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Overview:
This project will show you how to install moulding. Improve any room's appearance with crown, base or door moulding. Hide corner imperfections and add design accents with a minimal investment of time and money.
Materials:
stain or paint, moulding, corner blocks, wood putty
Tools You'll Need:
power-lite cordless drill, 10ft. or 25ft. tape measure, 4-in-1 level, 7oz. or 16oz. hammer
Before You Begin:
How much moulding and what kind of wood will you need? There are many types of wood, like pine and oak, for example. You should choose a wood that best suits your décor. But before you go to the store, measure, measure, measure. When purchasing moulding, the amount required is called linear feet. When you have measured the linear feet, remember that moulding comes in standard lengths - usually eight, ten, and twelve feet - so calculate what to buy with those numbers in mind (if you have two five and a half foot walls, buy one twelve foot piece instead of two eight foot ones). To avoid having to use a miter box on your saw to make angled cuts, buy pre-cut corner blocks. Count up how many you'll need of those as well. (If you are not using corner blocks, have your home improvement center or hardware store miter cut the moulding for you.) If you have any walls longer than twelve feet, buy divider blocks to use in the center of those. Pick a finish, and buy enough paint or stain to cover all the material.
Barbara's Tips:
You can use the same techniques/materials to build a chair rail. Just use a level to draw a straight line all the way around the room in pencil as reference.
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Step 1: Finish First
Stain (or paint) all blocks and moulding (don't worry about cutting to length yet). Keep your finish handy for final touch-ups.
Step 2: Block it Out
Drill pilot holes in your corner and divider blocks to avoid splitting the wood. Nail in place.
Step 3: Mold to Fit
Measure the distance between your first pair of corner blocks, and cut a piece of moulding approximately a quarter-inch longer (remember: measure twice, cut once). Fit one end of the moulding tight to a corner block, and lap the other end over the second block. Trace the edge of the block onto the back of the moulding. Cut again along the outside of that line. Now touch up your cut with some finish, and the moulding snugly in place. Find your wall studs (the wood and metal supports inside your walls) and pre-drill holes at every other one in your moulding. Use a nail set to nail in place. Repeat with your next piece of moulding, remembering to use divider blocks on walls longer than twelve feet. Clean up the scrap, store away the finish for emergency touch-ups, and you're done. You did it yourself!
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