How to remove a dado rail using a moulding bar? - Wonkee Donkee Tools (2024)

FAQs

What tools do I need to remove dado rail? ›

It's really easy to do yourself if you've got the right tools. Well I am very pleased with myself, I used a hammer and a wallpaper scraper and they came off beautifully! With zero damage to the wall plaster!

Using a chisel you could split the wood away from the glue and then try and pare the glue off the wall with a chisel.

I attached the dado rail using an adhesive and my nail gun (our walls are stone so I relied on the adhesive massively and nails were only to keep the dado rail from moving). The next day, once the adhesive had dried, I caulked the top and bottom (our walls are very uneven and not really square as it turns out).

If it is then large chunks of plaster might come off with it. Otherwise if it dates to a time when dado rails were fairly standard then it should be held by cut nails, which should leave quite small holes which can be filled. Ease off using something like a thin electrician's bolster.

If is didn't look great, and you expect better, I suppose the plaster should pay more attention and more time to get a better finish, my advice is to have the whole room skimmed, or just to patch up if is possible and reasonable. It might be salvageable but patch work isn't easy on old walls.

Sika MaxTack Instant Grab SF is a great alternative to mechanical fixings in a variety of home improvement jobs such as bonding skirting boards, dado rails, fixing carpet gripper systems and more.

Finishing nailers are ideal for finishing carpentry work, mounting skirting boards, tongue and groove panelling, dado rails, etc. They are available in all power types. Brad nailers are another type of 2nd fix finishing nailer.

UniBond No More Nails Original grab adhesive is a great all-purpose construction adhesive which can be used to install dado rail onto the walls around your home. It completely eliminates the need for screws and nails.

HAND SAW AND CHISEL. If you've only got the most basic hand tools, you can still cut grooves, dados, and rabbets with a hand saw and chisel. Start by marking both sides of the joint with a marking knife or marking gauge.

A compound Mitre Saw allows you to make two kinds of angled cuts simultaneously through your workpiece, Mitre and Bevel cuts, these are ideal for dado rails, cornice, skirting and anywhere else where you need to intersect two pieces of wood without a gap.

What can I use instead of a dado rail? ›

Create a contemporary look by incorporating wall paneling instead of traditional dado rails. This can add texture and depth to your walls, providing a stylish alternative.

All I can suggest then is plane the end of the dado rail down so it meets the architrave. Or take the architrave off, plant a piece the same width behind it and re-attach to bring the architrave further into the room. Or buy thicker architrave / thinner dado!

Interior design is constantly changing and evolving, and the latest trend to make a comeback is the classic dado rail. This traditional feature, commonly seen in older homes, is now making a resurgence in modern interior design.

Placing your dado rail ¾ of the way up your wall creates a classy look that works well to add some depth to your rooms. This effect can be bolstered by painting contrasting colours above and below your rail, creating a two-tone effect that can work wonders to visually enlarge your space.

I removed mine, easy to lever off then fill the screw holes underneath. It does make the room look bigger. Depends on the age of the house. If your house was built when picture rails were standard and built in from new, very broadly, any property built before 1940 then leave them.