How to Lay Hardwood Flooring With Crown Molding

Removing Old Molding

• 1

  Wrap the end of the pry bar -- and any area of the bar that comes in contact with the wall -- with a thin, yet durable soft cloth to prevent damage to the wall or existing crown molding. This isn't necessary if you can pull the molding off without damaging the wall, but it helps prevent small accidents such as nicks or scuff marks.

• 2

  Cut between the molding and the paint with a utility knife by placing the blade of the knife just behind the molding. This is necessary if the paint was applied after the molding, as opposed to it being installed on top of the paint. The paint may adhere to the crown molding and could come off in strips when removing the molding.

• 3

  Pry the molding gently away from the wall -- starting at the nails and wall studs -- all the way around using a pry bar. Don't be concerned with removing the molding completely in one attempt. Work slowly, easing it away from the wall in sections.

• 4

  Scrape or sand away any residue left on the wall or on the back of the molding from any adhesive used with the molding.

Laying the Hardwood Floor

• 5

  Follow the manufacturer's recommendations for acclimating and preparing your subfloor and the flooring planks. Manufacturers vary greatly in their recommendations.

• 6

  Start laying your floor along the longest wall or parallel to the light coming into the room. Most often, hardwood is laid parallel to the light coming in, but this is personal preference. Ensure you leave any necessary expansion gaps (again, rely on manufacturer recommendations) between the wall and the flooring.

• 7

  Stagger the seams of the rows according to the manufacturer recommendations. A staggered seam allows for a stronger and more natural-looking floor.

• 8

  Rip the last row of planks, if necessary, to ensure there is the appropriate expansion gap between the wall and the planks.

Installing the Molding

• 9

  Reattach the molding if you plan on using the same molding you pried off. The molding should sit on top of the floor, but not completely snug. There should be room for expansion, but not a visible gap between the molding and the floor. Your new hardwood floor may or may not be a different height than the previous floor.

• 10

  Measure the area of the wall or walls where you will be installing new molding.

• 11

  Purchase your new molding either in longer lengths you will cut yourself or pre-cut based on your measurements. For the cleanest look, buy lengths that will minimize joints where pieces of molding come together. To buy the correct lengths, always add at least 10 percent for waste and cutting to help cover small mistakes.

• 12

  Cut the molding into the correct lengths if needed. Also, miter the corners at a 45-degree angle so the two corner pieces will fit together. Take care in cutting the right pieces, as the two corner pieces that fit together will have opposite miter cuts.

• 13

  Paint or stain the molding before attaching it. While you can paint or stain the molding when it's attached to the wall, it saves prep time and prevents accidents when you stain it beforehand.

• 14

  Attach using 1 3/4-inch nails and a nail gun.