How to Build Mouldings

If you're redoing a room or building a new one, and you want to add details that give your room interest as well as some class, consider building your own mouldings. If your ceiling is 8 foot or taller, create an elaborate crown moulding for your room. Build a plain crown moulding for a room with lower ceilings.

Things You'll Need

• s4s (surfaced four sides) lattice moulding
• Hammer
• Finish nails
• Cove moulding
• Beaded screen moulding
• s4s square moulding
• Quarter-round moulding
• Picture moulding
• s4s narrow rectangular moulding
• Astragal moulding
• Wainscot cap
• Batton moulding
• Mullion moulding
• Screen moulding
• Base moulding
• Base cap moulding
• Shingle moulding
• Saw
• Wood putty (optional)

Instructions

Elaborate Crown Moulding

1. Secure s4s lattice moulding to the wall with finish nails. The top edge of the lattice moulding should touch the ceiling.

2. Secure cove moulding to the lattice moulding so that the curve of the cove moulding faces the room. Make sure the cap of the cove moulding touches the ceiling.

3. Secure beaded screen moulding to the wall beneath the lattice moulding. There should be no space between the top of the beaded screen moulding and the bottom of the lattice moulding.

Plain Crown Moulding

1. Secure s4s square moulding to the wall so that it touches the ceiling. Use finish nails.

2. Affix quarter-round moulding to the square s4s with finish nails.

3. Nail cove moulding beneath the s4s square moulding. Make sure to leave no space between the two pieces.

4. Secure picture moulding beneath the cove moulding. Make sure both pieces touch.

Chair Rail Moulding

1. Nail s4s narrow rectangular moulding to the wall at the point where two different wall coverings meet. This is usually at chair height.

2. Nail cove moulding just above and just below the narrow rectangular moulding, making sure all pieces touch.

3. Secure astragal moulding to the center of the narrow rectangular moulding with finish nails.

4. Build a more elaborate chair rail by substituting a wainscot cap above the narrow rectangular moulding, quarter-round moulding below, and screen moulding in the center.

5. Create another style of chair rail moulding by securing batton moulding to mullion moulding. Finish the chair rail by securing beaded screen moulding to the center of the batton moulding.

Base Moulding

1. Secure base moulding to the wall so that the thicker edge touches the floor.

2. Add cove moulding to the base moulding. Make sure the bottom of the cove moulding touches the floor while the curve of the cove moulding faces the center of the room.

3. Make a more elaborate base moulding by securing lattice moulding to the wall with the bottom edge touching the floor. Nail base cap moulding to the wall so that the bottom edge touches the top of the lattice moulding. Finish the base moulding by securing shingle moulding to the lattice moulding. Make sure the bottom of the shingle moulding touches the floor.

Tips & Warnings

• Cut the moulding carefully with a saw so you don't damage it. Stain or paint the moulding you build to make it fit in with the rest of the room's decor. If you like, fill in any holes before painting with wood putty.

References

• Lowe's: Built-up Moulding
• Canadian Home Workshop: Make Your Own Mouldings

Resources

• Lowe's: s4s pieces
• RAV Millwork and Supply