Crown Molding Simplified

Matt Weber

Tools and materials that make it easier and faster to install crown molding.

Crown molding, also spelled “moulding,” is probably the most prominent architectural trim element in a home’s interior decor. Crown creates an appealing transition from wall to ceiling that is available in a wide variety of styles and profiles, from simple and economical cove molding to elaborate cornice molding that is built up from multiple shapes and pieces to create a detailed ornamental accent.

Crown molding dramatically enhances the overall interior design, but installing it can be tricky. The project requires lots of measuring, lots of nailing, and tricky applications such as cutting the molding “upside down and backwards” on the miter saw. This article will show how to install paint-grade crown molding using a variety of new tools and materials that make the job as painless as possible.

Precision Measuring Made Easy

In the past I’ve installed a crown with nothing more than a tape measure, but it wasn’t easy, especially when working alone. Without a helper, measuring from one corner of a wall to the other is a real pain: It requires tacking one end of the tape to the opposite wall, then hauling your stepladder to the other corner, pulling your tape tight and hoping the nail at the other end doesn’t jerk away from the drywall. Assuming the nail holds, you then wrestle with the tape to straighten out the inevitable twists and sags so you can eyeball what you hope is close to an accurate measurement. Even measuring with an assistant on the other end of the tape is not as easy as using one of the new precision laser range finders on the market.

The new Bosch DLR165K Digital Laser Range Finder can take an ccurate wall-to-wall measurement with the push of a button.

For this project, I used the new Bosch DLR165K Digital Laser Range Finder. Here’s what’s involved with taking an accurate wall-to-wall measurement using the kit: Point. Press button. Done. Talk about an irreplaceable time saver and the best friend of the solo worker, the DLR165K is among my new favorite tools for crown installation and much more. With a range of 165 feet and accuracy to within 1/16 inch, the DLR165K uses a laser pointer to aim the tool at the spot to be measured. Then, with the push of a button you have the exact measurement recorded in digital readout, and you’re ready for a trip to the saw to cut the molding to match. And the measurements are always true, unlike those unreliable (and useless) sonar range finders of yesteryear. The DLR165K measures in feet and inches, decimal feet and metric, and can calculate area and volume (www.boschtools.com).