I need help installing crown molding. Is it necessary to use adhesive as well as nails?

I'm not a pro so this is just my understanding... somebody with more exp will give you a better answer.

The benefit of using a paintable, latex or siliconized adhesive caulk is that it helps the molding adhere (obviously) and it can also help fill in any gaps between the molding and wall/ceiling. This can also help you position the molding. Then nails into studs.

Can you get away without nails? I expect the adhesive might let you use fewer nails, but I'd probably still place some nails into the studs.

How big is the molding? I know some people also attach a "backer board" (my term... don't know what its properly called) to the wall first for greater support and some use glue/nailing blocks for even greater support with bigger molding. The bigger the molding the more supprt you'll need.

Again, someone with more exp can confirm this or correct my error.

Hi Momar,

I've installed many types of crown moulding. Nails are just fine but if you want to make job easier use an air nailer. This fasten the moulding more quick and also countersink nails. Therefore no need to disturb perfect mitred joints by setting heads of nail.
Also if your wall/ceiling isn't perfectly straight and you have small gap between crown and wall/ceiling, use paintable latex caulk to hide these imperfection and sometimes use caulk on "not so tight" joints.
Try these tricks and your job will look great.
Good luck.
JC

Hi,

Are you using wood molding or synthetic?

I have installed a lot of the synthetic stuff recently and I use both nails and caulk. I have had good luck with this process and I can do it by myself.

When I tried wood I found it to be less forgiving than the foam stuff so if your walls are at all wavy, you will have some gaps. Thus, you will need caulk, so why not put a bead along with edges before you install it.

And just a curiousity question, are you mitering and coping the corners or are you wimping out like me and using corner blocks?

Final suggestion: whenever you have a run that requires you to join two pieces, make sure that you use a scarf joint. I also put some caulk on it. And, I try to make it just a tad long so that it will fit snug.

Good luck, Dan

Corner blocks are awesome, you just tell everyone that it was for looks ;)

I'm about to install some crown molding, but I have a unique issue. My walls don't have wooden studs, I have metal studs.

What is the best way to anchor the crown molding? I have the same problem with my baseboards, but I just put some nails in to them which sinks in to the sheetrock and holds it long enough for the chalking to dry and hold it. I'm a bit worried about the crown molding falling down later with the help of gravity...

Any thoughts?

Its best to use an air nailer (brad or finish) You can fasten the crown by "pinning". That is when you criss-cross 2 nails at the same location on the crown. A lot of time its even hard to hit wood studs unless you find where they're at. I "pin" crown I install all the time. Especially when the crown runs parallel to the above floor framing.

Pinning works great, I really love my brad nailer.

Another alternative is to use a quick grab style of construction adhesive. They have a great quick tack strength so they grab hold right away. And when you use it in combination with pinning, you have a great system.

Still another alternative is to use trim head screws. They are long and use a #1 Square drive so the heads are real small. I think they work with metal studs as well.

Good Luck, Dan

I thought I saw a "small Headed" screw somewhere, but I have not been able to find it since. That would probably do the trick. An issue I found after I installed the trim is that one of my walls is not straight. It curves in about 4 feet from the corner because of the way the doors in my hallway are laid out. Not the best design, but I guess I have to live with it.

Thanks for the help

As Long As It Is Wood Or Mdf Just Use Nails If It Is The Plastic, Take It Back And Get The Real Stuff. If This Is Your First Time Installing Crown Using The Corner Blocks Will Really Help With The Angels. Good Luck Nichols Trim

Theoretically speaking, you cannot nail in tin studs. There was a job we supplied down in Dc where the installer put door up using that pinning method spoken of here, what a installation horror show.

The 'correct' method of fastening to tin studs is trim screws. They have small button heads just like finish nails.

Thanks for people who are trying to help by posting an answer to the question.

I hope that people posting an answer to this have noticed the date on the original post.

I would think that the original poster has probably already found an answer to their question.

