When remodeling or building a new home, adding crown molding is one of the finishing touches that make a room dramatic. Crown molding can add value to your home and is a relatively inexpensive upgrades. However, many people shy away from installing crown molding because of the compound miter cuts required to make accurate joints. The do-it-yourself handyman can install crown molding without a lot of trouble.
Instructions
1. Measure the angle for the first corner of the crown molding. Use a digital angle finder to determine the angle of the joint. Place one arm of the angle finder against each surface to which the crown molding will attach and read the angle displayed. Check the angle chart in the resources for the correct angle to adjust the miter saw. Use a stepladder to work close to the ceiling.
2. Place a piece of scrap wide crown molding on the miter saw. Crown molding is always placed in the miter saw upside down. Set the top of the crown molding flat on the table of the miter saw. Place the bottom of the crown molding flat against the fence of the miter saw.. Use the miter saw stop clamps to hold the crown molding in position. Adjust them by turning the knobs.
3. Cut each side of the on a piece of scrap molding that is about 12-inches long. Lower the blade slowly through the cut to help reduce any splintering in the molding.
4. Check the fit of the crown molding in the corner with the two pieces of scrap crown molding. Hold the crown up in the corner and check the miter joint fit. If the joint is tight the angles are correct, then you can cut the miter joint on the whole pieces of crown molding. If the joints are loose and not tight adjust the miter saw by 1 degree, re-cut the scrap crown molding, and check the fit again. Repeat this step until you have a perfect joint. Using the scrap crown molding for the test fits will save you time and money when installing wide crown molding.
5. Repeat steps 1 through 4 for all of the remaining joints for the crown molding.
Tags: crown molding, crown molding, crown molding, miter joint, scrap crown, scrap crown molding, adjust miter