Crown molding installation: what to know

What the job involves, what changes the price, and what to ask a pro.

What crown molding installation is

Crown molding installation measures, cuts compound angles and fastens decorative molding where the wall meets the ceiling. The seams are filled and caulked, so the molding looks like one continuous piece. People add it to give a room a finished, formal look or to hide an uneven ceiling line.

Signs you need it

  • The ceiling line is plain, and you want a more formal or traditional look in a living room or dining room
  • The ceiling and wall meet with a gap or a crack that molding could hide
  • The room has high ceilings where a larger profile would balance the proportions
  • The room has a built-in or a cabinet top that needs a finished transition to the ceiling
  • A previous molding has come loose, split or has gaps at the corners

What the pro does

  • Measure each wall and corner, and check the ceiling and wall for level, since out-of-square corners change the cut angles
  • Set the molding in place and check the fit against a test piece, making adjustments to the cut angles
  • Cut the inside and outside corners with a compound miter saw, using the spring angle the profile requires
  • Nail the molding into the top plate and the studs or blocking, keeping it tight against the wall and the ceiling
  • Fill the nail holes and the seams with wood filler, and caulk the joints where the molding meets the wall and ceiling
  • Prime and paint the molding, then check the corners and the caulk lines in raking light

What changes the price

Every job is different, so we do not publish prices. These are the things that move the quote up or down.

  • Linear footage of molding and the number of corners, including inside and outside angles
  • Profile size and complexity, since a tall or multi-piece molding takes more time to fit
  • Ceiling height and whether scaffold or a stepladder is needed to reach the top of the wall
  • Condition of the walls and ceiling, and whether the molding has to be shimmed or the gap filled
  • Material, such as MDF, poly or solid wood, and whether the molding is painted or stained
  • Number of rooms and whether the job includes a built-in, a cabinet top or a coffered ceiling

What a written quote should spell out

  • Linear footage by room, with the corner count and the corner types listed
  • Profile name, size and material, with the finish named
  • Fastening method, including the blocking or the top plate used, and the nail type
  • Fill and caulk products named, along with the paint or stain coats
  • Access equipment used, such as a lift or scaffold, and the warranty on the install

Questions to ask before you hire

  • How do you handle an out-of-square corner, and how many corners in this room are off?
  • Will the molding be nailed into the ceiling joists or the wall plate?
  • What profile and height do you recommend for the room's ceiling height?
  • How do you keep the joints tight after the wood moves with the seasons?
  • Will you prime and paint the molding, or do I need to do that?
  • Can you show me a molding install in a room with a similar ceiling height?

Red flags

  • The pro uses caulk to close large gaps at the corners instead of cutting the joints correctly
  • The pro does not check the ceiling and wall for level, and cuts every angle at the same degree
  • The pro fastens the molding only with adhesive and no nails into a solid member
  • The pro says the joints will not show after a coat of paint with no filler or caulk

What you can do yourself

A homeowner who has a miter saw and patience can install a simple, small molding in one room by using a practice cut on scrap first. A large molding in a tall room, a coffered or built-up profile, and any work on a ceiling that must be reached from a ladder should be done by an experienced installer, because the cuts and the lift are hard to manage alone.

Licenses and permits

Crown molding installation commonly does not need a license or a permit, since it is finish work. Check with your state or local licensing agency only if the job involves changes to the ceiling framing or the room's lighting.

Crown molding installation questions

What is the spring angle?

It is the angle at which a crown molding sits against the wall and the ceiling. The cut angles depend on it, and the spring angle must be known before the molding is cut. Ask the pro to confirm it and to test-fit a sample piece.

Should I install molding before or after paint?

Most pros prime and paint the molding first, then install it, and fill the joints last. Ask the pro which order they use, since it changes the look of the joints.

Can crown molding go in a room with a textured ceiling?

It can, but the texture makes it harder to get a tight fit at the top. Ask the pro to check the ceiling texture and to explain how the molding will be sealed to it.

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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