LOL!

Good point, didn't bother to look, it was at the top of the list yesterday LOL

I'm about to install some crown molding, but I have a unique issue. My walls don't have wooden studs, I have metal studs.

What is the best way to anchor the crown molding? I have the same problem with my baseboards, but I just put some nails in to them which sinks in to the sheetrock and holds it long enough for the chalking to dry and hold it. I'm a bit worried about the crown molding falling down later with the help of gravity....

Any thoughts?

You could make the crown moulding install in two ways, actually 3.

1. Install a backer board or blocks first to the wall with sheetrock screws through the sheetrock and into the metal studs and then attach the moulding with finish nails in the normal fashion.

2. Intall the crown directly to the wall with a trim screw. They have a very small head and will firmly attach the moulding to the metal studs. You just need to get them a bit longer.

3. A combination of both 1 and 2.

Good luck.

Thanks for people who are trying to help by posting an answer to the question.

I hope that people posting an answer to this have noticed the date on the original post.

I would think that the original poster has probably already found an answer to their question.

Maybe so, but to have all these great responses just makes this thread available for those that know how to use the search button.

cut small pieces of 2x4s and glue to wall and ceiling then you will have a place to nail your crown. Make sure the block are cut at the same angle as your crown rune, not all crown is 45, some is 52 and 38.

I realize this is an old thread, But I posted some sites to help out the curious seekers. Updating Visual instructions on cutting crown molding. The biggest problem in cutting crown molding is getting the molding to sit in the miter saw fence properly with its small flats on the back of the crown. I posted some sites below that should help in cutting Crown Molding. Always Use proper safety equipment and glass's

Cutting Crown Molding in Position Part 1
YouTube - Cutting Crown Molding in Position Part 1 (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=16JnsPU7oLg&feature=related)

Cutting Crown Molding in Position Part 2
YouTube - Cutting Crown Molding in Position Part 2 (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gjP996vgjeQ&feature=related)

Crown Molding in 3 Easy Steps! Understanding the "spring" On the crown to set in miter saw properly with a gig for big crown measuring wall angles before cutting crown
YouTube - Crown Molding in 3 Easy Steps! (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u0qCvMdAqSQ&feature=related)

Crown Molding gigs
crown molding jig - Google Search (http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&rlz=1T4GGLF_en__292US292&ei=CryWSc2PE4H8tgezoZybCw&sa=X&oi=spell&resnum=1&ct=result&cd=1&q=crown+molding+jig&spell=1)

Cutting Crown Molding the Simple Way (HQ) adding to fence height.
YouTube - Cutting Crown Molding the Simple Way (HQ) (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3PlJiJ2afKU&feature=related)

Coping Crown molding: Jig saw
YouTube - Coping Crown Mold (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W02ZLlnSXXY&NR=1)

Coping Crown: with grinder
YouTube - Coping with a grinder (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ud7cMf59lbo&NR=1)

Coping Molding: Hand coping saw
YouTube - coping 101 (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AlvQQDEn7Jc&feature=related)

Cutting Foam Crown molding.

Basic in cutting crown molding
YouTube - How To Cut Crown Molding (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vPJCXTM810U&feature=related)

How to cut crown molding outside bull nose corners
YouTube - How to cut crown molding outside bull nose corners. Creative Crown (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s2Dkjnt_GME&feature=related)

How to cut a crown molding outside corner
YouTube - How to cut a crown molding outside corner. Creative Crown (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B6dXc464oU8&feature=related)

Crown Molding corner blocks
YouTube - How to install crown molding corner blocks. Creative Crown (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qRlJg7HxzYk&NR=1)

Vaulted ceiling cuts
YouTube - How to cut vaulted up crown molding corner. Creative Crown (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9p3rXadzo_4)

Cutting vaulted ceiling angled corner down slope
YouTube - How to cut vaulted up crown molding corner. Creative Crown (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9p3rXadzo_4)

Signed 21 Boat

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