How to Finish a Crown Molding

Stain may seep through fabric drop cloths.

Crown molding is trim running along the top of the wall, adjacent to the ceiling. To finish it, you can either paint or stain it. Because bare molding is ill-suited for adhesion, it requires a special base coat prior to painting. If you plan to stain it, you will need to take extra measures to protect surrounding surfaces from drips and splatters, or you may end up having to repaint walls and replace carpeting.

Things You'll Need

• Step ladder
• Tack cloth
• Heavy-duty fabric drop cloths
• Blue painter's tape
• Latex primer
• 2- to 3-inch latex paintbrush
• Semigloss or gloss latex paint
• Plastic drop cloths
• 2- to 3-inch oil-based paintbrush
• Oil-based stain
• Mineral spirits
• Varnish

Instructions

Painting

1. Wipe down the crown molding with a sticky tack cloth. Cover the floor beneath the crown molding with fabric drop cloths. Cover portions of the wall and ceiling running adjacent to the molding with a low-tack painter's tape.

2. Coat the molding with a latex primer using a paintbrush manufactured for use with water-based coatings. Wait two hours for it to dry.

3. Coat the primed molding with a semigloss or gloss latex paint. Apply the paint just as you did the primer. Wait two hours for it to dry. Add another coat if the primer shows through.

Staining

1. Wipe down the crown molding with a sticky tack cloth.

2. Cover the floor with plastic drop cloths. Lay fabric drop clothes over the plastic ones. Cover portions of the wall and ceiling running adjacent to the molding with a low-tack painter's tape. Cover the wall beneath the molding with plastic drop cloths. Tape the drop cloths to the painter's tape running below the molding.

3. Coat the molding with oil-based stain using a paintbrush manufactured for use with oil-based coatings. Wait two hours for it to dry. Apply another coat for darker results.

Tips & Warnings

• Use mineral spirits to wash paintbrushes used with oil-based coatings.

• If you would like to enhance the stained molding by adding a shiny gloss, apply a coat of varnish just as you did the stain.

• Stain may seep through fabric drop cloths and pool on plastic ones. Use the two types of coverings in conjunction.

• Don't paint over unprimed, bare crown molding, or the finish will peel.

• Stain is much thinner than paint and is prone to significant drips and splatters.

Resources

• Popular Mechanics: 5 Pro Painting Tips Every Amateur Should Know