Crown molding is one of the most underestimated (and easy) home remodel projects you can undertake to increase the character of a room. Cove molding adds style and character to a room, and shows that thought has been taken to specifically make a home more aesthetically comfortable. They enhance a room by radiating light that would otherwise just die in a dark corner - brightening up the room as a whole. It also (sometimes subconsciously) increases the perceived comfort of a room by softening the sharp corners where the wall and ceiling intercept. It is vital to know the details of how to crown molding to have everything pre-planned so that you can get the cornice molding installed as quickly and painlessly as possible.
Material
There are many different materials when selecting crown molding, each having it's own advantages and weaknesses. Wood crown trim is the most common and has been around for centuries. Unfortunately, it is hard to make uniform and tends to crack in the first year or two after being installed, requiring repairs. Plaster moldings are stunning and installed on upper end homes, but are heavy and typically require a skilled trade person to install.
There is a new molding technology out there that uses expanded polystyrene (EPS/Styrofoam) - coated with a mixture plaster of Paris / drywall compound. Coated Styrofoam cornices are more bendable than wood, and simpler to join and make seamless - so you do not need to touch them up after a year or two. These Styrofoam crown moldings give the look of costly plaster cornices, but at a small portion of the weight. Because of the light weight, they are far easier to install than either - using only drywall compound, you can press them into place and leave them. They will be the focus of this article.
Preparing
You want to ensure you do not have any urgent occasions planned around this renovation. Most (more often, all in my experience) projects end up taking 50-100% longer to finish than the home owner is forecasting. Installing Styrofoam crown molding around the room is no exception. To establish how much crown molding is needed, measure the length of the walls where the Styrofoam crown molding will be placed - from corner to corner. There are 2 ways of knowing the number of pieces of molding will be required - the first is to add 10% to the total amount (e.g. 12' x 15' x 12' x 15' = 54' + 10% = 59.4' = 60')... and the second is to divide each wall by the length of each molding piece (e.g. for 8-foot molding lengths: 12' / 8' = 1.5 pieces, which you would round to 2, & 15' / 8' = 1.8 pieces which you would round to 2, therefore 2 + 2 + 2 + 2 = 8 [8' pieces]). The second method is guaranteed to ensure you have enough and do not risk running short, but as you can see - with either case, you are purchasing 8 pieces (for this example).
You want to be certain that you have a dry, ventilated room to store your molding.
Being certain that you have the right tools will make the whole process far simpler as well. Make sure you have:
1. Dirt/Grease Free Towel (to clean walls)
2. Drywall compound and putty knife
3. Miter box + Saw (so that you can cut the right angle, smoothly)
4. Step ladder (high enough so you can easily reach the ceiling)
How To Cut Styrofoam Crown Molding
Always follow good safety procedures - use gloves to handle materials, protective eye wear when dust can get into your eyes, and a respirator mask when sanding and patching. Ensure you wear some "vintage" clothes that you do not mind bring dirty.
Always move furniture away from the walls and shield them, so that you have clear access to your working area and your furniture does not become messy. Clean the corner of your ceiling and wall where the Styrofoam cornice will be placed from loose particles by wiping it with a moist cloth, and allow it to dry before installing the cornice.
I hear (and say) this so frequently that it is completely cliche - but it must be said - "Measure twice, cut once"! This applies to Styrofoam cornices without exception! On the day you are installing crown molding, make sure to measure everything again. This will keep you from destroying a piece of trim because you cut it incorrectly.
It's best to start your Styrofoam crown molding installation behind the entrance to the room, so that the most visible portion is certain to have the fewest number of touch-ups. When you get to a corner, you will need to use your miter box to cut the molding at a 45 degree angle. To use the miter box, assure that the ceiling edge of the crown molding is along the bottom of the box, and the wall edge of the molding is along the side of the box opposite from you (so that, it is upside-down). Put the two ends of the pieces into the corner prior to adhering in place to ensure a proper fit.
No corner is ever 90 degrees unfortunately, and you will have to play with sandpaper or fill with drywall compound to join the two pieces together properly.
How To Install Crown Molding
Using your drywall compound, apply a generous amount to the molding along the ceiling and wall contact sides. Carefully move into place with the molding and press the cornice against the ceiling and wall simultaneously. Drywall compound will ooze out a little - use your cloth to wipe it clean. At this point, the drywall compound should be able to hold the Styrofoam crown molding on it's own, and you can let go. If you want extra security to ensure the molding stays in place, you can use a small nail at 1-foot from each end, as these penetrations can be easily filled using the drywall compound when removed during the touch up stage. Apply drywall compound to the ends of moldings before butting them up against one another, cleaning the drywall compound as it squeezes out when pressed together. Leave the trim in place to cure for 24 hours.
After 24 hours, you can re-finish the Styrofoam crown molding using drywall compound, and smooth out any bumps using a fine-grit sandpaper. Because molding looks different depending on lighting (natural -vs- interior lights) you may want to return to the room a few times during the touch-up day to see all the different light settings you will be using.
Finished!
Move all your furniture back into place, then make a frappuccino (or martini) and sit back and enjoy the enhanced mood of your room!
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