Problem: The backs of the chairs in your dining room are damaging the wall.

Solution: You can install a chair rail to protect the wall and add a more polished look to your dining room.

Equipment list:

power or manual miter saw
level
stud finder
hammer
nail set
pencil
measuring tape
sliding T-bevel
paintbrush
drill
safety glasses

Chair railing is available in several different styles and is usually sold in lengths up to 16 feet.
Make a sketch of the room, and label each wall with the exact measurements. You can use this sketch when you make your cuts.

Place a chair against the wall, and hold a scrap piece of molding on the wall at the height at which the chair hits the wall. Mark a light line on the bottom edge of the molding, and then use a level to draw a level reference line around the wall.
Locate and mark the wall studs.
Prime and paint the molding.
Use a miter box to cut the molding to size. Most corners will require a 45-degree cut.

For wide or narrow corners, use a sliding T-bevel to determine the appropriate angle. After you determine the angle of the corner, divide the number in half for the angle at which you should cut the molding.

Before you begin cutting the molding, try cutting some test pieces and dry-fitting them in a corner to determine whether they will fit correctly. If the pieces don’t fit properly, adjust the settings on the miter saw, and try again.

Mark the stud locations on the molding. For larger molding, mark the top and bottom. Pre-drill pilot holes, and secure the molding to the wall with 6-penny finish nails. Leave a small portion of the nail head above the surface of the molding, and then use a nail set to recess the head below the surface.
Fill the nail holes with spackling compound or wood filler, and touch them up with paint if necessary.