The ceiling cornice (or molding) greatly improves the aesthetic appearance of a room, but installing it is not an easy task. Being able to follow the corners perfectly can be tricky for even the most dedicated interior decorator, so keep reading this article. The steps illustrated will allow you to be able to fit the moldings correctly and with as little effort as possible.
Steps
Part 1 of 3: The first cut
Step 1. Work on one section at a time
Start with the most hidden corner of the room, especially if you want to install decorated molding. This is because it is pretty easy to line up the patterns as you go from corner to corner, but they will most likely not coincide in the last one.
In the first corner, draw a line on each wall where it intersects with the bottom of the molding. This will help keep it aligned during installation. Lay a small piece of scrap molding against the corner, run a pencil along the bottom to the edge, and repeat the process on the other wall, connecting the lines
Step 2. Measure the wall and molding
Measure the wall from corner to corner using a tape measure. Look at the corner and choose whether you want to start with the left or right molding piece.
Report the length of the wall to the first piece of molding. Make a mark on the bottom of the frame at the measured measurement, on both ends
Step 3. Prepare the cut
Place the frame upside down on the shelf of the circular saw. Lay it down so that the side that will go against the wall is facing you, so you can see the marks you made on the bottom edge.
Step 4. On this first piece, you will make a 90 ° straight cut on both ends
The molding will be installed flush against the corners of the wall. Don't worry about the corner now, the second piece will be cut to fit the first.
Part 2 of 3: The second piece
Step 1. Measure the second piece of molding
Make a mark on the bottom; if you do it on the top one, the cuts will be wrong because the base of the molding goes all the way into the corner while the top does not.
- Set your electric saw for a 45 ° cut. If you start with the left-hand piece, the saw must be tilted from left to right.
- Be sure to rest the edge that will go near the ceiling on the countertop while the side that will adhere to the wall must be facing you.
- Make the first cut with the saw at the mark you drew on the molding.
- If in doubt, cut past the mark - you can get rid of the excess molding later. A cut that is too short can compromise everything and make the whole piece unusable.
Step 2. Cut the other end
Adjust the cutting angle of the saw to 90 °. Bring the saw to the track you made, leaving a small additional margin for any eventuality.
Step 3. On the 45 ° end, use a jigsaw to cut off the back
Remove the trim on the back of the molding, following its contours, so that the 45 ° cut fits the profile of the first piece.
Sand to remove any imperfections; then, pull a piece of molding closer to see if the contours match. The discrepancies should be minimal. Use putty to fill in any cracks you can't get rid of
Part 3 of 3: Finish the job
Step 1. Repeat the same steps for the remaining molding pieces
If you are mounting the ceiling cornice in a room with four walls and you started with a piece with two 90 ° angles, you will need to prepare a piece that has two 45 ° angles.
- The angles of 45 ° must be opposite. At first, leave an extra 2.5 - 5 cm to make sure everything fits together. A slightly longer piece will make the whole structure more snug, preventing the formation of cracks in the settling phase of the house.
- In a four-walled room, at the end of the job you should find yourself with a piece that has two 90 ° ends, two pieces that each have a 90 ° and a 45 ° end, and finally a piece with two opposite edges at 45 °.
Step 2. Attach the molding
Apply adhesive to flat surfaces that will lean against the wall, ceiling and join the other frame pieces.
- For the installation of the longer pieces, try to get someone to help you.
- Firmly press the end of the first piece into the corner where you begin assembly.
- Nail the molding into place while the adhesive sets. Help yourself with a nail punch to make sure that they are completely driven into the wood. This will allow you to coat them with paint.
- Attach the other pieces of molding and fill the cracks with putty as you go.
Advice
- Practice cutting out a few scraps of the molding to get an idea of how the corners fit together. It will save you money and effort once the actual work has begun.
- Do not force the molding to fit the wall perfectly; the walls are never completely straight and trying to shape it to the wall will only highlight the irregularities. Rather, it is best to use putty to fill in cracks caused by imperfect edges or walls.
