Chair rail easy way to add value

Wood trim on your walls adds real value to your home. A chair rail is an obvious addition and is an easy first step to begin with. Here are the basics to help you get started on your first project.

The purpose of a chair rail is to protect your wall from being hit by the back of a chair, so a dining room or breakfast area is a good place to install this. It also presents an opportunity to decorate using different paint or wallpaper above and below the rail.

So where to start? Your basic chair rail should be placed anywhere from 32 inches to 36 inches off the floor. Determine where yours will be by testing your chairs. You might want to alter this if a window or some other built-in feature interferes.

Use a long level -- at least 4 feet long -- and draw a level line in pencil around the walls in the room to use as a guide. Electronic laser levels are super for this so buy or borrow one and give it a try.

It's smart to paint your trim before installing it.

A chop saw is a super tool to use for cutting the trim to fit each wall. If you don't have one, then a standard miter box and saw will do.

When fitting two pieces of molding together, miter the cuts -- one inside and one outside miter. This will give you a better fit. Miter the corners, too. If you have to end a piece of trim on a wall, like between two rooms, miter the long cut inside and then use a small piece, also cut inside to create a nice-looking return.

Make sure you install the trim into the wall studs with finish nails for the best hold. Countersink the heads and cover them with putty. Use putty to seal joints, too. Then use some touch-up paint to conceal the nail heads and any joints so the job will be flawless.

You are now ready for crown molding, right?

Electrical tape does the job

Some things can be a real challenge to glue and clamp. If the item has a really odd shape or you just can't find the right-size clamp, try using tape. Electrical tape is really good, because it's so stretchy and will conform easily to rounded shapes. It also doesn't tear as easily as some tapes. A good example presented itself just the other day when Richard, Kelly's husband, acquired an older tennis racquet that had a small crack in the head. After looking through both of our garages, the electrical tape was the best choice, and it did a super job, along with the super glue!

Storage from scraps

If you want to store hardware in an organized way, you need to have multiple small containers to keep it in. There are several systems you can purchase, but why spend the money when you can put something just as good together out of discards you probably have lying around your shop right now? The tops of containers like spray-paint cans work well. Just set them all together and glue the sides together where they touch. You will have a nifty grouping of small containers that will hold most, if not all, of your small hardware items.

Super hints

• If you've ever had to try to loosen a nut when the sides have been worn down, you know that it's almost impossible. One way to do it is to place a good nut right up next to the rounded one and grab both together with the wrench to loosen them together. It really works!

• You can turn a plain screwdriver into a magnetic one just by rubbing a magnet in one direction repeatedly over the shaft of the screwdriver. It will take several passes and won't last forever, but it might help you hang on to a screw that is giving you grief.

• One of the best ways to clean a glass fireplace door is to use some of the ashes in the fireplace and some vinegar. Mix it thick like a paste, and use a heavy-duty sponge to polish it with. It does a good job and, with a little elbow grease, will give your glass door a like-new appearance.

Q. We have a window air conditioner in our lake house, and I can no longer remove it from the window. It's just too heavy. What's the best way to protect it from the weather during the winter?

T.J.

A. There are covers that can be placed over the outside of the unit and secured in place. You also will want to cover the inside. Make sure you install extra locks along the window frame to prevent a thief from gaining access to the house.

Q. I have a ground fault circuit interrupter breaker in my kitchen that seems to shut off quite often. I can't see what could be causing it. Is it possible that it could be faulty?

J.N.

A. Yes, it could be weak, but before you replace it, double-check to see if it's on the same circuit as an outside GFCI unit. Exterior units can get tiny amounts of moisture that cause them to kick off. If so, clean it.

Q. I have an old dresser that has some ornate trim around the drawers. I want to replace the parts that are missing. Can you help me find a woodworker to re-create the trim?

H.D.

A. Check with a local hobby store. If you don't have any luck, you might see if you can create some from clay. Check with a craft store to see if it carries a modeling clay that will dry hard. Then you will have to paint or stain it to match. Depending upon the type of carving you have, you might be able to make a mold with one piece of clay, by pressing it over some existing trim, letting it harden and then pressing another piece of clay into it to create the same pattern. It sounds complicated, but the results will be more accurate.

Reader tips

• I had to refinish our kitchen table, and the carved legs were the hardest. I went through a lot of sandpaper until I started using a sponge as a backer for the paper. It helped the sandpaper from cracking as much, and I used a lot less paper with the sponge in place. It was easier on my hands, too. It really helped a lot.

P.G.

• I got the humidifier down from the attic this past weekend. We find that it really helps keep our home more comfortable in the winter when the heat is on most of the time. I have trouble getting the mineral deposits from building up too much inside the unit, though. I finally got the sides clean and decided to try something different. I set a trash bag down inside the unit. Mine is like a big tub, and the working parts are attached to the lid, which fits down over the tub when it's running. The trash bag was a tight fit, and I set a small river rock in each corner to keep the bag down and tested it out. It works fine, and the bag will get replaced when it needs it, probably once a week, like the rest of the trash cans.

T.M.

• We tried to have a dinner party outside on our deck last month, and the candles kept going out from the wind. I quickly improvised by setting small tea lights down into cleaned out baby-food jars. The small candles worked out well, and they didn't go out inside the jars. It was super-easy to do, and I didn't have to go buy a bunch of new candle holders or do without the ambiance. I knew I had kept those jars around for a reason.

M.V.

• I have had a terrible time replacing the old caulk in my guest bathtub. It's old and not flexible like the newer caulks. I finally found that by spraying it with WD-40, I could get it loosened up. I also applied some heat with my hairdryer. Both were needed in some spots. I finally got it off and replaced it with the silicon caulk that we used in the master bath. What a chore! At least it's done, and I probably won't have to do it again for quite a few years.

T.K.

• My sister-in-law was visiting recently, and she left behind a container of baby wipes. It turns out that they are pretty good for shop cleanups. I set them on my workbench and have used them several times. They are very handy and much less expensive than the ones that are actually made for the shop. They seem to work as well, too. I plan to get more when these run out. As an added bonus, the container would be great for holding nails or other things in the shop.

R.L.

Shop talk

• Loggerhead tools has just come out with the Bit Dr. Screwdriver. It's an ergonomically designed screwdriver that has 21 of the most popular sizes of bits on board. The flexible design allows for several different angles and lengths on the bits, and they are easily changed while you work. The ratcheting function really gives you power when you need it, too. Made in the USA, it carries a lifetime warranty and is available online at www.loggerheadtools.com or at select Ace Hardware stores during the upcoming holidays.

• Toilet Tattoos are a really great way to jazz up your toilet seat. There are lots of great designs to choose from, and most cost less than $10 each. They are available in elongated or round shapes and are held in place by static electricity so they are easily cleaned and removed or moved to another bathroom. They even have some special designs for the holidays. Take a look at them for yourself at www.toilet-tattoos.com.

© 2007, Cowles Syndicate Inc.