How to Install Cove Moulding
Cove moulding has a concave or inwardly rounded profile and adds a decorative touch when installed horizontally at the junction between a wall and the ceiling. It also helps to hide any imperfections, joints or detail problems at the wall and ceiling junction. Standard miter cuts are adequate for installation in most rooms. Have an assistant available to help hold the boards in place during installation and to keep the boards straight. Cove moulding is available from most hardware and home improvement stores. Does this Spark an idea?
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Things You'll Need
- Tape measure
- Cove moulding
- Miter saw
- Stud finder
- Pencil
- Hammer
- Finishing nails, 1 1/4-inch
- Nail set
- Wood fill
- Fine-grit sandpaper
- Paint or stain
- Paintbrush
Instructions
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1
Measure the length of each wall with a tape measure. Make notes of the amount of cove moulding required for each wall. Add 10 percent more moulding to the total measurement to account for waste or bad cuts.
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2
Place the cove moulding in the room where it is being installed and let it acclimate for 24 hours. This helps keep the material from expanding or contracting after installation.
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3
Start at the corner of the room farthest from the door. Make a mitered-angle cut at 45 degrees with a miter saw. When joined at the corners with a second piece cut with opposing angles, the moulding will make a perfect right-angle joint.
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4
Use a stud finder to locate the wall studs. Mark the center point of each stud with a pencil. Place the marks below where the moulding will sit so it is easy to find the studs during installation.
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5
Position the first piece of moulding against the wall at the point where the wall and ceiling meet. Hammer 1 1/4-inch finishing nails through the molding and into the wall stud. Place one nail into each stud to hold the material securely against the wall.
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6
Cut the next piece of moulding with an opposing 45-degree miter cut, and install it to the next wall with nails so that the two pieces fit together tightly. Repeat this mounting process on all the walls in the room.
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7
Hammer in all nails until they are fully embedded in the moulding using a nail set and a hammer. Fill the holes with wood filler to hide the nail holes. Allow it to dry completely (check the product packaging to find out how long this will take), then sand it smooth with fine-grit sandpaper.
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8
Paint or stain the material to match the decor of the room using a paintbrush appropriately sized for the size of the cove moulding.
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Tips & Warnings
Stain or paint the moulding before installing it to make it easier to finish off later by just touching up the nail holes.
Use eye protection and caution when cutting the miter joints.
