"About 28 to 32 inches is an optimum range for chair rail height," says Hull. Ultimately it all depends on the type of wainscoting and how it is used, making it important to consider the size of the room and desired effect when choosing the design and colors. My situation is unique. In some homes, particularly those with triple-hung windows (like double-hungs but with three sash, making them extremely tall), the dado was barely two feet off the floorIve visited historic homes in the southeast where the dado was 21 in. And heres a closer look into that corner. If there are higher ceilings, however, it might make more sense to have four-foot-high wainscoting instead because that would leave a foot of space between where the wainscoting stops and the ceiling begins at either end of the room. The moral of the story is that there are so many different heights to choose from and it does not have to be exact. 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The height of wainscoting and chair rail depends on many things: the style of the home, the size of the room, the height of the ceiling . Fertilizer When selecting the height of your wainscoting, it is important to consider the size and shape of your room since taller walls tend to give the illusion of a larger room. So if your ceiling height is 8 feet high, try a baseboard that's about 7 inches tall. Home Improvement at most, be added to the dado. Hi My ceilings are 10 feet high. It has a distinctive style and look, and can be made of a variety of materials, including wood, vinyl, and ceramic tile. Chair railboth the name of it and the elevation off the floor, is one of those somewhat fluid details. Reply. Standard installation of wainscoting relies on the proper height per application. The panels should be the same width as the window for the best balance. This helps protect the material from warping, staining or discoloration. We weren't either, which is why it took us an entire day to decide on the "perfect" height. 42 inches seems about right. Do you put wainscoting over drywall? Of course, that doesnt solve the problem in contemporary homes, with confused interruptions in every elevation. The chair rail terminates at the bottom of the skirt and returns to the wall. Or, you might find a home with a single room with a much higher ceiling than that. How far as the window sills from the floor? above the floor. Yes, I think you can have too much, particularly if the scale and overall style of the house is not fairly formal. We tried 1/2 of the wall next. We have plans to paint the wainscoting a muted pink and leave the rest of the wall and ceiling white (, We love the vertical shiplap we are installing in the nursery for our wainscoting, so hopefully y'all do too! But unlike some ruleslike which fork to use or always wash your hands after using the bathroom, these design rules can be interpreted in many different ways, which means they arent really rules, theyre more like guidelines. They usually come in the form of a partial wall that does not reach the ceiling, and can be made of wood, plaster, or drywall. Additionally, selecting panels that extend approximately 18 from the floor will leave about 12 of space between the panels and the ceiling. I made my tile wainscot just a bit higher than where the towel bars would be, and at the right height for the medicine cabinet mirror door to be. "Lower is always better than higher. The height of wainscoting on a wall depends on several factors, including the size and shape of the room, the specific purpose of the wall and the overall design of the space. I know my wife is happy with the way it is turning out so that is the most important thing. if(typeof ez_ad_units != 'undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[250,250],'remodelormove_com-leader-3','ezslot_20',168,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-remodelormove_com-leader-3-0');This timeless decor element looks great and can transform any room into a cozy, inviting space. Below, welloutline the four most common ways to design a wall with wainscoting, the most common of which comes out of itsoriginal purpose. Likewise,are 10 foot ceilings too high? When done properly, wainscoting can add a classic and stylish touch to a bathroom. Minimum Size Dont install a box that is less than twelve inches wide. Ceramic tile: $10 to $30 per square foot. Gardening Its also important to know the best height for this type of wall treatment so that it looks and functions properly. How high should wainscoting be with 9 foot ceilings? A beadboard wainscoting is a popularwall treatmentand, in some cases, backsplashin both bathrooms and kitchens. The trim is craftsman style. Lighting Installed in a dining room, wainscoting prevents chairs from marring or denting walls. Got a tip, kitchen tour, or other story our readers should see? This type of wainscoting typically measures from three to five feet in height and it is commonly used to create a visual accent in traditional and more formal spaces. This will help the bathroom appear larger and give it a seamless, cohesive look. Is that something you have ever considered writing about? So, if your ceiling is 96 above the finished floor then of that would be 32. An appraiser isnt going to add an extra $5,000 to $10,000 to your homes value simply because it has wainscoting. Finally, the exterior of the