Prep:

Now that you have chosen your crown molding it is time to prep it and layout out how you a going to install it. One part of prep on your crown molding is sanding. You can do this later once your crown is installed, but at that point it will take you twice as long does now. In sanding you just want to smooth the surface of the wood. Take you hand and rub along the unsanded molding, it will fell rough.

Now gently sand with a medium to fine sand paper until the molding feels smooth. Sanding allows for a nice finish when you paint or stain. Refer to the “Finishing Crown Molding” guide for further advice on prep before your crown molding is installed.

Layout:

Next you want to layout how you are going to install your crown molding. If you are right handed you are going to want to work from right to left or counter clockwise around the room. If you are left handed you should work from left to right or clockwise around the room. If your room is square or rectangle layout is simple. Start at the longest wall a work around the room depending on if you are left or right handed.

Take a minute and draw an overhead view of your room. Then pick the wall you will start with and number it #1 then number each wall around the room #2, #3 and #4. If your room is a “L” shaped start with the outside corner then work around the room based on your dominate hand.

You want to then specify where your copes are going to be. Keep in mind that the last piece will have a double cope, so keep this piece long so you can cut a 1/16” longer and then flex into place. This is easier to do with a long piece than a short piece because there will be more flex in the long piece.