Handyman Crown Molding Tips

by Jeffrey Jenkins

Overview

Crown molding can dress up any room in the house, but it especially looks elegant in a dining room or bedroom. With the proper tools and a few crown molding tips, you should be able to tackle a crown molding project. If you have never cut crown molding before, practice cutting angles before trying this. If you can't do te cutting, consider hiring a professional.
Tips for Finding Studs

Find wall studs with a "deep scan" stud finder on older plaster and lathe walls. Look for indentations made from drywall screws and begin measuring from there. Many electricians are right-handed and will nail the boxes to the right of the stud, so you can try there. Closely check trim; you may see the finishing carpenter's nailing pattern. Knock on the wall; you will hear a more dense sound over a stud. Or you can drive a 2-inch finishing nail into wall, checking for studs about every inch.

Tips for Measuring

When measuring to the inside corner, do not just bend the tape and guess what the measurement might be. Instead, measure out 10 inches and mark it off. Then measure to that mark and add. Remember to always measure and mark in inches, so you and your helper won't be confused. Mark the miters and measurements on the wall. When marking the studs, use 1 1/2 inch painters tape rather than pencil marks.
General Tips

Avoid joining the crown molding where it will be visible, such as the center of the wall or over a fireplace. Bevel all of the joins in the least conspicuous direction--from where you enter the room or from where you will be sitting. Use squares of a blue painter's tape to mark the locations of the wall studs. Remember to fold back the corner of every piece of tape to make them easier to grasp and remove. Test fit each crown molding piece before nailing it. Use a regular hammer or a nail gun to attach the moldings to the wall with finishing nails. Be careful not to dent the face of the molding. Caulk the gaps between the ceiling and walls and the molding, pressing the caulk into the joints with your finger. Use as little caulk as you can. Cover the nail indentations with spackle or a wood filler. Allow it to dry and then remove the excess. Touch any filled areas or scratches with stain or paint with a small foam brush.

Overview