Dado rail fitting in Exeter
Professional dado rail fitting services in Exeter and surrounding areas. Local, reliable handyman - no job too small.
Price Guide
£85-£210
Typical Duration
2-3 hrs
Location
Exeter, Devon
Dado rail fitted level around your room with neat corners and clean joints. I fill and caulk everything so it's ready for painting - a simple addition that adds real character to any space.
Transform Your Walls in a Single Visit
Boring flat walls? A dado rail is the fastest way to add character to any room. One clean horizontal line at waist height and suddenly your space has depth, architectural interest, and that finished feel.
💡 Pro tip: Dado rails aren't just decorative - they let you paint above and below in different colours for a striking two-tone effect.
Why Professional Fitting Matters
Here's the thing with dado rail: it's at eye level. Any wonky work is painfully obvious.
| ✅ Done Right | ❌ Done Wrong |
|---|---|
| True level line around the room | Follows the unlevel floor |
| Tight mitre joints at corners | Gaps visible from across the room |
| Filled, caulked, paint-ready | Nail holes showing, edges lifting |
| Looks original to the house | Screams "weekend DIY job" |
What You Get
🔧 The Full Service
| Stage | What Happens |
|---|---|
| Prep | Level line marked around room, layout planned |
| Fit | Each section cut with proper mitres, secured firmly |
| Finish | All nail holes filled, edges caulked to wall |
📦 You're Left With
- Decorator-ready finish (just paint!)
- Clean, professional corners
- No mess, no fuss
Pricing Guide
| Room Size | Estimated Time | You'll Pay |
|---|---|---|
| Small bedroom | 1.5-2 hrs | £60-110 |
| Average living room | 2-3 hrs | £60-160 |
| Large reception | 3-4 hrs | £110-210 |
Based on £60 minimum (first hour) + £50/hr after. Final quote depends on corners, alcoves, and obstacles.
Perfect For Your Project If...
✅ Period property - restore that Victorian/Edwardian character
✅ Two-tone walls - create a striking colour divide
✅ Problem areas - hide cracking at the wall/ceiling junction
✅ Adding value - architectural details buyers actually notice
Why Choose Us for Dado rail fitting in Exeter?
Fitted perfectly level around the room
Clean mitre joints at every corner
Filled and caulked ready for painting
Advice on the right height for your room
What to Expect
Step 1: Measure & Mark
I find the right height for your room and mark a true level line all the way around. Not following your wonky floor!
Step 2: Cut & Fit
Each section goes up carefully. Corners get proper mitre cuts - this is where the quality really shows.
Step 3: Fill & Finish
All nail holes filled, every edge caulked tight to the wall. Clean, professional, decorator-ready.
🔧 DIY Tips
Want to have a go yourself? Here's how to get good results:
🔧 Tools you'll need
- Mitre saw or mitre box with hand saw
- Spirit level (long one, ideally 1m+)
- Tape measure and pencil
- Nail gun or hammer and panel pins
- Caulk gun and decorator's caulk
- Wood filler
📐 Getting it level
- Find the highest point of your floor
- Measure up from there (usually 90-100cm for standard ceilings)
- Use a spirit level to mark around the room - NOT a tape measure from the floor
- Your floor is almost certainly not level, so the rail must be
✂️ Cutting corners
- Internal corners: both pieces at 45° meeting inward
- External corners: both pieces at 45° meeting outward
- Test fit before gluing - old houses are rarely exactly 90°
⚠️ Common DIY mistakes
- Following the floor instead of using a level line
- Not leaving expansion gaps at corners
- Skimping on adhesive
- Rushing the caulking
💡 Pro trick: Cope internal corners instead of mitre cutting - cut one piece square, then cut the profile of the other piece to fit over it. Takes practice but gives better results on wonky walls.
Rather leave it to a pro? No problem - that's what I'm here for. Give me a call.
Good to Know
🎨 Decorating soon? Get the dado fitted first. Your decorator paints over the filler for a seamless finish - much easier than cutting in afterwards.
Multiple rooms? Do them together - I'm already set up and you'll save on the per-room cost.
Old house with wonky walls? No problem. I deal with out-of-square corners and wobbly plaster all the time in Exeter's older properties. That's actually where professional fitting makes the biggest difference.
Frequently Asked Questions
What actually is a dado rail?
It's the horizontal moulding you see running around rooms at about waist height. Originally it stopped chair backs scraping the walls, but now it's mainly decorative - it adds character and lets you paint above and below in different colours if you want.
Can you fit dado rail to my older house with wonky walls?
Yes - that's actually where it makes the biggest difference having someone do it properly. I fit to a level line (not following the floor, which is rarely level in older Exeter houses), and use caulk to deal with any gaps where the wall undulates. Looks clean when it's done.
Do I need to buy the dado rail myself?
Either way works. If you've already got it, great. If not, I can advise on what profile would suit your room and pick it up from the merchant. Most people go for MDF which paints nicely and is cost-effective.
How long does a room take?
Average living room is usually 2-3 hours. More corners (bay windows, chimney breasts, alcoves) adds time because each corner needs cutting and fitting properly. I'll give you a better estimate once I know your room.
Will it be ready to paint when you're done?
Yes - I fill all the nail holes and caulk the edges so it's decorator-ready. Just give the filler 24 hours to dry before painting. Your decorator can then paint the whole lot seamlessly, or you can do it yourself.
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01392 964094Request Online QuoteOur Rates
Got multiple jobs?
Make the most of your first hour - I can often tackle several small tasks in one visit. List everything you need done when you call!
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