Can someone without tools easily install crown molding? Or wainscoting? Will Home Depot cut if I give them measurements? (state, buy)
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Harborfreight has a compound miter saw for sale at a reasonable price for a DYI homeowner personal projects like the one your talking about for only $89.99 with coupon number 98508720
Some community colleges offer carpentry, mill & cabinet, finish carpentry classes. We used to build a custom home during our classes, then auction the home after it was finished.
These classes will give you the chance to practice some of your newly learned skills.
Harborfreight has a compound miter saw for sale at a reasonable price for a DYI homeowner personal projects like the one your talking about for only $89.99 with coupon number 98508720
Oh god. Don't waste your money. I rather buy a used DeWalt or Rigid than a new Chicago tools. Seriously those things can't cut a true 45*. Horrible tools.
Those corner things work well in box rooms straight lines. If you have a vaulted ceiling forget ot. You'll go nuts. I mean eventually through trial and error you'll get the cuts. It's just gonna take a lot of practice. I've done basic rooms. But when it gets to vaulted ceilings it gets tougher. Am I a pro? No. It really comes down to how good a job you want.
If you don't mind visual mistakes here and there go for it. If you gotta have it where it's perfect hire a pro
I have no idea why everybody keeps saying expensive and fancy equipment is needed because it's not. A saw is a saw, an angle is an angle, and a piece of wood or molding is a piece of wood or molding. And handsaws with miter boxes were used well before the invention of electrical tools, so what does that tell you. Buy this one for $12, crown your room, and then throw it away..
It's certainly a little more difficult than making straight 90 degree cuts, but it's still not rocket science.. There are even youtube videos that show how it's done. There's really no need to make this more difficult than it is.
I have no idea why everybody keeps saying expensive and fancy equipment is needed because it's not. A saw is a saw, an angle is an angle, and a piece of wood or molding is a piece of wood or molding. And handsaws with miter boxes were used well before the invention of electrical tools, so what does that tell you. Buy this one for $12, crown your room, and then throw it away..
It's certainly a little more difficult than making straight 90 degree cuts, but it's still not rocket science.. There are even youtube videos that show how it's done. There's really no need to make this more difficult than it is.
In reality, you can have the most expensive tools in the world but unless you have the experience/expertise it won't help you very much. Some folks are not meant to do precision work, me included. I would gladly pay a professional to do it right the first time.
In reality, you can have the most expensive tools in the world but unless you have the experience/expertise it won't help you very much. Some folks are not meant to do precision work, me included. I would gladly pay a professional to do it right the first time.
Watch this... This is the exact same $12 miter saw that I have.
And I'll say it again, I am absolutely no carpenter, I've always heard what a nightmare it is to install crown and I was intimidated by it. But if you watch the how-to videos, and use a few pieces of scrap - or extra to practice on then you will eventually take the mystery out of it.
Of course hiring a professional is always an option too, but over time I have found that a lot of 'professionals' aren't so professional at all. Case in point, my kitchen tile.. I hired a 'professional' who did a half-ass job, and now two years year later I have broken tiles and grout crumbling up. When it came time to do my bathroom though, I took the classes at Home Depot, bought a how-to book, and studied youtube vids. And it came out perfect if I do say so myself.
Don't get me wrong, I'm certainly not above biting the bullet and hiring somebody - like the deck that I'm getting ready to do, because I simply don't have time for it right now. My point though, is that crown is really not that bad and should not be intimidating.
Last edited by Upstate67; 03-28-2016 at 01:41 PM..
The bottom line is that you'll never gain a skill if you're too afraid of making mistakes.
Just go for it and if it proves too much for your comprehension or endurance, at least you can say you tried.
Like other's have stated here, it's not rocket science.
We found a house we love. It is in good shape but some updates my wife was thinking about include adding crown molding and wainscoting. The problem is I have no tools aside from what you'd find in a regular tools box. I was wondering if I went to Home Depot with the measurements of the room could they cut everything for me? I would plan on renting a nail gun and using that to install. I'm wondering if that is practical or if I should plan on hiring a carpenter. When hiring a contractor how much would you expect to pay for a job like that?
No, and no. Hire a professional or it's going to look like crap. And if you've never mitred a joint, don't even buy the tools.
Get a couple of estimates from contractors you know or that some friends have used.
The bottom line is that you'll never gain a skill if you're too afraid of making mistakes.
Just go for it and if it proves too much for your comprehension or endurance, at least you can say you tried. Like other's have stated here, it's not rocket science.
Nope...
-Get some scrap pieces, or buy some just to practice on.
-Watch the youtube videos
-Practice making the cuts with the $12 miter saw from Lowes
-Hold the pieces you've cut up on the wall to see how they fit together
-Rinse and repeat until confidence grows
Also, don't rule out the corner blocks. This pic is from my bathroom...
I can make the miter cuts no problem, but after giving it some thought I decided that I simply like the way those look when added to the crown.. They are a pain in the you know what to paint around though, so next time I might just run the crown without them.
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