How to Install Crown Moldings

Installing crown moldings can add immediate class and elegance to a room, and can be a relatively fast and easy do-it-yourself project. But crown molding is quite a bit different than door, window or baseboard molding, and if you don't understand the difference, it can also be a drive-yourself-crazy project.

Install a Filler Strip

You may want to install a strip of wood along your ceiling that will fit in the hollow spot behind the crown molding. With the filler strip in place, you now have something to nail your molding to, so you don't have to worry about the studs.

Cut Molding Properly

Crown molding, which makes contact with the wall and the ceiling, is not flush with the corner where wall and ceiling meet. This is important to remember when you are cutting the molding. You typically want the molding touching the bottom plate and the back plate that serve as the guides on your miter saw, but not the corner where the two plates meet. Turn the molding upside down, so that the part that will touch the ceiling rests on the bottom plate of your saw and the part that will touch the wall is pressed against the back plate of the saw. Take a three or four foot length of molding and make a practice cut with your saw's blade turned 45 degrees one way, then with it turned 45 degrees the other way. Now fit these pieces into a corner and see if they join properly.

Practice, Practice, Practice

Keep making practice pieces until you are sure you know how to cut your molding to fit inner and outer corners. Only when you're sure you understand how to make these pieces fit together should you begin cutting and installing your crown molding.