Strong when properly supported: There’s a reason these joints are so common, and it’s because they provide a high level of strength for relatively little effort.

It’s often said that in Gregorian design, dado rails were installed to protect walls and expensive wall hangings from furniture bumping against and damaging them. They were placed at the height where the top of the chair would collide with the wall. This is why you’ll also hear them referred to as ‘chair rails.’ The ogee dado rail is a more decorative and ornate option, featuring a curved or "S" shaped profile. It is often used in more formal or traditional settings. Contemporary Dado Rail Through dado joints pass from one end of the board to the other, creating a U shaped slot all the way through. Through dado joints are great if you want simple construction and don’t mind a visible joint on both ends. When purchasing either of these as dado panels, the top and bottom of the design will usually feature an area with a small repeat pattern. This enables the paper to be trimmed down to the correct height to fit between the skirting and the dado without interrupting the main pattern.

Definition of dado

For 90 degree corners you need to cut the dado at 45 degrees where it meets the next piece like in any other room, however you need to cut this angle on the dado whilst it’s angle ascends parallel to the staircase. It is worth taking your time to make these cuts as accurate as possible. If the first cut is done accurately, you can use these pieces as a template to make all of your other cuts as staircases tend to ascend at the same angle from floor to floor, even if there are multiple landings. For wooden mouldings over 1.2m in length we can only deliver with Tuffnells and DX as these couriers are able to carry up to 4.2m lengths. Unfortunately both couriers do not accept responsibility for late deliveries to a domestic property however 90% of these deliveries are delivered the day after despatch. Our dado rail service is not just limited to traditional styles, we also offer a range of modern dado rail ideas to suit contemporary interiors. And if you're looking for something unique and bespoke, we can even create a custom dado rail profile to match your exact specifications. Our dado rails are available in various heights, including large and extra wide options, to suit any space. A dado falls within the center of the material, consisting of a slot with a bottom and two shoulders. When viewed from the side, a dado looks like a capital ‘U.’ A rabbet, on the other hand, is cut into the end of the material. It has a bottom and one side, leaving the other side open. A rabbet’s profile resembles a capital ‘L’ cut into the wood.

For example, if you had a nine-foot ceiling, dividing this by three would give you a sum of three feet. You would then look to place your dado rail three feet from the floor.

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The Georgian dado rail is a classic and traditional style that is characterized by its simple and elegant design. It typically features a flat top rail and a simple square profile. Edwardian Dado Rail