The trick of installing Crown Molding are the corners, where each piece has to be mitered perfectly so no gaps will show. You will need to think in reverse when making the cuts.

Hi austinevan1,

Have you completed any finish carpentry before? If you've installed baseboards and casing etc, crown is the next step-up so to speak, but is far more difficult. There are many tricks and techniques in getting it right, so I'd suggest researching "how-to" videos before you try to tackle this. Also, it will be easiest if you start with a small crown (under 4") working in a small room, with a low ceiling (is possible). Long crown lengths are difficult to handle, and many professional carpenters often have a helper for this.

Plan on making plenty of practice cuts until you get the technique and theory right. It would be wise to only try paint grade crown to begin with as its much more forgiving than stain-grade.

Fwiw, I use compound miter saws for all my crown installs as I can cut on the flat, which is helpful for large moldings. You can rent these kinds of saws, and many have the bevel and miter angles written on the side of the saw for the most typical crown spring angles (38* and 45*)

Steve

BR is spot on - this is tricky work and if you are a perfectionist - there is a learning window - watch some how-to video's and perhaps start by taking some of your marked pieces in to home depot and watch them make cuts while asking questions - then rent the saw and get started - - -

My husband and brother in law did it (and had never done it previously). They said it was relatively easy, the trickiest part was the corners and using the right tools to make sure the angles were precise! Once they figured that out, it went fast and the other rooms were easy! We also added a chair rail and I was able to help with that (also never did that previously). It is def. a two person job and doable! It really improves the overall look of a room!

Definitely a two person job and I specifically recommend finding a helper other than your spouse, Ideally, find a friend or acquaintance with the know-how and the equipment and see if you can pay them or barter with them. It probably won't cost much more than renting a saw and trim gun and you'll get some instruction along the way.

Start by practicing your cuts with samples. Make yourself an inside corner and an outside corner for reference to help visualize the cuts you need.

It isn't very difficult as long as you have straight walls, 90 degree corners, and level ceilings. If you don't, stick to painted moldings and use caulk as necessary to make it look good.

6 "Danger Will Robinson" warnings...

-Mitering is a bitch and you should practice first on dummy pieces... alot.
-Depending on how you mount it be sure you nail it correctly or you will split the piece.
-If you are going intricate on the moulding then you have to learn to build it like a layer cake and that is NOT easy.
-My advice is to use the foam core and not wood It may be a bit more pricey but resists rotting and is easier to work with plus you can use adhesive.
-You have to have a cohesive approach i.e. you can't put mouldings up in an entry way and then nothing anywhere else. So think globally.
-It takes a village... Or friends you can pay in beer and BBQ. Preferrably ones who like mucking around with "home design projects".

Good luck.

I've done crown molding in 3 rooms in my house, one with a 3-piece built up crown, one two piece crown, and one simple room with just picture rail near the ceiling. If you're a detailed-oriented person and practice the cuts with some scrap, you'll do fine.

It is much easier with two people.

You could do it with a hammer and nails, but it will be way more work. A finish nailer makes the project much easier since you can hold the molding with one hand and nail it with the other while your helper is many feet away holding the other end of the trim.

If the room is longer than the molding, you do a scarf joint to join the trim. Both pieces are cut at a 45 degree angle; when the trim expands and contracts the joint is less visible than a simple butt joint would be.

The inside corners could be done with a miter, but the better way to do it is coping. Like the scarf joint, a coped joint in the corner will not open up as the wood expands and contracts.

If you're planning to paint the crown, it's easiest to do the primer and one finish coat before it's installed. Then, after you put it up you fill in the nail holes, caulk the joints, and paint it again -- without having to worry about the edges.

But watch out -- after I did the crown molding in my living room the simple 1x8 baseboards looked way too plain. Installing the base cap was much easier than the crown.