Ask a Carpenter: Is installing crown molding a good homeowner job?

Our guest expert is Gary M. Katz, Reseda-based finish carpenter and author. He has produced a DVD called Mastering Crown Molding, and other DVDs on carpentry

QUESTION: I want to install crown moldings and wonder which is better: solid wood or these new composite moldings I see everywhere? Also, is this a good job for a homeowner to do?

ANSWER: The biggest difference between solid wood and composite crown molding is the cost. Moldings made of medium-density fiberboard have revolutionized the carpentry business, making crown molding affordable for almost every home, even with large expanses that would be pricey in solid wood.

On the other hand, solid wood usually gives a better profile. It has sharper corners and edges, which result in a more dramatic "shadow edge." This is usually what people like about crown molding. But for most tastes, the added drama of sharp corners wouldn't be worth the cost. So, unless you're going to stain it, go with the fiberboard.

People always ask if installing crown molding is difficult. Like anything else, it's not hard if you know how to do it. I suggest you hire a professional unless you have experience and the tools — a power miter saw on a good stand, nail guns, a chalk line, ladders, etc. If not, buying or renting them could get expensive.

As for your most likely problem? It will be cutting the miters. The trick is to place the molding upside down in your miter saw and at an angle, so that the top edge of the molding is sitting on the base of your saw and the bottom edge is up and resting against the fence of the saw.

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Comments

[charliev]

What kind of results can you live with? Depending on the molding you use, a miter may not work, You may need to make a coping saw cut. This involves a reverse miter, then "gutting out" the overcut reverse to itself with a coping saw by hand, maybe this is not a DIY project!!! A mistake can be quite costly, given the price of the material, (even cheap material). You can't make the wood grow, once its too short. Even with years of experience, a well seasoned carpenter can cut a piece a little bit short.
I guess it depends on how much you want to invest on your education.

[Aaron]

What is the difference between tongue and groove osb and advtech tongue and groove sub flooring? both are 23/32 inch thick...

[Greg Castillo]

Thanks for the info, Gary. I'm doing some research on crown molding at the moment for my own home, but I was wondering if instead of wood, you knew of a green substance that is more environmentally friendly that a company makes.