How to Find the Studs to Put a Chair Railing Up

Chair-rail molding is a non-load-bearing trim that is typically glued, then nailed to the wall. While chair rails originally functioned to protect walls from scuffs from chair backs, chair rails in modern homes are primarily ornamental. For secure installation, the chair rail should be nailed to the framing studs in the wall. Most carpenters use an electronic or magnetic stud finder to locate the studs. Depending on the device, an audible signal, moving compass needle or light alerts you as the stud finder passes over a stud.

Stud finder
Pencil
Measuring tape

Instructions

- 1
  Turn on the stud finder if it is an electronic device. Position the stud finder so its sensor is flush against the wall. Lightly press the stud finder against the wall, then slide it horizontally 3 or 4 feet. Watch or listen for the indicator to tell you when the stud finder has passed over a stud. If you don't initially locate a stud, repeat this step higher or lower on the wall.
- 2
  Once a stud has been located, pass the stud finder over the stud to find its center. Glide the stud finder slowly in a horizontal line across the stud. Mark the wall where the stud finder indicates the lateral edges of the stud. Estimate the position and mark the center of the stud with a faint pencil mark.
- 3
  Locate the center of the adjacent wall stud. Measure the distance between the centers of the studs. Most wall studs, in modern homes, are positioned 16 inches apart. Mark the wall to indicate the positions of the wall studs, around the room. Keep in mind that the positions of the studs may be altered to accommodate window and door installation.

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