5 Easy Steps to Installing Crown Molding

Installing crown molding can seem like a tricky and task for some homeowners who want to add a little extra to their home improvement project. With this five step guide you can hang your own crown molding like a pro. It just takes a few tools like a miter saw, coping saw, hammer and nail punch, but if you're doing a whole room and have an air compressor, buy a cheap brad nailer or trim nailer. It's worth the money for the work it will save.

When ordering your trim you need to also buy a sheet of 3/4 plywood. Ripped down pieces of scrap 2x4's work well also. Cut the strips to fit behind the crown molding at the right length. A trick to finding the right length is to cut a scrap 2 inch piece off of your crown molding and hold it up against the ceiling and measure the distance behind from the wall to the crown molding. Once you have the measurement rip the plywood and nail it to the ceiling with 8d nails or screws. Leave enough of a gap in the corners so the crown molding can slid past and hit the wall. You'll see why in the next step.

Run the first piece square to the wall, and continue going counter clockwise around the room. The next piece will then be coped to fit against the other thereby creating a tight corner. Make a test piece by cutting a 4 foot piece and cutting a 45 degree bevel on the right side of the four foot piece. Cut off the 45 with the coping saw to the line where the fresh cut of the saw and the outside meet. This is the exact contour of the other piece of trim. You can fine tune it to fit with a utility knife or hand held Dremel. Once you have your test piece set continue along the walls butting the left hand of the crown molding against the wall and the right side coped.

For long walls you need to add two pieces together you need to cut them midway with a 45 degree compound miter. If the ceiling is not flat in that area you may need to adjust the angle some to get an exact match. You can make a small test piece to see if it's going to fit before sacrificing a long one. Match the two 45 degree beveled ends together and caulk if your going to paint the crown molding.