Back To The Family Handyman
From 
Del.icio.us
Digg
Reddit
Facebook
StumbleUpon
TwitThis
About This Project
Window cornices are a simple, inexpensive way to dramatically enhance any room. They’ll hide ugly drapery rods and add a touch of custom-made detailing that makes an ordinary window or patio door look like something special. The top of the cornice can even serve as a display shelf for art or collectibles.Cornices are surprisingly easy to build, even the elegant ones you see in home magazines. Using off-the-shelf trim from the home center and a compound miter saw, anyone with simple carpentry skills can create a beautiful window or door cornice in just a few hours.
If this sounds interesting, read on and we’ll show you how to select the materials, assemble the parts and attach the cornice to the wall. We’ll also share design tips to help you match a cornice style to your home’s décor.
Build It Yourself and Save Big Bucks
Search the Internet for cornice suppliers and you’ll see that you can save huge money by building your own. One site offers custom cornices for $3 to $7.50 per inch! Depending on the style, that’s between $216 and $540 for a cornice for a 6-ft. patio door, plus shipping. Build your own and you can expect to spend about one-fourth of that. The materials for the style we show in the how-to photos add up to about $5.60 per foot, or about $45 per window, plus paint. Usually the materials are cheap, although selecting upscale trim like an elaborate crown molding will drive up the cost. For help selecting styles and materials, see “Designing Your Cornice,” below.
Selecting the Wood
If you plan to paint your cornices, poplar and aspen are good choices for the box materials. They’re stable and relatively cheap, and the grain won’t show through paint. Pine and basswood moldings are usually the least expensive choices for paintable trim.
If you want a stained or natural wood cornice, look for oak, mahogany, cherry, maple and others at home centers. The biggest problem is finding hardwood moldings other than oak. You may have to special-order them or find a specialty millwork supplier by looking under “Millwork” in the Yellow Pages.
Using a Compound or Sliding Compound Miter Saw
The best tool for cutting miters on wide boards (1x6s) is either a 10-in. compound miter saw or a sliding compound saw. Standard compound saws work like typical miter saws, but the motor and blade tip sideways, making them capable of cutting bevels. A sliding compound miter saw cuts compound angles too, but the motor and blade slide on tracks so it can handle wider stock.
Be sure to use a sharp finish-cutting blade in either one. Prices for standard compound miter saws start as low as $100, or you can rent one for about $35 per day.
You can predrill and hand-nail most of the project, but an air-powered brad nailer with 1 and 1-1/2 in. brads makes the job much easier. Some of the cheaper ones sell for less than $100, or you can rent one for about $25 per day. (Rent one of the special airless ones and you’ll save the price of renting a compressor.) But for the money, compound miter saws and brad nailers are far too useful and far too fun not to own yourself.
Advertisement 
