If you decide on MDF, don't use it in high moisture areas such as a kitchen or bathroom as the humidity can cause it to warp.
The most challenging part of installing crown molding is cutting the corners correctly. It doesn't work like any other trim pieces because of the angle between the wall and the ceiling. Using a coping saw is the best way to cut the corners because a coped joint is tighter than a mitered joint. A coped joint is also good for a beginner. Any gap in a coped cut can be easily concealed with a little bit of filler
The use of a power miter saw will make the installation of trim a lot easier with more accurate and cleaner cuts. Hold a piece of molding on your saw with the angle exactly where you want it, now take a pencil and mark the table and the stop, this way the crown molding will be held at the same place for every cut.
1. Cut an end off a piece of molding and use as a gauge to mark the wall and ceiling to show where the edges of molding should be at when finished. This will help to keep the proper angle of the molding.
2. Measure the length of the first wall and cut both ends at 90 degrees; you want both ends of the molding to butt against the side walls. Install this piece of molding and then it is time for the next cut.
3. Note; your molding is upside down on your saw when you cut the angles, the table of the saw is the ceiling.
4. With the molding in the proper position, use your miter saw and cut a perfect 45-degree angle. Cope the joint; scribe the end of one molding to the face of the other. Draw on the front edge with a pencil and then use the coping saw to cut as close to the line as you can. Start slowly, so you don't splinter the thin edge. Cut at an angle to leave a thin edge to touch the molding that it butts up against..
5. Check the fit against a scrap piece of molding; this will reveal any gaps that need to be trimmed. Use the coping saw and cut off the high points.
6. Once the coped joint fit is right, take the molding to the wall. For a long piece, you'll need some help holding it. Push the end into the corner, making the fit as tight as possible and attach it to the wall. You may need some filler or caulk if you have slight gaps.
7. The outside corners need to fit exactly filler can't help you much here. Less experienced DIYers may want to paint their first crown molding project, since paint and caulking can be used to hide any small mistakes, stained molding is much harder to disguise imperfections.
8. Work your way around the room holding the molding to your marks on the wall and ceiling. Patch the nail holes and finish the molding and step back and enjoy.
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Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/expert/Forrest_Ketner/1506425
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