Crown molding installation: a guide for pros

What customers ask, how to win the job, and what to put on your profile.

Offering crown molding installation

Crown molding is judged on the corners and the joints, and a clean corner is the proof of the work. Win the job by measuring every corner, test-fitting a sample and showing the caulk and paint plan in the quote.

What customers ask

  • Will the corners look tight, or will I see gaps?
  • Can you put crown in a room with an uneven ceiling?
  • How long does the job take in a room with many corners?
  • Do you paint it, or do I need to paint it myself?
  • What profile will look right for my ceiling height?

How to win the job

  • Check each corner for square and each wall for level on the first visit, and measure the spring angle before you quote the cuts.
  • Test-fit a short piece of the profile in the room, with the cut angles set, so the customer sees the corner fit before the install.
  • Show the profile size on a drawing of the wall, with the ceiling height marked, so the proportions are clear.
  • Quote the corner count, the profile and the fasteners in the proposal, with the blocking or top plate used for the nails.
  • Name the filler, the caulk and the paint in the quote, so the customer knows how the joints will be finished.
  • Schedule the room in the order the install and the paint require, and state that in the proposal.
  • Check the joints in raking light at the walk-through, and show the customer the result before you leave.

What to put on your profile

  • Before and after photos of rooms with the crown molding visible, showing the corners and the ceiling line
  • Close-up photos of inside and outside corners with the caulk line shown
  • Photos of the test fit and the cut angles on a sample piece
  • A list of the profiles and materials you install, with the ceiling heights each one suits

Follow-up that helps the customer

  • A caulk and touch-up note for the joints, with the paint color and sheen used
  • A check visit after the first heating season to look at corner joints and any gaps
  • A quote for matching molding in another room, offered only if the customer asks

Licenses and permits

Crown molding installation commonly does not need a license or a permit, since it is finish work. Confirm your business registration and insurance in your state and locality, and refer any ceiling framing or lighting changes to licensed trades.

Questions

Should I warranty the corners?

Warranty your workmanship on the corners and the joints, and state that seasonal movement outside the building's normal range may open a joint. Explain how the joints are caulked to limit that.

What if the ceiling is far out of level?

Show the customer the readings and explain the options, such as scribing the molding to the wall or building up a level line with a different profile. Quote the option the customer chooses.

About this guide

This national guide is written and checked by infinibell. Rules and conditions differ by place, so local pros are credited on guides for the cities they serve, not on national ones.

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