DIY Network

Crown Molding Installation From "DIY to the Rescue" episode DTTR-305F

After homeowners Trish and Gabriel Velasquezfinished painting the room and it has dried overnight, it's time to add crown molding in a contrasting color.

Materials:

High density polyurethane foam molding
Tape measure
Miter saw or compound miter saw
Trim paint
Urethane-based adhesive
Finishing nails and hammer or pneumatic nail gun with nails
Spackle, plastic wood filler or latex caulk
Paintable caulk

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	Figure A
	Figure B
	Figure C
	Figure D

1. Pre-paint molding with trim color (figure A).

2. To determine the length of the first, or inside, piece of molding, measure the length of the wall with a tape measure and transfer this measurement to the molding with a pencil. Using a power miter saw, cut the molding with a miter cut where pieces meet in a corner.

3. To make the miter cut the saw is set at 45? and the molding is positioned on the saw table at the proper attitude; this is "vertically nested", meaning that is should be close to the angle that the molding will sit on the wall. If working with a compound miter saw the molding lays flat on the saw and the bevel (angle of the blade) is set to 33-7/8?. For the left piece of the miter, the wall edge of the molding is against the fence. For the right piece, the molding is placed on the saw backwards and upside down (figure B).

4. Next, dry fit the molding on the wall, then mark a line along the bottom edge where the wall and the molding meet. This will be the guide for when you are installing the molding with adhesive to minimize any sliding of the molding along the wall as it is placed.

5. Apply a bead of urethane-based construction adhesive (figure C) along the top and bottom of the molding on the edge where the molding and wall meet. Position molding on wall.

6. Drive 8d finish nails to secure molding 1/2" from both top and bottom edges along the entire length (figure D).

7. If molding isn't long enough to span a wall, splice two pieces together with a scarf joint centered over a wall stud. To do so, set the miter saw to the right-hand 45-degree setting. Hold the first piece of molding to the right of the blade, so its back is tight to the fence, and cut. Hold the adjoining piece to the left of the blade, and cut.

8. Fill nail holes with spackle, plastic wood filler or latex caulk. Caulk around molding as necessary to fill gaps. Touch up molding and wall areas with paint as needed.

RESOURCES :

Crown Molding System
Fypon, Ltd.
Website: www.fypon.com
Available through home centers, architects and building supply companies.