What to Consider when Buying Crown Molding

By Mark J. Donovan

If you are planning a crown molding installation project there are several items that you should consider when buying crown molding.

Buying Crown Molding and Selecting the Appropriate Wood Species

When buying crown molding you first need to decide on what type of wood to use. Softwoods, such as Pine, are easy to work with, relatively inexpensive, and are available in a variety of crown molding profiles. The downside with pine is that it is soft, and thus can easily be dented, though sitting up high on a wall mitigates this issue. Softwood crown molding is also less stable and thus more susceptible to contracting and splitting with changes in temperature and humidity. Hardwoods, such as oak, on the other hand are more impervious to becoming dented and are more stable. However, they are more expensive.

Painting versus Staining Crown Molding

If you are planning to paint crown molding then Pine, or Poplar are better wood species for your crown molding installation project. They are cheaper than hardwood crown molding, and from a distance of several feet away from most eyeballs, no one will ever know the difference.

If, on the other hand you want that natural wood look, or a stained look, then a hardwood crown molding species is probably better for your crown molding project.

Selecting the Appropriate Crown Molding Lengths

When buying crown molding, have a sketch of your crown molding layout with you when you visit the local home improvement store. Ideally you should buy crown molding lengths that span the entire length of a section of wall, so that you reduce the number of scarf joints required. Also make sure the lengths of crown molding are not warped or twisted, and free from knots.

When Buying Crown Molding Purchase 10% Extra

When buying crown molding it is always important to buy about 10% extra to accommodate for waste. Specifically each piece of crown molding selected should approximately 10% longer than the particular wall length required.

For more information on Installing Crown Molding see HomeAdditionPlus.com’s “Installing Crown Molding Ebook”.