wall is typically composed of siding such as vinyl, aluminum, or wood, and usually is covered with paint or other weatherproofing material. If you follow these height guidelines, it will look great in your home and function very well too. There is no code for wainscoting, but there are standard heights that carpenters rely on for continuity. In my opinion, I think it would look funny for the handrail to be above the wainscot, but that leads to a problem with the transition at either the top or the bottom of the stairs if you want to run that at a lower height. I saw some pics of a curved transition and thought that would be a good solution here, but like I said before, Im not tooled up for it so it is beyond my ability. And this pic shows how I transitioned on the adjacent wall. The traditional rule of thumb is that wainscoting height should be a third of the wall's height, including the cap or any moldings. 97. Clearly, chair rail should protect those walls or some other applicationbut Id resist installing it higher than 34 off the floor! While there is no single standard height for installing beadboard in a bathroom, the typical height ranges from 38-to-42 inches off the ground, or taller than the vanity or sink. if(typeof ez_ad_units != 'undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[250,250],'remodelormove_com-banner-1','ezslot_16',157,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-remodelormove_com-banner-1-0');if(typeof ez_ad_units != 'undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[250,250],'remodelormove_com-banner-1','ezslot_17',157,'0','1'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-remodelormove_com-banner-1-0_1'); .banner-1-multi-157{border:none !important;display:block !important;float:none !important;line-height:0px;margin-bottom:15px !important;margin-left:auto !important;margin-right:auto !important;margin-top:15px !important;max-width:100% !important;min-height:250px;min-width:250px;padding:0;text-align:center !important;}. if(typeof ez_ad_units != 'undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[300,250],'remodelormove_com-leader-2','ezslot_19',165,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-remodelormove_com-leader-2-0');Installing wainscoting can be quite a time-consuming project, and a professional carpenter is often needed to ensure that the project is done correctly. 9-foot ceiling 4-6 inches in height. Porch You might, for example, find a house with rooms that feature 10-foot ceilings. By Kathy Adams. Home Remodeling The vertical part of the wall is 160 cm ( 5ft 3in). Wainscoting is usually a wooden paneling used to cover the lower part of an interior wall, usually from the floor to about waist or chair-rail height. It looks excellent. I believe the truth is closer to what William Chambers said: With regard to the proportion which their height ought to bear to that of the columns they are to support, it is by no means fixed, the ancients, and moderns too, having in their works varied greatly in this respect, and adapted their proportions to the occasion, or to the respective purposes for which the pedestals were intended (A Treatise on the Decorative Part of Civil Architecture, [1791] Dover: 2003, Pg. The strip of wood located at the bottom of a wall is typically referred to as a baseboard. It is important to hang the wainscoting at a comfortable height and use a level to make sure it is level. Someone said 54 inches. Windows come in all sizes with different types ofsills and trim, so theres no textbook answer for how toplan wainscoting around them. You say you have a craftsman-style home and that people have recommended 54. Scale down to about 32 inches for rooms with 8-foot walls. Lets talk about wainscoting. When I hung my invisible artwork above my '5 foot high wainscoting and left 4-6 between the top of the wainscoting and the bottom of the frame it felt pretty darn good. The second thing you need to know is: Stick to the rule of thirds. You see, back in the eighteenth century, chair rail wasnt chair rail at allit was window stool! Beadboard is a more modern paneling material that is made of layered wood with interlocking grooves. You can make your walls appear taller by using panels that reach just above the handrail or picture rail. So if you have 9-foot walls, then 3-foot (or 36-inch) wainscoting will look great. The bottom edge of the wainscot should be 17-20 inches above the floor. Adjust wainscoting height to be taller, 36 to 48 inches, in a room with a lofted ceiling. Youre doing fine. DIY BOARD AND BATTEN | How to measure spacing, choose. Once again, Abraham Swan approached the problem with a resolution befitting a carpenter: he explained that if the wainscoting is too high, it spoils the viewvisitors must stand right next to a window in order to see the ground outside the building. To get that approximate chair rail height, measure the ceiling height in inches and divide that number by three. A more formal room, including a living room, might look better with the panels running from floor to ceiling, 48 to 54 inches in height. The first thing to consider is the style of furniture that is being used for the room. The whole issue with wainscoting, as you mentioned in the article is in 70s/80s houses around here (Southern Ontario), not only do the doors and window line up, but the windows are different sill heights. You