So let me guess. He went out and bought some crown molding at his local hardware store and doesn’t know how to cut corners. I am right?

The last time I bought crown molding I paid about 10.00 per foot. It wasn’t cheap! So every mistake you make on the miter is going to cost you at least 10 bucks.

First, I want to briefly go over the 5 most common mistakes when installing crown molding.

1. Mitering the corners at a 45 degree angle and assuming it will fit.
has. The crown molding is not ugly and flat against the wall. It is actually at an angle when installed. Because of this, it will not line up at a 45 degree angle.

2. Assuming only one angle is needed on each miter cut.
has. Not only do you need to change the horizontal angle of the blade, but you will also need to change the vertical angle. Depending on the type of saw you have will determine whether or not you can do this. Most compound miter saws now have this capability, however if you have an older saw it may not have this feature.

3. Using a hammer.
has. I know this seems a bit strange, so let me explain. I am writing this article for the beginner woodworker. So I’m also assuming you don’t have TONS of experience in this type of work. As we discussed earlier, crown molding is very expensive. It’s also not the most durable wood. It is very thin and flimsy. Using a hammer without much experience will create holes in the trim. These cannot be fixed. That’s right, you’ll have to buy another piece of wood.

4. Know where to put the nails in the wood.
has. There are only a few places to nail that won’t crack the trim. What you need to keep in mind is that this plate is at an angle. If you shoot a nail in the middle of the board, you will break it if you don’t break it. The best places to place the nails are the top and bottom.