Dado Rail Height ??

comfortably_numb · Post by **comfortably_numb** » Wed Nov 28, 2007 7:38 pm

Hi Folks

Is there a "correct" height to have a dado rail ??

Gadget · Post by **Gadget** » Wed Nov 28, 2007 9:18 pm

Originally dado rails were put on the wall to stop the backs of dining chairs damaging the wall when they were pulled out from under the table, so if you measure the height of the average dining chair, you will have a rough idea.

Gadget · Post by **Gadget** » Wed Nov 28, 2007 9:21 pm

Ps, thats why our American friends call them 'chair rails'!

comfortably_numb · Post by **comfortably_numb** » Wed Nov 28, 2007 9:31 pm

Thankyou

dirtydeeds · Post by **dirtydeeds** » Wed Nov 28, 2007 10:14 pm

one of the most used dimensions for a chair rail is 30 inches

strictly speaking our american cousins are still using the term chair rail

we have moved on to calling them dado rails

Gadget · Post by **Gadget** » Wed Nov 28, 2007 10:24 pm

In the US, a 'dado' is what we call a 'trench' or 'housing'.....those Yanks don't half talk funny!....

Wood Magnet · Post by **Wood Magnet** » Wed Nov 28, 2007 11:48 pm

"Have a nice day now Gadgy"

murrmac · Post by **murrmac** » Tue Dec 04, 2007 1:35 am

don't knock the Americans, please, I worked there for 10 years and have nothing but fond memories.

we could learn a lot from their work practices imo

dewaltdisney · Post by **dewaltdisney** » Tue Dec 04, 2007 9:11 am

The centre of a dado is usually 31" so 30" to the bottom edge of the moulding is usual.

Is anyone still fitting these, they are so passe

DWD

comfortably_numb · Post by **comfortably_numb** » Tue Dec 04, 2007 10:25 am

dewaltdisney wrote:The centre of a dado is usually 31" so 30" to the bottom edge of the moulding is usual.

Is anyone still fitting these, they are so passe

DWD

By the time i've finished ... it'll be back in fashion !!

Welsh Decorator · Post by **Welsh Decorator** » Tue Dec 04, 2007 10:46 am

dewaltdisney wrote:
Is anyone still fitting these, they are so passe

DWD

I've fitted several thousands of feet of them! and wall panaling

comfortably_numb · Post by **comfortably_numb** » Tue Dec 04, 2007 11:00 am

Welsh Decorator wrote:
dewaltdisney wrote:
Is anyone still fitting these, they are so passe

DWD

I've fitted several thousands of feet of them! and wall panaling

What height would you normally fit the dado ??? ... Marked up 30" but looks very low ... my hallway is "long thin" so maybe that doesnt help ... i've moved up to 40" (pencil mark) & this makes level with the interior door handles ... looks better (imo) but still not sure

dewaltdisney · Post by **dewaltdisney** » Tue Dec 04, 2007 12:31 pm

Well go for what looks right to the eye. I do not suppose that you will have chairs banging up against it in a hallway. Maybe a bike though

DWD

big-all · Post by **big-all** » Tue Dec 04, 2007 1:18 pm

have you got or are you going to add a picture rail!!!!

if you intend to introduce the dado rail into other rooms you need to keep the height constant!!!
so make shure it looks right in the main rooms

you can add a picture rail in the hall and paint above the rail the ceiling colour to reduce the height

Hoovie · Post by **Hoovie** » Tue Dec 04, 2007 1:23 pm

I fitted a dado in my hallway of my last house as well.

FWIW, extended it as a wall "handrail" up the stairs, so the height was dictated by the bannister rail to make it symmetrically level.

My current house happens to have exactly the same setup (there when we moved in this time, though), so I guess it must be some kind of standard

Just measured my current dado and it is 32" at the bottom and 35" top (3" wide

)