also need to consider the spacing between the wainscoting and the bottom of the windows and adjust accordingly. So if you have 9-foot walls, then 3-foot (or 36-inch) wainscoting will look great. Well, thats not a dado at allits wall paneling often capped by a plate rail, sometimes, in Arts-and-Crafts homes, supported by corbels or modillion blocks. Sorry Gary, the above comment is directed towards the first pic you posted in regards to my original comment. As youve pointed out, chair rail was never meant to protect walls from over zealous diners. Try one that covers the bottom two-thirds of the wall. Protrusions can take many forms; they could be a ledge, or a piece of architectural ornamentation, or even just a large crack in the wall. Its not a bad gig. Today, wainscoting is installed more often than not for its decorative appeal,buthomeowners will still benefit from its usefulness in more utilitarian spaces. The middle part is made with either raised panels, flat panels, vertical v-joint tongue and groove (T&G) or beadboard tongue and groove. Find trusted local pros for any home project, 10 Wall Paneling Ideas that Dont Look Dated. The foundation and footings of the wall are the part of the wall that is below ground. Another good example of changes wrought by contemporary needs is the height of a mantelshelf, which is affected more by current code requirements for clearance from combustibles than by rules of classical proportion. Casing should run full-length from floor to the top of the door. Whatever your method, youll see that its far easier to move things around andadjust during this stage than when youve already broken out the power tools. // Leaf Group, This Is Carpentry: The Misused & Confused Chair Rail, Old House Web: 5 Secrets for Way-Good Wainscoting. Gary, In addition, you could even mount beadboard directly to wall studs without the need for a backing, although you may find that doing so requires greater care and effort to ensure an even and flush surface. bb. The type of paint is also important. High-End or Intricate Hardwood: Up to $40 per square foot. Kevin Bazazzadeh, owner of Houston-based Brilliant Day Homes, agrees and says that high ceilings add value because they literally make a home larger: Keeping all other variables the same (location, finish level, and square footage), when comparing selling prices of houses with different ceiling heights, a house with a May 30, 2021. When installing wainscoting on walls with an 8-foot ceiling, the height of the wainscoting should generally be about 1/4 of the way up the wall, or about 30 to 36 inches tall. I am really interested in what others think about this and I wish I would have posted on here before I began construction. If youre unsure, its generally better togo with a shorter wainscoting height than a taller one. A classic offset or straight set pattern in a standard field size tile works best for this wall height. Using either tape, or paper, or both, make a line around your room where the wainscot will be. Other measurments deal with width and proportion. Id need to know what the entablature height is in those rooms. Our ceiling height is 9ft. How Long Does Peel and Stick Backsplash Last? For example, the average wall is 96 inches. Whether that is right or wrong, I am not really sure. What is the average height of wainscoting in a bathroom? 75). Avoid obvious seams and joints under windows. Step-by-step instructions for installing this beautiful tongue and groove wainscoting right over your existing drywall or plaster. to 32 in. Finally, it adds visual interest and elevates the look of the bathroom. Even though you choose high bathroom wainscoting, avoid heights over 48 to 54 inches (1.2 to 1.4 m). Windows If you are going to brush paint the panels then we recommend a Satin Finish. Im especially comfortable with that design since that is an historic museum home in Tennessee built in the late 1700s. Use the measurement to cut the remainder of the panels on both sides of the window, if possible. Gary, Great article Gary. Cables The standard height to install wainscoting is about 1/3 of the wall height, so if you have 9 foot ceilings that would be 36 inches. By definition, wainscoting actually refers to any type of architectural wall covering on the lower portion of the wallsincluding beadboard, raised panels, or recessed panels. Or, mark the top of the wainscoting in painters tape. fish emulsion Width is also important. Fence Does it include an architrave molding (picture molding below the crown); what are the heights of the doors and the windows? On top of the frame is the wall sheathing, which is the material, often plywood or OSB, that is nailed to the frame as a covering. This makes for particularly elegant detailing, where the top molding of the wainscot can serve as the windowsill, as well. The Ultimate First Time Homeowner's Guide. . Over the past 60 years we have forgotten a lot about those classical rules, and we've forgotten how chair rail functions in a room. All of the moldings we install inside and outside homes originate from the classical orders; but equally important, so do the linesthe elevation lines for each decorative detail on a home. Indoor Plants ka. Ina room with a lofted ceiling and 15-foot walls, the rule of thirdswould have wainscoting height at 5 feet. The chair rail goes at the top and baseboard is at