Please register to participate in our discussions with 2 million other members - it's free and quick! Some forums can only be seen by registered members. After you create your account, you'll be able to customize options and access all our 15,000 new posts/day with fewer ads.
We've got a lot of sloping ceiling, and crown molding looks like arse if the ceiling isn't remotely close to a 90 degree angle from the walls.
That is what caulking if for. Running a bead of caulk on the top of the molding (where it meets the ceiling) and the bottom of the molding (where it meets the wall) is a MUST. You will never find a completely level ceiling or plumb wall, so the reveal along those surfaces will show the gaps and inconsistency in the ceiling and wall. With the bead of caulk (SOS for ALL skilled carpenters) those variations disappear into a clean, professional look.
It's intentionally sloping ceiling- varies from 8-12 feet through the common area of the house, peaking in the middle, and if you follow the ceiling line, you end up with molding that's at a good 20 degree angle from the floor on a couple sides. Which would be hideous to put trimwork along.
As a general contractor who has run a fair bit of crown molding, I find the taste for crown molding is as subjective as any other trim item, and the decision to install crown molding is traditionaly based on a desire to enhance the character of the space in question. Modern spaces may not lend themselves to crown, whereas the 80% or so of the traditional housing stock in the country may well be enhanced by the addition of crown molding.
The cost of installed crown molding is deternined by the cost of material (MDF vs Oak vs Cherry vs Marble etc.), the complexity of the pattern (built up vs single run), and the complxity of the installation (8 foot ceiling vs 60 foot cathedral).
In general, a good DIY project for corner blocks and simple rooms. For more complex situations, a good bit of skill, patience, and equipment are required.
I am thinking about adding crown molding to the newly painted kitchen and family room.
Looking at my rooms, do you think it would look nice with crown molding?
Many thanks,
It really is a personal choice, I don't like crown moulding so I wouldn't do it, but others do like it and would do it....so you really have to deceide for yourself what makes you happy.
That space is perfect for crown molding. High ceilings and sharp corners. Crown would make the space look finished and definitly define the area much better. It looks good without crown, but I think it would add to the space to put in crown.
Crown moulding is definitely something you want to hire out unless you are really skilled/experienced with a mitre or coping saw. I attempted a DIY crown moulding project in a small 6x6 square bathroom and I cursed my way through the entire process (and thank god for caulking). If your walls/ceilings are not perfectly square and your measurements and cuts not absolutely perfect, it will show up big time. I triple checked everything before cutting and wasted two big pieces, it was mega frustrating. Baseboards and chair rails = easy, crown moulding is a totally different animal.
I really like the look of crown mouldings. Sure, they're not appropriate for every room in every home, but they can really add the finishing touch to a formal setting.
As a DIY project, installing the moulding is not too horribly complex, but making compound mitre cuts can be. I learned a way to get the corners to match up tight is to cope the joints, rather than relying on mitred butt joints.
I'm not going to explain the process here because a Google search will give a person a tutorial with visual aids and a better description than I could give. In short, it's easy and it works.....
What I did for practice was to purchase some inexpensive MDF crown moulding to experiment with. That way, the material one might waste while learning and making mistakes is not a budget breaker. Once you figure it out, you can move on to the material you want to use and have the confidence you'll need to get good results...
Please register to post and access all features of our very popular forum. It is free and quick. Over $68,000 in prizes has already been given out to active posters on our forum. Additional giveaways are planned.
Detailed information about all U.S. cities, counties, and zip codes on our site: City-data.com.
Please register to participate in our discussions with 2 million other members - it's free and quick! Some forums can only be seen by registered members. After you create your account, you'll be able to customize options and access all our 15,000 new posts/day with fewer ads.
