How to Miter Cut Crown Moulding

Crown molding adds a splash of elegance and timeless beauty to any room and comes in a variety of designs from classic decorative to a simple bevel. By taking your time and using patience and precision on your miter cuts, your crown molding addition will look as if it were built into the house.

Things You'll Need

• Measuring tape
• Framing or compound square
• Pencil
• Miter box with backsaw or electric miter saw

Instructions

How to Miter Cut Crown Molding

1. Measure the length of the wall from corner to corner using the measuring tape. By holding the framing square with one side flat against the wall, determine the angle of the corner.

2. Mark the length needed on the molding with the pencil. Using that mark, lay your framing square or attach the compound square at the desired angle and mark the entire width of the molding.

3. Place the molding on top of a piece of scrap wood if you are using a miter box with a backsaw, to allow you to cut all the way through without damaging the miter box, and place inside the box. Hold the box together with one hand and slowly saw back and forth at the desired angle with the backsaw.

4. Lock the blade at the desired angle and carefully pull the blade down if you are using an electric miter saw,

5. Test the cuts by placing the pieces that will meet in the corner to make sure they meet up correctly before hanging.

Tips & Warnings

• Not all corners are 90 degrees. If you encounter this problem, straight cut one side of the molding and miter cut and cope out the connecting piece. By coping the profile of the miter cut piece, you can mount the molding on top of the straight cut to give the illusion that the corner is square.

• Always wear safety glasses when using a saw to prevent sawdust or splinters from entering your eyes.

References

• How to Miter Mouldings