Cabinet Crown Molding Installation

Installing cabinet crown molding can provide you with a very elegant look for your kitchen. Installing crown molding on the cabinets is not a complicated job, but it will take some work. Here are the basics of how to install crown molding on your cabinets successfully.

Step 1—Measure the Cabinets

To successfully install crown molding on your cabinets, you need to make sure that you have the appropriate amount to do so. Take your tape measure and get the dimensions of each cabinet. Measure the area around the top of the cabinets where you will install the crown molding. Add up all of the separate dimensions and this will provide you with the total footage that you need. You should probably buy a little extra so that you can put full pieces where you need them.

Step 2—Install Wood Strips

While you do not necessarily have to do this, installing wood strips around the top of the cabinets is usually a good idea. Take some strips of wood that are about 1 to 2 inches wide and nail them onto the top of the cabinets. This will allow you to have a place to nail your crown molding into without nailing into the finished side of the cabinets. Therefore, if you ever need to replace the crown molding, the cabinets will not be damaged.

Step 3—Cut the Crown Molding

Once you have installed the wood strips, it is time to cut the crown molding. Use the angle finder to find the appropriate angles for your cuts. If you are dealing with square cabinets, you should be able to cut all 45-degree angles and be fine. However, if you have more complex angles, you need to make sure that you get the appropriate angles with the angle finder. Use your tape measure to measure the appropriate distance for each piece. Mark the cuts on the crown molding appropriately. Place the crown molding in your miter saw and make the cut. Make sure that you hold it firmly so that the saw can make a good cut through the molding.

Step 4—Smooth the Edges

Once you make the cut on the crown molding, you should try and smooth out the cut edges a bit. Take some sandpaper and rub down the edges of the crown molding. Making sure that they are smooth will ensure that the pieces fit together nicely.

Step 5—Paint or Stain

If you have unfinished crown molding, you will need to paint or stain it now. It is usually better to do this before you put it up on the cabinets so that you do not get any paint on them.

Step 6—Nail the Molding

Hold the crown molding in place and then nail it in to the wood strips using a nail gun or hammer.

Step 7—Finish Up

Use a joint compound to fill in the gaps between the edges of the crown molding and fill in the nail holes as well. Paint or stain over this compound and your crown molding project is done.