How to Cut Crown Molding Angles

Crown molding is molding that is placed between the ceiling and wall. Crown molding is generally decorative, but can also be installed to hide flaws. This type of molding can meet on the inside or the outside of a corner. Angles for each of these are different, but they are cut on the same principle. Crown molding can also be joined along an expansive wall where no corners are involved.

Difficulty: Moderately Challenging

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Chop saw
• Tape measure
• Pencil
• Safety glasses

Cut for Inside Corners

1. Hold the bottom edge of the molding (the wall side of the molding) against the bottom back edge of the saw base and back plate. Remember that the crown molding is getting installed on the ceiling. Therefore, the back plate on the saw is acting as your wall at ceiling height.

2. Rotate your saw to a 45-degree angle, cutting toward the inside of the piece of molding. This will give you the cut you need if you are joining two pieces of molding on an inside corner. To cut for outside corners, simply cut toward the outside of the molding.

3. Turn on the saw and carefully cut through the piece of molding.

Joining Crown Molding Pieces in the Middle of a Wall

4. Place the molding flat against the back plate on the saw and set it at a 45-degree angle to the inside on the first piece of molding.

5. Turn on the saw and carefully make the cut.

6. Place the molding flat against the back plate on the saw and set it at a 45-degree angle to the outside for the second piece. Make the cut as you did with the first piece.

Tips & Warnings

• Once you cut the two pieces you wish to fit together, check to see that they fit together flat and snugly without gaps before you install them to the wall and ceiling.
• If you wish to join two pieces of crown molding at an angle other than 90 degrees, simply measure the angle and divide by two to calculate the angle of your cut. The instructions above deal only with square, 90-degree corners (thus the 45-degree cuts).
• Use care when operating the chop saw. Wear eye protection at all times.