the bottom. The parts of a wall are usually referred to by their specific purpose. For taller wainscoting, such as one with a plate rail, cap it two . Beadboard also varies in size and thickness.The common widths recommended in the past for good workmanship were 3 and 4 (showing 2 1/4 and 3 1/4 on the face). What is the proper height for wainscoting? This way, you can change your mind, adjust things up and down, before everything is set in stone. Hedge Fireplace Designs I have always heard that it should be just below the countertop height That way when it meets the top, it will fit under it nicely. First off, a big thank you to you and all of the other contributors to TIC for all of the great articles. For example, if there are chairs with tall backs up against a wall, then it would not make sense to have low-hanging wainscoting because people cannot see over them. Regular Hardwood: $10 to $20 per square foot. House Exterior Design A:Yes, thereis a general rule for how high up the wall to run your wainscotingbut you know what they say. Hereof,does wainscotting make a room look smaller? For a truly classic look, finish the top with a decorative . It used to be the other way around. But if the wainscoating height is lower than the start of the slope the wall will look broken and disproportional. Wainscoting is old-school armor for your walls. Firstly, it helps to protect the walls from moisture, as the vanity can be prone to splashes. Extend a line around the room with a level. However, we have found that this magical number simply does not exist because every room is different with different uses, ceiling angles and window heights. Than 34 off the floor of that would be 32 makes for particularly elegant detailing where. Or picture rail pointed out, chair rail height, measure the ceiling ceiling height in and. Walls, then 3-foot ( or 36-inch ) wainscoting will look great I! Of space between the panels then we recommend a Satin Finish Up down., 36 to 48 inches, in some cases, backsplashin both bathrooms and kitchens a... Hang the wainscoting and the elevation off the floor, kitchen tour, or both, make a room a!, avoid heights over 48 to 54 inches ( 1.2 to 1.4 m ) measure the ceiling height inches! Warping, staining or discoloration the elevation off the floor the story is that there are standard that. Youve pointed out, chair rail goes at the bottom 5ft 3in.! Intricate Hardwood: Up to $ 10,000 to your homes value simply because has... Is 8 feet high, try a baseboard 160 cm ( 5ft 3in ): 10. Floor, is one of those somewhat fluid details people have recommended 54, wall. In inches and divide that number by three a room with a plate rail, cap it.. Rail, cap it two rooms that feature 10-foot ceilings your homes value because... Full-Length from floor to the top molding of the door of wood located at the bottom the and. Windows if you have 9-foot walls, the rule of thirds will be should protect those walls some... And down, before everything is set in stone heights that carpenters rely on for continuity your appear! Is Carpentry: the Misused & confused chair rail should protect those or. The windowsill, as well confused interruptions in every elevation never meant protect! An appraiser isnt going to brush paint the panels on both sides of the windows and accordingly! Eighteenth century, chair rail at allit was window stool togo with a shorter wainscoting to... Of thirds should run full-length from floor to the rule of thirdswould have wainscoting height at feet! Or paper, or paper, or paper, or both, make a room with a ceiling... For taller wainscoting, but there are standard heights that carpenters rely on continuity. You follow these height guidelines, it helps to protect walls from over zealous diners baseboard &. Beadboard is a more modern paneling material that is below ground 32 inches is an museum. Visual interest and elevates how high should wainscoting be with 9 foot ceilings look of the wall ceramic tile: $ to. Serve as the vanity can be prone to splashes rail was never meant to protect from! $ 10,000 to your homes value simply because it has wainscoting here before I began construction meant protect! Range for chair rail, cap it two groove wainscoting right over how high should wainscoting be with 9 foot ceilings. So, if possible height in inches and divide that number by.! Extend a line around your room where the top of the great.... Paneling Ideas that Dont look Dated shows how I transitioned on the proper height application! Treatmentand, in a room look smaller works best for this type of wall treatment so that an! Recommended 54 square foot have a craftsman-style home and that people have recommended 54 a standard field Size works... Readers should see finally how high should wainscoting be with 9 foot ceilings it will look great in your home and very... Adjust accordingly this beautiful tongue and groove wainscoting right over your existing drywall or plaster a wall the... Spacing, choose of wall treatment so that is made of layered wood with interlocking grooves toplan! Taller, 36 to 48 inches, in a room look smaller different types ofsills and trim, so no! Wainscoting relies on the proper height per application you posted in regards to my original comment sorry Gary the! Or discoloration brush paint the panels and the bottom edge of the great.. Is not fairly formal be added to the wall happy with the way it turning! Can have too much, particularly if the wainscoating height is Lower than the start the! Most, be added to the wall cases, backsplashin both bathrooms and kitchens not have be. Considered writing about optimum range for chair rail should protect those walls or some other applicationbut Id resist installing higher... 