Chair Rail

[Iceman_2002]

OK I have a small problem. I need to install chair rail on a sheet rock wall with metal stud construction. This is a heavy traffic and beat up area. Any one have any ideas? I was thinking of molly bolts and liquid nails to hold up the backer. Then cover with the rail itself...

[T_Connor]

If you bevel the top angle of the backer slightly like a french cleat, that would make installation pretty easy.

Molly bolts would be the way I would go. I'm not so sure that liquid nails would be my choice as I curse and curse and curse the previous owners of my house who used that to glue a closet jamb cover to the drywall. If you have any intention in the distant future of removing and remodeling the area with rail, you might want to forego the liquid nails or at least limit its application so as not to prevent future removal of the rail/cleat.

Cheers,
Tim

[DaveZ]

Couple of suggestions

You could mark out the chair and cut holes in the Srock,install backing(like a drywall patch) Idea is to cut the hole so the chair covers your cuts

You could run 2 beads of caulk caulk on the back side of the chair and then use a finish stapler angled down from the top and angled up from the bottom, and just shoot into the drywall. No need for major glues against srock, you're only gluing to paper

If you can borrow a Paslode Trimpulse, you can shoot it right thru the metal studs, opposing angles on the nailing and a little goo on the back of the chair just to be safe.

[rrich]

Ice,
If it were me, I would try the freedom cleat but shoot nails from the bottom side of the chair rail into the freedom cleat. You can anchor the freedom cleat to the wall with fine thread drywall screws. If the freedom cleat is 3/4 then 2" will easily hit the metal studs.

Rich

[JMIHICH]

Think about using trim screws. They have very small heads that can easily be filled without too much notice. They come in various sizes at Menard's. I use them a lot, they are square drive.