Here is the deal. Wood crown molding at the ceiling is complete and total overkill. Nobody is up there walking around or supporting the roof and second floor with crown molding. Why waste the resources if there is a lightweight replacement. Wood and MDF are heavy, expensive and require tools and expertise to install. So why are you thinking of pounding 100's of nails into the wall to secure something as simple as crown molding. Oh and good luck getting Home Depot to pre-cut the corners for you.
Foam moldings install with caulking and they will stick to anything that caulking sticks to, which is just about everything, including block, brick, glass, stucco, drywall, plastic, metal, etc... Another benefit to foam crown is that it doesn't expand or contract and is not affected by moisture. That means no fancy scarf joints at the seams and you can put foam crown moldings in any room, bathroom, basement, sauna, pool room, you name it and foam is on it. Just glance down at your foam coffee cup, the one next to the keyboard. Same stuff, just denser.
It use to be that installing crown molding was a job better left to the experts. Not any more my do-it-yourselfer friend. Any homeowner who is all thumbs can install the latest advance in diy crown moldings. Check out SoSimpleCrown for instance.
If you are thinking about Foam Crown here are some Simple Steps to Installing Foam Crown Moldings
Plan your installation. Measure the lengths of all the walls in the room. Don't multiply anything, just add the lengths to get an idea of how much molding you'll need. For example a 10x10 room will need 40 linear feet. Then count your corners. Most rooms have either 4 inside corners or 5 inside corners and 1 outside corner.Buy the molding pieces. You are going to have to pick the style and size of the molding you want. The rule with crown molding is that there are no rules. Do what you think will look the best. 8 foot ceilings can handle from 3 inch molding to 4 inch molding very well. With that I have a 7 inch molding in my entryway that looks awesome. And just because you have a dentil crown in one room doesn't mean that you have to keep that theme throughout the entire house. Change it up and let each room be unique. If you want to see the biggest seller in the country click here.
Choose a Color. While you are waiting the 4-5 days for delivery get some paint for the molding. It comes bright bright white and a coat of semi-gloss latex paint is all it needs. Most people just get the same color as the ceiling, just a bit more glossy. Caulking is the glue you use to install the molding. Use water-based latex caulk for easy clean-up. Alex Plus from Dap works just fine. 2 tubes for a 10x10 room.
Start in the Corner. Once you get the molding, start in the corner. They will be clearly marked "Inside Left" or "Inside Right". Run a 1/4 inch bead of caulking along the two contact surfaces on the back of the molding. Making sure that the two contact surfaces are flat against the wall and the ceiling, put the corner up with the point and "Inside Right" markings on the wall side, the shorter edge of the molding goes at the ceiling. After the first stick the learning curve is over. By stick 2 you have reached "expert status". Trim to fit the next stick with a miter box and hack saw or fine tooth saw. $7 at home depot, but check the garage first.
Finishing Touches. Once the molding is all up, there is one last tip that relly gives your install the professionally finished look. Take your last caulking tube and just cut off the last 1/8th inch of the tip. Use that small bead of caulking it produces to finish the molding where it meets the wall and the ceiling. Follow with a wet finger for a smooth transition.
Here is all the stuff you don't have to do if you choose Foam Crown Moldings over wood, mdf or Polyurethane.
• fill nail holes.
• find studs.
• buy a nail gun, compressor, miter saw, stud finder, backer board, nail hole filler, sand paper, primer, miter finder, angle finder, pole brace, laser level.
• fix he electrical and plumbing behind the wall you damaged with the nail gun.
• borrow a truck to get the 18 foot lengths of mdf home from the hardware store.
• Take the wood molding back to the hardware store out of frustration. (biggest return item in the hardware store)
• buy a book on how to cut crown molding corners.
• hire a contractor to clean up your mess.
