top, chair and crown. Chair rail is set at 32" off the floor. NOT 36" or 48". When using 2 piece chair, set the chair in the center of the backer. Do not measure from several points in the length of the wall. Chalk a line from corner to corner.

1. 
   CarpenterPJE | Jan 28, 2004 01:05pm | #6

   TKH,

   I've been seeing upside down crown more & more lately. What gives? These have been carpenters doing it. Are they just stupid or what?

   Just wondering.

   PJE

1. 
   NickNukeEm | Jan 28, 2004 05:21pm | #7

   Ditto on the upside down molding.  Went to a house last week where all the colonial casings were upside down, and they had installed casings for baseboards.  It's like, doesn't anyone notice this stuff before they buy?

   I never met a tool I didn't like!

1. 
   HeavyDuty | Jan 29, 2004 03:42am | #10

   LMAO.

   That place deserved to be NUKED.

2. 
   Sphere | Jan 28, 2004 05:46pm | #8

   Chair rail?..Not for pickin on yer style..but I really do check out the chairs..in a formal DR..32 works most of the time, but when ever possible I want to see what's going in. But the work I do is mostly a custom install with custom CR. New const. sure..32. Unless that whacks out of plane with a window sill or other visual line. Like when a wainscot has been installed at say 35 , CR would hopefully cap it, or be incorporated into it sweetly.

   just MHO..

   Go Stab yourself Ya Putz! Ya think I Parked here?

1. 
   tkh | Jan 29, 2004 01:47am | #9

   Sure, there are times when one must adjust to accommodate custom work. I build vanities at 36" high instead of 30" to fit tall clients. Custom work requires small strayings from the norm.

   It's the very strange that wierds me out. I went into a so called "custom home" once that had 10' ceilings. At about 9', some idiot installed chairrail as a replacement for hook rail or picture moulding. Let's use a little common sense.

   Thanks for your observationA contented man enjoys the scenery of a detour

3. 
   PhillGiles | Jan 29, 2004 06:48am | #14

   32" for an 8' wall; often see 36" on a 9' wall and 40" for a 10' wall unless there's picture rail (spec'ed by designer-types)..

   Phill Giles

   The Unionville Woodwright

   Unionville, Ontario

1. 
   tkh | Jan 29, 2004 06:53am | #15

   Rule of thirds some times applies.

   A contented man enjoys the scenery of a detour

2. 
   HeavyDuty | Jan 29, 2004 07:25am | #16

   We have to make it clear here. Are chair rails decorative? In that case where they are depends on ceiling height. Or are they functional? Then they will have to be where the chair back is, around 32".

   Edit. OK, unless you have those high back McIntoch(sp?) chairs.

   Edited 1/28/2004 11:30:25 PM ET by TOMCHARK

4. 
   JeffBuck | Jan 29, 2004 03:48am | #11

   here's an easy way to remember ...

   think "hot chick" ...

   as with the moulding ...

   larger curves on top ... smaller curves on the bottom ....

   Jeff

   Buck Construction   Pittsburgh,PA

        Artistry in Carpentry                

1. 
   Piffin | Jan 29, 2004 03:58am | #12

   I'll be remembering that one for a long time, Jeff.

   Just make sure your memonic doesn't smile at you - or you'll be putting the dentil work in the wrong place.

   I really do need this one for the guys. They once put up all the crown in a room wrong, after I had showed which way. To give them credit, it wwas a very detailed crown and slightly confusing..

   Welcome to the

   Taunton University of Knowledge

   FHB Campus at Breaktime.

   where

   Excellence is its own reward!

2. 
   hurnik | Jan 29, 2004 06:38am | #13

   Now I will never forget that one.

   :)

   Chair railing is going for my home theater room where the velvet curtains I have meet the wall.

   We'll see how good a job I do putting it up.

   :)

   So I should pick the corners to measure with?  I have two "long" walls that are noticeable.  (the other wall will have theater seats against it and the other one has the 55" widescreen TV).  Go to the corner, measure up 32", go to the other, and do the same and snap a chalk line?

   Thanks again!