How to Connect Panel Moulding to Your Ceiling

Lay the individual pieces of molding decorative side down on a soft rag. With the rear side facing up and the pieces resting on a stable surface, apply a stream of construction glue along the top and bottom edges of the molding. The pieces should already have been cut and measured to fit the desired length of ceiling space. Molding is sold as long solid pieces of slim wood sliced into a continuous motif.

Climb the ladder with the adhesive covered molding and press the piece into place along the ceiling. Take the time to ensure that the pieces are level with the angle where the wall meets the ceiling as you wait for the glue to set. Every ceiling is different, but generally ceiling molding is glued at a 45-degree angle to cover the natural 90 degrees made where the walls and ceiling meet.

Use the calking gun along the edges of the molding to create a seamless appearance. By gently smoothing out the caulk with the putty knife as you apply it to the molding, you will remove extra caulk and flatten out the texture.

Lightly hammer finishing nails along the molding for additional support as the glue bonds to the wall along the ceiling. Do not completely drive the nails into the molding so you can easily remove them once the molding’s glue bonds to the wall.

Use the hammer to gently pull out the nails. Fill in the resulting holes with caulk and allow it to dry.

Clean up your panel molding project by sanding off leftover caulking used to plug the nail holes. When you sand away the caulking, press lightly so you prevent accidental marking. Paint the molding to conceal imperfections and to give the ceiling fixture an eye catching line of color.