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Wainscoting dimensions

Installing Wainscotting Decorative Molding Tutorial Part 3 of 9

 

How to build and install wainscotting constructed from decorative molding

Installing the wainscoting frames: Calculating the dimensions

To begin the project, the first thing that you want to do is establish a plan. This isn't as complicated as it may initially seem. Assuming you're installing the picture frames in a room with four plain walls the first thing that you want to do is measure the length of all the sections. For clarity, a wall may have multiple sections. A centered doorway divides a single wall into two distinct sections. After measuring the length of each section, proceed to measure the height from the BOTTOM of the chair rail to the TOP of the baseboard. I will demonstrate an example using a single wall.

Before I dive in, there is another recommendation that I'll like to make. Be sure to check out the following text. This text inspired me to create many a new wainscoting looks.

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Continuing with the tutorial...

pptMeasuring

In the above example the length of the section is 100" and the workable height is 26". One thing that I need to point out is that generally speaking the opposite wall is likely going to be the same dimension so the picture frame dimensions that apply here may generally apply to the other side of the room as well.

Picture frames on adjacent walls can easily be +/- one inch with no noticeable difference. In fact it's commonplace to have picture frames of varying dimensions on all walls. That being said I must admit that I think that if you try to have consistent frame widths by slightly adjusting the spaces at the edge of the section or in corners of the room, things look much more professional.

Now that you have all of the dimensions of the room you need to make a decision about the style of the picture frame that you plan to construct. There are two different styles and they dictate all of the remaining dimensions. You either want a picture frame with a border AND a chair rail or you just want a simple picture frame with a chair rail. Obviously installing an extra border will require a little extra work but I must be honest it's worth the extra effort
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Frame Choices