How is crown molding measured

It is vital to take your time and carefully follow a few simple steps to ensure the proper installation of crown molding. Installing crown molding works best with two people, especially when handling long pieces. Before installing molding in a room, let it acclimate to the space for 24 hours.

If you install molding in a room with a lower moisture content than the molding, the molding will shrink. The reverse happens if the molding has less moisture than the room. Put a ladder in the corner of the room. Place painters tape horizontally 6-inches down from the ceiling to avoid drawing on the wall. This measurement may differ if using a larger crown.

Start molding installation at an inside corner of a miter. A miter forms a joint in a corner, usually at a degree angle, creating a degree corner. Use a tape measure to determine the length of the walls. Use an angle finder to measure the angle of the corners. Accurate measurements ensure a tight fit for the molding. Small-test molding pieces serve as templates.

Make adjustments on these first before transferring to the final piece of molding. Place one test piece in the upper corner of the wall and draw a roughly degree angle across the molding.

Lay a second piece on the opposite wall, and draw another roughly degree angle. Use the compound miter saw to cut the two test pieces and ensure the two test pieces form a tight fit on the wall. Transfer the marks on the test pieces to the final molding pieces. The technique for cutting crown molding varies for inside and outside angles and scarf joints. Place the cut and measured crown molding tight against the wall and ceiling and begin nailing into the marked studs.

If using a base for the build-up, install it upside down, then place the crown on top of the base. Repeat around the room. For 7-foot ceilings, short crowns less than 4-inches painted the same color as the ceiling make the ceiling seem taller. Installing crown molding that projects out onto the ceiling can give the illusion of a higher ceiling.

You can also create a cornice by building up more massive crowns using two or more molding profiles. Ten feet or higher ceilings require a significant crown to make a visual impact, even in smaller rooms.

A better solution is to choose a well designed crown moulding that is proportionate to the scale of the room, and choose other trim elements such as a paneled wainscoting and grander door casings to add a touch of luxury. Here crown WOCM see more details below has classic craftsman design elements. The square footage and level of formality of the room can help determine what crown size in that range is appropriate.

For ceilings that are 10 feet or taller, a larger crown is necessary in order to make a visual impact. By following the guidelines above you can ensure that next room that you create is both pleasing to the eye and follows the classic proportions of craftsmen throughout history.

Here at Horner Millwork we are experts when it comes to interior finish, please contact us to discuss how we can help you create an interior trim package that is architecturally correct and works for your next project.

As one of the leading millwork companies in New England, we are a distributor and a custom manufacturer of windows, doors, kitchens and stairs to the residential and commercial markets.

Mantra Kitchen Cabinetry November 10, Connect the two opposite corners created by the edge of the board closest to the ceiling and the pencil line you just drew. Place a combination square corner-to-corner as a straightedge, then draw the diagonal, which represents the bisection of the actual angle created by the meeting of the two walls.

Take a measurement of the length of crown molding you need. Run a tape measure from one corner to the next and read the measurement. On inside corners, the end of the tape represents the long point of the miter cut, but on outside corners, the end of the tape is the shortest point of the cut.

Make a slash mark with a pencil on the piece of crown molding to help keep the orientation correct. Position the crown molding upside down on the miter saw. Robert Korpella has been writing professionally since