Add Flair to Your Home With the Best Crown Moldings

Molding performs a wide range of functions ranging from aesthetics and process, which helps improve your room’s décor. The best crown molding was created initially to cover the joints where doors and windows meet drywall and where the flooring connects with the wall. Usually, the molding design helps make a statement about the room’s architecture.

Types of Moldings

Knowing the types of moldings out there will help you limit your options to the one that best suits your needs.

Floor molding

This molding forms an ideal foundation in a room and continues the wall down to the floor. Note that flooring will contract and expand a bit as the humidity levels and temperature change. Baseboard caps are decorative elements installed at the top of the molding, and they usually flush to the wall, thus giving it an improved aesthetic.

Door and window casings

There are a few options you can consider for your molding needs for your window and doors. For example, the architrave is a type of molding that effectively tops the door or window, and it is also referred to as a pediment or header. On the other hand, a sill is usually installed at the base of the window, where it meets the wall interior to cover the gap between the drywall and window frame effectively. The jamb represents an integral component of the doorframe wherein the hinges help secure the door. Additionally, the Plinth Block molding represents the thicker component at the baseboard and door casing.

Ceiling and wall moldings

With corner guards, protecting the exterior edges of a wall is more effortless. On the other hand, backsplash moldings help preserve the wall above a counter or cooktop from possible splashes. This molding is usually made from countertop or tile material and is available in wood profiles. Cove moldings are designed in a cove-like manner and can be used as a transitional piece or on an inside corner. On the other hand, chair rails are connected as high as 24-inches and beyond and usually run the length of the wall.

Crown molding is the perfect choice for topping off your room and usually helps cover any gap where the wall meets the ceiling. This type of molding is generally angled or curved for edges to meet the wall and ceiling with an air space behind them. There are several crown molding designs, and different molding profiles may be used to create a customized look. The ideal size of the crown ought to be directly proportional to the size of the room and the height of the wall. You may use crown molding profiles for creating fireplace mantles and decorative elements used in covering the kitchen stove vent.

Decorative moldings

This type of molding is usually used in creating the right aesthetic for your room. For instance, Rosettes are blocks that contain carved roses, and they are often used as a part of door casings, crowns, and fireplace surroundings. Brackets and corbels were designed initially to carry heavyweights but have evolved to be more specific and decorative to architectural styles. Also, corbels can be found in kitchens beneath the countertops, fastening them to the cabinets.

Consider These Elements Before Buying a Crown Molding

Here are a few things you should never forget before you buy some crown molding.

Material and style

First, you need to decide on the type of crown molding you intend to use because there are varying styles that range from simple ones to decorative and ornate ones. Also, you need to figure out the type of space you intend to create. 

Besides selecting a specific crown molding style, you will have to choose the ideal material. Some of the material options available include solid wood, plaster, PVC, MDF, and polyurethane. Before you select any material, you need to think of what it will be exposed to. For instance, if you want to install crown molding inside your bathroom or kitchen, you should think of getting PVC that won’t rot and will do well when exposed to moisture.

Tools

After concluding the type of crown molding you want to install, you also need to consider the tools. Specific tools may slightly differ depending on the nature of the crown molding you want to install, but generally, you will require a nail gun, finish nails, stud finder, and miter saw to make clean corner cuts that match the wall’s edges.

Room size and need

Before you buy moldings, you need to consider the size of your room. For instance, large rooms may be divided into areas by simply adding decorative moldings like wainscoting and chair rails.

Also, in a case where gaps can be seen where your wall meets your floor or in certain corners where walls meet ceilings, floor moldings may be used to cover the gaps and boost the way the room looks.

Product quality

Before you buy your crown molding, you need to check the reviews of past users to be sure that you are getting the right quality. You certainly don’t want the molding to collapse after a while!

How Much Does Crown Molding Cost?

The molding cost will depend mainly on the type of material used in making it. For instance, wood crowns and plaster are perhaps the most expensive, although they are the most durable and look better. The most affordable option is the peel and stick option, which usually does not require power tools but will need to be replaced after a short time.

The cost per linear foot of the molding is an average of $3.50 and ranges between $1 and $20, while the installation cost per linear foot is between $4 and $15.

Crown Molding Installation Tips 

Here are some necessary steps you could consider while installing the ideal crown molding: First, ensure you measure the dimensions of your room and mark the places where the studs will be fixed. Proceed to measure the space again, and then you should cut the crown molding. Keep the pieces up to the wall to correctly complete the cuts, and use a nail gun to keep the molding perfectly in place. Proceed to fill the nail holes and touch up the holes that may be adversely affected.