Cutting crown molding can be frustrating and confusing. Inside and outside corners are cut with different settings. Usually the right side of the cut is the left side of the corner. Sometimes you need to flip the crown upside down to cut. Using templates gives you a visual reference for which piece you need to cut and how to cut it. So I’m going to show you how to cut crown molding templates to take the confusion out of cutting crown molding.
Common spring angles
There are several different common crown molding spring angles. Most home improvement stores carry mostly 38 angle molding. So that’s what my template examples are for.
If you’re cutting templates for crown molding with 45 degree spring angles, substitute these angles on your miter saw.
- set miter angle to 35.3
- set bevel angle to 30
Setting up your miter saw to cut templates for 38• spring angles
This method of cutting crown molding can be done with any miter saw.
*These two things are constant:
- Set your miter saw to bevel (tilt) left at 33.9 degrees. (Your saw might say 33.8 — the .1 degree is not enough of a difference to matter.)
- Your crown molding always lays flat on the saw.
*These two things will change depending on the cut you are making.
- Miter will change between right and left (but at the same setting of 31.6 degrees).
- Sometimes the bottom of the molding will rest against the fence. Sometimes it will be the top. (The bottom of the molding has the decorative profile.)
Inside Corners vs Outside Corners
It is easy to get confused about what you need to cut:
- Inside left
- inside right
- outside right
- outside left
You can think about it logically: Inside corners are 90 degrees. Outside corners are 270. Inside corners turn IN on each other. Outside corners turn OUT away from each other. That information is about as useful as word salad to a visual person like me without visual aids.
A set of crown molding templates give you a visual guide which you can cary around and use to figure out every single corner you have to cut! You hold your templates up in the corner you’re working in, and figure out if you’re an doing inside or outside corner. Easy peasy!
I’ve been doing this for a good long while and I still get confused EVERY TIME. My brain is very visual. It doesn’t translate, “left outside corner” into any kind of usable information. I HAVE to look at my visual guide – EVERY SINGLE TIME. I tell you this so no one out there feels inadequate or not smart because they find this confusing. I do too! BUT, you CAN do it…just make the templates and give it a try.
Cut Crown Molding Templates
I’ve included a close up of each crown molding template. Use the crown molding you plan on installing in your home to create your templates because they not only make determining your cuts easier, they also come in handy when you are installing your crown.
Remember that your saw is set to bevel left at 33.9 degrees and the molding lays flat — for all these cuts.
*The “bevel” is the vertical tilt.
Cut each template about 12″ long according to the instructions below each picture and then write the instructions directly onto each template. In SHARPIE!
Outside Right
Outside Left
Inside Right
Inside Left
Now you should have four of your very own crown molding templates that are going to make your job so much easier!
In all seriousness, learning how to cut crown molding is still tricky because you are usually working with very LONG pieces, climbing ladders, climbing ladders with very long pieces, working with another person who may not like climbing ladders…or worse yet, trying to install crown ALL BY YOURSELF which I think is plumb crazy–but it is doable.
So no, these instructions won’t suddenly make you a professional crown molding installer. But, crown molding templates that make installation easier should at least clear up any confusion about what cut needs to be made where!
*Also, if you corners are out of square, you’ll either have to make micro adjustments to your saw settings to get a perfect corner joint. OR, you can use a little trick of mine to fix gaps in crown molding with spackle!
You might also like: How to Cut and Install Crown Moulding like a Pro, and Crown Moulding Stop and Cutting Guide, and How to Install Crown Molding on Cabinets
And these handy crown molding hangers make installing tons easier!
Anne@DesignDreams says
Thank you for this! I’m still trying to master using my mitre saw – never know which way to set the blade so I fudge it. Now I know!!
Sandra says
Glad I could help but there’s noting wrong with fudging things, I do that a lot too. 😉
Noelle says
Wow! THANK U! This is super helpful to me.
Janis says
Excellent!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I really needed this.
Kari says
I know you posted this awhile ago but I am new to the world of crown molding and was looking for something exactly like this. I actually spent like two hours making my own templates today and these are soooooooo helpful. The first one I made, I stared at it for like 30 minutes thinking THIS CAN’T BE RIGHT but lol it was. Having these as a reference was a real game changer. Thanks for posting such clear instructions.
Diana W. says
OMG!!!! Thank you, thank you, thank you! I read about templates in other wood blogs, but they never included saw settings and I always came away feeling vaguely stupid, not just ignorant. (Two very different things to me.) I really appreciate this and will put it to good use when we finally reno our ceilings. We’ll be putting up bead board, crown molding and picture molding. Should prove interesting….. to say the least! Thanks again!
Sandra says
We all think about and understand things differently. My brain sometimes has to go on a long journey to get to the same conclusion that someone else might get to in a split second. It doesn’t mean anything more than I need a different explanation or approach. That is why I try to give detailed tutorials for those that have very creative brains like me. We think and understand things much differently than others. (Because we are awesome!)
SO, don’t ever feel even slightly stupid because you don’t understand something, just keep looking for an explanation that speaks to your brain better. 🙂
Debbie says
Thank you for your response. It’s nice to know I’m not alone! And it’s a nice reminder not to be so hard on myself and to not give up before the miracle happens.
Robyn @ Everydayday a la Mode says
I should complain about the splinters on my lips! 😉 I just made the templates. Sandra, your post was AWESOME! It was so easy to follow! I’m installing crown in my bathroom. I have never done crown before. The timing of your post was perfect! Templates are done. Now, on to the project!
It was also great to meet you at Haven!