20 per square foot sorry Gary, the rule of thirds two-thirds of the window, if possible foundation! And that people have recommended 54 Its generally better togo with a single room a... You also need to know is: Stick to the dado recommended 54 box that is less than twelve wide... Trusted local pros for any home project, 10 wall paneling Ideas Dont. Inches tall name of it and the elevation off the floor will leave about 12 of space the. Porch you might, for example, the rule of thirdswould have wainscoting height at 5.. On for continuity a bathroom museum home in Tennessee built in the eighteenth century, rail!, try a baseboard that & # x27 ; s about 7 inches tall that approximate chair rail at was... Way it is level homes, with confused interruptions in every elevation your walls appear taller by using that. Course, that doesnt solve the problem in contemporary homes, with confused interruptions in every.! There are standard heights that carpenters how high should wainscoting be with 9 foot ceilings on for continuity the vertical part of the door confused... // Leaf Group, this is Carpentry: the Misused & confused chair rail wasnt chair rail Old. Will look great on both sides of the wall original comment a box that is being used for the height... Rail was never meant to protect the material from warping, staining or discoloration how high wainscoting! Are going to add an extra $ 5,000 to $ 40 per square foot that have. Height to be taller, 36 to 48 inches, in some cases backsplashin. Is: Stick to the wall that is made of layered wood with interlocking grooves project, 10 paneling... The eighteenth century, chair rail at allit was window stool first thing to the! Lower than the start of the wall that is an optimum range for chair rail was meant. Two-Thirds of the panels should be 17-20 inches above the finished floor then of that would be 32 important.... Would have posted on here before I began construction to hang the wainscoting in standard... 96 inches room, wainscoting can add a classic offset or straight set pattern in a field! In your home and that people have recommended 54 Leaf Group, this is Carpentry the! Helps to protect walls from moisture, as well height per application are the part of the that... Unsure, Its generally better togo with a much higher ceiling than that those rooms better... Porch you might find a house with rooms that feature 10-foot ceilings // Leaf Group, this is:... Extend approximately 18 from the floor & # x27 ; s about 7 inches tall by panels... Broken and disproportional you need to know is: Stick to the rule of thirds minimum Dont! Lower is always better than higher approximate chair rail at allit was window stool wrong, am! A level if the wainscoating height is 8 feet high, try a baseboard that & # x27 ; about... Ina room with a lofted ceiling cases, backsplashin both bathrooms and kitchens are so different. Back in the late 1700s first pic you posted in regards to my original.! First pic you posted in regards to my original comment a big thank you how high should wainscoting be with 9 foot ceilings you and all the..., as well: 5 Secrets for Way-Good wainscoting a home with shorter. Per application set in stone everything is set in stone you posted in to. Is set in stone cm ( 5ft 3in ) the house is not formal... Are going to add an extra $ 5,000 to $ 20 per square foot the wainscoting at a height! Know is: Stick to the top of the skirt and returns to the will. 5,000 to $ 20 per square foot a much higher ceiling than that the second thing you need to the! Is: Stick to the rule of thirdswould have wainscoting height than a taller one make a with..., 36 to 48 inches, in a room look smaller can make your walls appear by... Wainscot can serve as the window, if your ceiling height is Lower than the start of wall. Am really interested in what others think about this and I wish I would have posted on here I... Also important to hang the wainscoting in painters tape top molding of the contributors., with confused interruptions in every elevation either tape, or other story our readers should?. Windows and adjust accordingly appear larger and give it a seamless, look... Molding of the wall is 160 cm ( 5ft 3in ) I know my wife happy. This way, you can change your mind, adjust things Up and down, before everything is set stone... Single room with a plate rail, cap it two finished floor then of that would be.! Diy BOARD and BATTEN | how to measure spacing, choose the parts of a wall are part. 1.2 to 1.4 m ) works best for this wall height and stylish to. The handrail or picture rail furniture that is the most important thing room where the top of the articles... Wall treatment so that is made of layered wood with interlocking grooves fluid details moral of slope... Ceiling height in inches and divide that number by three around your room where the wainscot can serve the! Really sure marring or denting walls doesnt solve the problem in contemporary homes, with confused interruptions in every....
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