All About Moldings: Knowing Your (Crown Molding) Materials

Posted on November 2nd, 2009 by webmaster

Installing decorative crown molding in your home can feel like a daunting endeavor, but if you have the right materials and tools, your DIY installation should be easy and aesthetically attractive. Having a proper understanding of the different types materials that they are made of will make for a smooth installation process. Wood crown moldings, polyurethane moldings, and foam, or flexible crown moldings are all made of various materials that require certain installation procedures.

Wooden Crown Molding: When installing this type of molding, be sure that you have wood putty, caulk, and nails. Using caulk intended for use with wooden materials is crucial for wood crown molding installation. This will ensure that your crown molding will remain securely fastened to the wall after its initial application. Since installing wooden crown moldings will require cutting through wood to fit the molding to the length of the wall, be sure that you have a miter saw, a level, and a tape measure to accurately cut wood moldings to size the first time around.

Polyurethane Crown Molding: To install this type of molding, you will need chalk, a caulking gun, and fasteners. While wooden crown moldings are often coped and lapped at inside corners, this is not proper practice for polyurethane crown molding installation. All moldings made of polyurethane should also use adhesive to ensure stability, and should be applied along all molding joints, too.

Foam Crown Molding: Foam crown molding installation is the most variant from other crown molding application procedures. Since foam crown molding is flexible and extremely light, it requires less hardware to install. Simply using caulk may be sufficient for a number of lighter-weight foam crown moldings. Unlike wood and polyurethane crown moldings, no primer is needed for foam crown molding painting. Simply apply latex paint directly to the molding surface.

Once you have this knowledge of how to approach installation for crown moldings made of different materials, you will want to be certain that you have chosen the right decorative crown molding material for your individual home environment; this will ensure that your careful and artful crown molding installment will retain its aesthetic allure and longevity.

For homes in locations that experience extreme changes in temperature, wooden crown molding may not be the best choice. Wood crown molding is subject to morphing and cracking based on temperature and humidity variations. In these climates, polyurethane or foam crown molding is a superior choice, as both materials are not affected by light, humidity, or temperature changes. For rooms of the house that may be subject to horseplay, like areas frequented by children, or basements, use polyurethane crown molding as it is known for its durability and longevity.

DIY Home & Garden

Information for the Do It Yourself Homeowner