Tools for Installing Crown Molding

Miter Jig

• Not everyone uses a crown molding miter jig, but they should. One of the biggest challenges of crown molding is that it doesn't fit tight to an inside corner. It fastens at an angle, with one plane facing the ceiling, one facing a wall and the final plane milled off at a 45-degree angle to the corner. This leaves a triangular void. The gap makes it difficult to place the crown molding in a miter saw and cut the molding accurately. A miter jig simply supports the molding in the saw in the same way the molding will fit the intersection of the wall and ceiling. Once a miter jig is clamped to a miter saw, crown molding can be cut just as easily as square stock wood.

Miter Saw/Compound Miter Saw

• A miter saw with a sharp blade is critical for accurate miter cuts. Miter saws sometimes are called "chop saws" because their chopping motion resembles a paper cutter. These work fine as long as the saw can pivot to cut various angles. Compound miter saws offer more adjustments. They also are fine to use, but not necessary, because a pivoting miter saw should provide all the necessary adjustments. Use either as long as the saw is equipped with a sharp, quality blade.

Cordless Drill

• Most installers use blocks cut at 45-degree angles for the crown molding's nail backing. These nail backing blocks are placed at the intersection of a wall and ceiling. They serve as lap joints, where one piece of molding ends and another begins. The nail backing provides support for the joint. This nail backing usually is made with a wood such as poplar. It usually is pre-drilled with a countersink so that it does not split when attached. The blocks are fastened with wood or drywall screws using a cordless drill.

Brad Nailer

• A finish, or brad, nailer often is used to install crown molding. Sometimes adhesives are used in conjunction with finish nails or brads, but not always. Brad nailers provide the primary fastening for crown molding, but they must have nail backing for the brads to fasten.