How To Install Crown Molding In A Weekend

Watching home improvement or real estate shows with my boyfriend really irks me. He laughs when couples get excited over crown molding in a house. I finally had to ask him why it annoyed him so much - and he said that anyone can install crown molding in their home. In a weekend. For cheap! He's a woodworker and contractor so I asked for his opinion and tips and here's his advice for adding crown molding to your home.

1. Discuss the project
Get yourself to Home Depot or a hardware store and discuss the project with an employee. Have your room measurements with you so he or she can help pull molding and trim for you to put up.

2. Stain it first
Stain or paint molding. Let dry overnight. Repaint if necessary.

   

3. Tools are important
Getting the proper tools, like a coping saw and high-quality molding products, are keys to success.

4. Where to start
The first piece of molding can be nailed into the studs of a wall opposite a door and left square on both ends. Pre-drilling holes for the nails will keep you from splitting the wood. This requires no mitering or coping and therefore will look the best. This should be placed along the wall opposite the main entry door because it will be the room's most noticeable wall.

5. Careful with inside corners
Cutting along the profile of the molding with a coping saw will allow you to create a joint for inside corners. The joint can then be dry-fitted and adjusted if needed before it's installed. Set the coping saw to a cut at a 45-degree angle. Some adjustments may need to be made with a file or sandpaper because not all corners are plumb.

6. Finish with exterior corners
Two simple cuts with a miter saw is all you'll need for exterior corners. The last wall will require both ends of the molding to be coped before you can slip it into place. Once the nails are set and the holes are patched and painted, you'll have professional looking results. When joining boards along longer walls, miter cut each board at a 45-degree angle; don't butt two square ends together.

Photo by http://www.flickr.com/photos/cedwardmoran/2365561832/