Pressed wood crown molding is comprised of wood fibers combined with resin binders and formed under high pressure. It can be molded in a variety of styles and patterns, from very simple to highly ornate and embossed. It generally is less expensive than real wood crown molding, particularly the more elaborate styles. It is also known as MDF (medium density fiberboard), which is formed from sawdust mixed with resins. It is less subject to shrinking and expansion than regular wood.
Instructions
1. Buy your pressed wood crown molding. Most of it comes with a primer paint finish. Measure you room carefully -- then buy more than you think you will need. You will waste some and it helps to start with extras that you can practice your corner mitering on. It generally comes in long pieces, up to 12 feet. You may have to join pieces for a large room. Mitering corners and nailing up will be basically the same as with real wood crown molding.
2. Cut practice miters. This is important -- even experienced trim carpenters can have trouble mitering some crown moldings because of the intricate angles involved. The thing to remember is that crown molding does not fit flush against either the wall or the ceiling -- there is usually a triangular gap behind it. Some people use a form of door casing or similar trim for crown molding; this will fit flat against wall and ceiling, but the decorative angles will still make mitering trickier than cutting 45-degree angles on flat boards.
Basically, you turn crown molding upside down to cut miters. Position it in the miter saw as if it were against the wall and ceiling.
3. Start on the least visible wall -- that way any small errors are less likely to be easily noticed. Test your mitered corners first; once you are satisfied, nail your pressed wood molding just the way you would wood molding. Drive finish nails into the top plate of the wall. In some cases, you will want to use adhesive on the top and bottom edges of the to hold it more securely. Set your nails and fill the holes with caulk; smooth the caulk with a damp cloth or sponge before painting.
Tags: crown molding, wood crown molding, crown molding, wall ceiling, wood crown, , against wall