What are the options to designing the chair rail transition from the stairway to the landing if I plan to maintain the same size style height in both areas?

Lay out the chair rail height at the top and bottom of stairs then connect the two points

Hey Emeril,I apologize... I didn't know that my comment on your reply would show up on the thread.

Anyway, Buster, this is a difficult transition to make since the sloping chair rail on the stairway will be wider than the horizontal chair rail and you can't just miter them. One option might be to install some outside corner trim so you can butt each end of the chair rail into the corner trim instead.

Sorry if I was not specific enough for you Inspector
Lay out and level the chair rail height at the top and bottom of stairs then connect the two top points of chair rail with a caulk line that will give you the elevation of the chair rail going up the stairs
As far as mitering it find the angle with scrap wood for both pieces and simply miter it:)

Quote:

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Originally Posted by EMERIL LAGASSE

Sorry if I was not specific enough for you Inspector
Lay out and level the chair rail height at the top and bottom of stairs then connect the two top points of chair rail with a caulk line that will give you the elevation of the chair rail going up the stairs
As far as mitering it find the angle with scrap wood for both pieces and simply miter it:)

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Ahem... it's not me that needs the specifics Emeril. It's the originator of the thread. Have you ever tried to 'simply miter' this type of trim angle? As I mentioned in my earlier reply the two pieces are not the same the width. How do you miter two trim pieces that are not the same size? The chair rail that is coming down the stair way is going to be wider than the horizontal piece coming around the corner. It's like trying to miter a 1x4 to a 1x6. Sure you can 'simply miter it' but it will look like 'home-made sin' as my trim carpentry instructor used to say. Bam!! To that!

Try it some time you have to miter both together with the same angle :)

Assuming that your question really is “ How do I make the chair rail going up the wall at an angle, turn the corner and meet the chair rail of the landing which is horizontal such is shown in the first drawing?”

The answer is you don't turn the corner and go horizontal at the same time.

You turn the corner staying horizontal and go a short distance. Then angle up (or down). It looks best if that horizontal distance is approximately the same as the width of the first tread.

I know my drawings take a lot of imagination but maybe they will help.

You can miter (approx. 36degrees) those corners easily enough. Level up 36" off the nose of the first or second steps from top and bottom. Chalk line that and make it meet the horizontal. If you do this, the miter cut won't be on the corner anyway. Good luck, stairs can keep you up at night.

InspectorDan: I have been racking my brains out trying to find a solution to the dilemma of butting up a chair rail going up stairs diagonally to a horizontal chair rail meeting it at the top. It can't be done; the sizes do not match. Thanks for the great solution of using something as a connector in between. Now the hunt continues for that perfect design. Thanks, you were the only one on internet who could answer the question.