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How To Install Three-Piece Crown Molding: Turn the Room Into a Workshop
I’ve installed miles of crown molding, so you might think every piece I cut slips perfectly into place on the first try. Wrong. I intentionally cut each piece a smidgen too long and then shave them with my miter saw until they fit perfectly. Sometimes I make three or four trips back to the saw before I finally get it right. To keep the trips short, I set up shop in the room I’m working on. This can take an hour or more and makes a mess, but it saves time in the long run. Here’s some setup advice:-
Get everything you can out of the room. Some pieces of trim might be longer than the room itself. You need space to maneuver.
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Keep the miter saw mobile. You’ll need to move the saw from one end of the room to the other to accommodate long pieces. Setting the saw on sawhorses or a stand is only practical if you can easily move it around. In most cases, I simply set the saw on the floor and support the trim with a small block the same height as the saw’s table.
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You’ll need a sturdy work surface that lets you clamp down the crown molding for coping. It doesn’t have to be big, just stable. I use a Black & Decker Workmate.
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Set up two ladders—even if you’re working alone. Otherwise, you’ll spend half your time dragging a ladder from one end of the wall to the other.
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Cover carpeted floors with drop-cloths; hardwood floors with cardboard or hardboard. You can work a lot faster when you’re not worried about damaging the floor.
Built-Up Crown: More Options, Fewer Frustrations
Although crown molding is usually
installed alone, you can easily combine it with other trim for a larger, richer
look. The stock trim available at any home center provides dozens of
possibilities. You could combine more pieces than we show here or use
contrasting woods for a two-tone effect. But don’t get carried away.
Select a style that’s compatible with your existing trim. A crown that
protrudes more than 5 in. onto the wall or ceiling might be too dominant or
heavy looking in a room with an 8-ft. ceiling.
Aside from style, built-up crown has
this big benefit: It eliminates nailing frustrations. With one-piece crown, you
can only drive nails where there’s framing behind the drywall. In other
areas, you have to add nailing blocks or use glue (which often makes a mess or
can’t form a strong bond on the narrow edge of the crown molding). With
built-up crown, you deal with these trouble spots more easily when you install
the rail trim. Then, when you install the crown molding, you have solid,
continuous base to nail into.
Whether you copy one of the designs shown here or create your own, put together a sample and preview it in the room. Traditional lumberyards often have the largest selection and usually have free samples on hand. At a home center, you may have to buy short pieces to create your sample.
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