Hanging Crown Molding On Plaster Walls

There were lots of holes chips and cracks in the plaster where they had nailed the molding in the plaster.

Hanging crown molding on plaster walls.

Before installing crown molding test fit a piece of molding in place image 1 and mark the height of the molding where it meets the wall below the ceiling. Cut the first piece square. Well obviously that was just a misfire so we upped the pressure in the tank and fired a few more. Position the molding in the desired location on the wall.

Hanging without picture rail. Use a level or laser level to extend this mark along the walls from corner to corner image 2. The furring strips add more stability to the larger heavier crown molding and greatly simplify nailing the molding to the wall. Install chair rail approximately 34 inches above the floor.

This type of molding was once an elegant way of hanging artwork on hard to penetrate plaster walls. The second trick is to set the molding against the saw and mark a line on the table with a pencil image 2. I repaired the plaster and have painted the walls and now want to put new crown molding up. Make a marking gauge the same size as the crown then use it to position the crown on the rail.

Install baseboard along the floor at the base of the walls. As with all trim secured to old plaster walls locate the studs. If you think something is too heavy then it s best to mount it in a more secure way to the wall. After all it is just a piece of wood molding.

One of the previous owners had tried to put up crown molding but the job was unfinished and looked bad so i pulled it down. Popular in new england and southern townhouses during the victorian era picture rails may seem. Fastening crown molding directly to walls can be a headache but well fastened rail trim makes nailing the crown foolproof. If you don t have picture rail or don t want to install some that s just fine.