Crown Molding Installation
For all those who love crown molding, there is encouragement at hand for a do it yourself crown molding installation which can be undertaken by the homeowner, with the right tools, a little know-how and loads of enthusiasm.
Guidelines on installing crown molding
The best and foremost thing to do would be to read up on cutting and mitering moldings if you’ll be installing them yourself as this knowledge would hold you in good stead. Next thing to remember is that even though angles and corners can be tricky for a novice, with a little extra effort and well thought out alignment, the new handy person can tackle it as well. If joins need to be placed, they should be in the least visible areas of a room. Avoid joining molding strips in the center of a wall or over a focal point, such as a fireplace as the eye will be easily drawn to it and spoil the overall effect of your hard work. Bevel all joins in a direction that is least likely to be noticed as you enter or sit in the room and do so slowly, with measured, slow strokes.
Mark the location of every wall stud with squares of blue painter’s tape. This can be done by folding in a small corner of each piece of tape so it will be easy to grasp and remove. The next step would be to stick the tape to the wall, a few inches under the location of the bottom edge of molding. Test fit each piece before nailing. Measure twice, cut once. Attach the moldings with finishing nails using a nail gun or even with a regular hammer. Avoid denting the molding face whenever possible and use a nail set to countersink each nail.
Finishing touches to the crown molding installation
After the nails have been set and countersinking neatly done, it is necessary to caulk gaps between molding and walls or ceilings. Do this by using as little caulk as possible and pressing it into the joints with a specialized tool or a finger. You may use wood filler or Spackle to cover nail indentations. Let this dry and then sand the excess. With the help of a small foam brush, dipped in paint or stain, you can add do a ‘touch-up’ job on any scratched or filled areas.