Cutting crown molding angles correctly is the key to a quality crown molding installation project. This article describes the major mitered and coped cuts that are necessary when installing crown molding.
Crown molding is an excellent way to decorate or accent a room in your home and most moderately skilled do it yourself homeowners can tackle a crown molding installation project. My recommendation however for first time crown molding installers is to start small. When it comes to installing crown molding much of the success depends on cutting crown molding angles correctly, and usually this takes a little practice. By limiting the size of your first crown molding installation project you can mitigate the risk of wasting a lot of money on scrap material.
Cutting crown molding angles correctly requires a quality miter saw and a coping saw. A quality miter saw may cost you a couple of hundred dollars, however a coping saw may only set you back ten to twenty dollars.
45 Degree Angled Cuts
For most crown molding installation projects, cutting crown molding angles involves cutting 45o angles using a miter saw. By cutting two pieces of crown molding at 45o angles, a 90o angled inside or outside crown molding corner can be formed.
Coped Cuts
Since most walls are not perfectly square, coped angled crown molding cuts are also required. Coped crown molding angles are formed by the intersection of two ends of two pieces of crown molding. One of the crown molding pieces is butted firmly up against the inside corner using a square cut. The other crown molding piece has one of its ends cut with a coped crown molding angle so that this angled cut sits over the square-cut end of the adjacent crown molding piece. The visual effect is a perfect 90o angle inside corner.
Scarf Joints
For joining segments of crown molding together a scarf cut is used. A scarf cut consists of two pieces of crown molding that are cut at 45o angles so that they form a perfect straight seam. A scarf cut is much cleaner looking then butting two ends of crown molding together.
When learning how to cut crown molding angles it is wise to practice on a few scrap pieces of crown molding first. Without this practice, you might find yourself spending an inordinate amount of money on wasted crown molding stock.
For more information on Installing Crown Molding see HomeAdditionPlus.com's Installing Crown Molding Ebook.
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