Bedroom redo - Advise needed!

[Irish Clovers]

OK, so I decided to re-paint my room from a horrible shade of green to a light tan/dark brown.  Light tan on the top and dark brown on the bottom.  I was thinking about a wood chair rail stained a dark color.  HOWEVER, my entire condo is metal stud framed.  It's bad enough hanging curtain rods, let alone an entire room done with a chair rail.  Should I attempt it?  If so, how?  Or, should I go with a nice border-type wallpaper where the chair rail would go?

Help!   

[Twik]

Eep! I once tried hanging curtains in a metal-framed appartment. It was not a success.

Perhaps if you asked at a local building-supply place they could help? I'm wondering if a strong adhesive would work as well as nails, but I've no experience with that.

[Irish Clovers]

I'm not real keen on asking the people at Lowes/Home Depot.  I usually get 2 or 3 different answers.  LOL

Yes, metal studs are GREAT for, say, fire protection... but for hanging stuff, it's the pits! 

So, any carpenters are there???

[Verruca]

If you prefer, find a small hardware store and ask there.  You may be able to get away with adhesive like liquid nails or something, but there are probably other methods you can use.

For hanging things, there are toggle bolts that can go through drywall - when you hammer them into the wall, a little flange thing opens up and braces the nail against the wall for support.  Maybe there's something similar that can be used with a chair rail.

Good luck!

[Irish Clovers]

Hmmmmm, you and Twik both mentioned adhesive.  I'll ask about that, I didn't think it was possible. 

Thanks!

[Xanthia, Maker of fine Tin-foil hats since 2007]

OK, so you are going to thik that this is the CRAZIEST thing in the world, but my friend did it in her apartment and it not only worked, but it looked GREAT and came off easily when she wanted it off to move.

She used a thin chair rail, and to adhere it to the wall, she used... VELCRO AND HOT GULE!  She got the sticky velcrow strips, put one side on the wall using just the adhesive that it came with, and hot guled the other side to the chair rail and poped it on up there!  She did not want to make a bunch of nail holes, but wantd the look of a chair rail in her living room.

Just an idea, other than that, another adhesive would probably work well.

(puts "chair rail and paint bottom of living room" on the list of things she wants to do...just have to finish painting the woodwork!)

[Irish Clovers]

Velcro!  Now that's an idea.   

[Rei-chan]

Are the walls sheetrock or plaster?  That could make a difference with the adhesive idea. 

I once used a "wall friendly" adhesive for posters in my bedroom when I was a teen.  My Dad was SOOO MAD at me when I moved out.....the "WF" stuff tore the sheetrock and he had to replace sections of it!

[Irish Clovers]

I have sheetrock.   

The thought did cross my mind about removing it and having that problem.  It's looking like a wallpaper border is the way to go.   

[melodrama]

Don't abandon the chair rail idea yet!

You can drill pilot holes through the chair rail and wall first with a metal piercing drill bit.  They make special bits that are a little tougher than regular drill bits.  Once you've drilled through the metal framing, it should be easy to put a nail or small screw in the same hole.  Just remember that your nail/screw has to be a little bigger than the hole you just drilled, otherwise it will fall right out.

If you still want to consider adhesive, check your local mega-hardware store.  There are some that are more removable than others. 


Complicated enough for you?  

[Bijou]

Don't abandon the chair rail idea yet!

You can drill pilot holes through the chair rail and wall first with a metal piercing drill bit.  They make special bits that are a little tougher than regular drill bits.  Once you've drilled through the metal framing, it should be easy to put a nail or small screw in the same hole.  Just remember that your nail/screw has to be a little bigger than the hole you just drilled, otherwise it will fall right out.

If you still want to consider adhesive, check your local mega-hardware store.  There are some that are more removable than others. 


Complicated enough for you?  

Just a question:  Would rilling holes in the metal framing compromise their strength?

[Bijou]

OK, so I decided to re-paint my room from a horrible shade of green to a light tan/dark brown.  Light tan on the top and dark brown on the bottom.  I was thinking about a wood chair rail stained a dark color.  HOWEVER, my entire condo is metal stud framed.  It's bad enough hanging curtain rods, let alone an entire room done with a chair rail.  Should I attempt it?  If so, how?  Or, should I go with a nice border-type wallpaper where the chair rail would go?

Help!   

Why not visit one of the websites that can help you figure out how to do a faux rail?  You know.  A painted strip that looks like a rail but is really just a painted on?  I don't like faux anything, but sometimes it might be the way to go.

[Irish Clovers]

Why not visit one of the websites that can help you figure out how to do a faux rail?  You know.  A painted strip that looks like a rail but is really just a painted on?  I don't like faux anything, but sometimes it might be the way to go.

LOL, I'd rather pay someone to do that. 

[Rei-chan]

I was looking up chair rail installation, and it seems kind of complicated......I'm not even sure what a "miter saw" is!

Unless you are really into carpentry, you may want to look into something else......

[ccnumber4]

Sounds really cool!  Your post may result in my own redec. project this weekend.  Do you have an Ace Hardware near you?  They are a bit pricier than the big box places, but it's usually easier to find help because they are smaller.  I do have to say though, that the people at HD are always VERY helpful.  

When I can find one.