How to finish a dado rail

[Manks]

Hi All

We are doing a bit of panelling but the architrave is not deep enough to hide the end of the dado or skirting. The joiner has done some returns so far but it doesn't look right.

I don't think a straight cut will look right as you'll see the end of the moulding.

Any suggestions as to how to make it look right please?

 

[Feltwell]

It's difficult to see what you mean from that picture Manks. Usually the dado would just butt up to the architrave, and wouldn't stick out any further than it.

What are you using as architrave? It doesn't look like archtirave in the picture, it looks like dado rail!

 

[Manks]

I know it does, but trust me it's architrave and on the dado side its about 20mm. I agree with you it doesn't look like it but it is. Shonky Nokia camera has removed the depth.

 

[Feltwell]

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!

 

[Nigel Watts]

The best solution would be to use a different design of architrave which is deep enough to allow the dado to butt up against it.

Otherwise, I think the only thing you can do is to is to cut the back face of the dado with the reverse profile of the architrave so that the two mouldings marry together neatly - not an easy job, but a coping saw might do the trick.

 

[Manks]

I had to make an executive decision, which was to have the archs off and pack them out. It looks good actually and the problem is now solved. Thanks to all for the advice.

 

[LadyArowana]

I had to make an executive decision, which was to have the archs off and pack them out. It looks good actually and the problem is now solved. Thanks to all for the advice.

Always good to hear when something works out ok in the end, even if it was extra work.

 

[Manks]

Okay, so one dilemma over and another close on its tail!

We have a couple of good walls to panel and then a couple of bitty ones with doorways, recesses and the like.

Do we try to stick rigidly to the same panel width all the way round, "ignore" the obstacles, and put a part panel at the end of each run. Or do we do narrower panels in the sections where we cannot fit an exact number of full panels?

This all seemed to easy when I was planning it in my head...

 

[88v8]

If it were ceramic tiles, I'd go for Option A, but for panelling, Option B.

ivor

 

[Manks]

If it were ceramic tiles, I'd go for Option A, but for panelling, Option B.

ivor

That's how I am viewing it.

Though I must say, having a rule of thumb and being prepared to deviate from it to suit the eye seems to be important.

 

[88v8]

.. I must say, having a rule of thumb and being prepared to deviate from it to suit the eye seems to be important.

Too right.
Drawing a set of plans, and then just sticking to them without spontaneity or imagination, is one of the ways that builders destroy the character of an old house.

Ivor

 

[Lime]

With regard to the dado not looking right, I agree.

In my house in places the dado was too proud to vanish into adjoining wood work, I extended the dado (via a right angle formed from dado rail) into the floor/skirting board so that it ran parrallel with the architrave.