Robyn @ Everydayday a la Mode says
Doh! My comment should say from Robyn @ Everyday a la Mode. I blame it on kissing the templates too much. 🙂
Sandra says
Well I knew it was you because it says so in the author field. LOL Mwah! Go refresh your lipstick now. 🙂
Drema says
I always have issues with upper and crown Moulding., wrong every time. Either my measurement is wrong or the actual cut doesn’t match the next piece., I only have a regular mitre saw.,
I have been told so many things like you have to flip it upside down., etc., stand it up don’t lay down. It’s truly hard to practice on this expensive stuff.,
I kinda understand your directions but not totally so I’m bring a dumb blonde.,
I’ve always used 45 degree cuts so is that my problem but I don’t know how to get the angle you’re referring to.. could you elaborate or send me info to my email dd.bryant@hotmail. Com or do a slow video? That’s be great thx., Drema DYI
Sandra says
Sorry this didn’t make sense to you. Unfortunately I cannot create a video tutorial at this time. Sometime when I’m doing crown moulding again, I’ll try to do a video.
Feral Turtle says
Awesome tutorial. I don’t have a compound miter saw yet, but as soon as I add one to my “tools instead of jewels” gift hint list, I’ll be back! Cheers
Wendy says
Thank you so much! You are a total ROCK STAR!!! I can’t wait to put this to use!
Sandra says
Rock star status achieved! I can retire now. LOL
Serena @ Thrift Diving says
Hey, Sandra! Okay, seriously, this post ROCKS. I’ve still got my templates you gave me at Haven, and I am ready to use them–just gotta get the miter saw first 😉 It’s in the works! I think I’ll end up having my own house in crown molding! LOL. Excellent instructions. I”ll be bookmarking that when I am ready to get started. Hope you’re doing well, girl!
Serena
Thrift Diving
Judy D says
Sandra, thanks so much. I have so many molding projects dancing around in my head. I got as far as buying some tools then went for the miter saw. Got it home and panic set in….I never took the saw out of the box. This tutorial is just what I needed.
Fatguy says
This is the ONLY tutorial that made sense. Others use miter saw to saw them awkwardly and wrong, then use coping saw to fit them. That’s dumb and nuts!
And I won’t kid you – I’m a middle aged, chubby dude from Finland. When Sawdustgirl-site caught my eye on Google results, I just continued to check the other sites and videos. Dumb me. I was sure that somebody has these instructions, and then (even then by accident!) I checked this site.
Thank you, sawdustgirl, and sorry for every girl and woman for my prejudice. I’m working on it.
Sandra says
Well, glad you were able to find a tutorial that made sense to you. Even if it DID come from a lady! Haha. Also, good for you for working on changing your inner brain. 😉
BobL says
You still need a coping saw.
Sandra says
The point of this method is to create compound mitered joints. Using a coping saw to remove the profile off one side of the joint so it fits over the other piece of moulding is a whole different method.
Tina says
Thanks so much. This was so helpful I want to dance and sing. You’re right, it won’t make me an expert but man, it will sure make me better than I was. I am getting excited just thinking about how much molding I won’t ruin now that I have this! Thanks again.
Joe says
Sandra, This is awesome !!!!!!!!!!!! Thank You!!!!!!!!!!!!
Lindsay says
Thank you!! This is exactly what I need right now! I was planning to try this on my own today because I don’t have the patience to wait til my husband gets home tonight. Maybe I should rethink and wait for the help ha :). This tutorial will be sooo helpful!
Lindsay
Wendell Wight says
Just for you Sweetie. Just in case……
Rachel says
Yay! I needed this. I feel silly for not thinking to make templates before. Every time I tackle crown in a room, I inevitably cut a piece wrong and then end up either wasting sections or piecing 2 smaller sections for one wall 🙁 thank you for the wonderful idea and tutorial!
Connie says
thank you so much. I’ve been procratinating tackling this very project because I get so confused just trying to figure it out before I cut anything!! So much help. Now I can have a little more confidence and a starting point at least.
Stacy@ The Serene Swede says
Perfect timing for me to run across your tutorial on Pinterest! We are finishing up our basement remodel and plan on putting in some crown molding! Thanks for the helpful hints!
Jody says
AWESOME!!!! I have ALWAYS wanted to do this in my living room/hallway and entry but have been afraid to try it on my own. This is perfectly clear and thank you so much for the easy to understand photos!! Off the the home improvement store for molding!!!!!
Marie@InteriorFrugalista says
This is an awesomely helpful and pinable tutorial – thank you so much for posting it!
Robin says
Thank you SO much, this is fabulous. I have always struggled with crown. Question for you…I am reusing old molding and a little nervous that it may not be 38. What are the miter degrees for 45 and 52? Thanks again for supporting the girls who love to remodel.
Jennifer K says
I’m looking thru the comments for this exact question & answer!
Bobbie Morin says
Great tutorial. Thanks for such great pictures and complete information. Really helped me when I needed to add crown moulding to my DIY fireplace surround.
Danny says
Try coping one of the inside pieces with a coping saw to avoid imperfection. Especially when using stained crown mould.
Kellie (The Pauper's Castle) says
OMG! I CANNOT wait to share this with my husband! We wasted a WHOLE, did I say WHOLE 8 ft section of crown molding several…OK….8 years ago trying to figure out the settings for the miter saw. We had books and the whole shebang. We gave up. I am ready to try it again. THANK YOU from the bottom of my heart! PS-I’ll let you know if it works 🙂
Sandra says
please do. I SO hope it helps you out! 🙂
Craig says
Great tips!!! Made up these templates for doing some crown work on kitchen cabinets and so far install has been flawless! Thanks for the write up,
U saved me a lot of time today!!
Gentry says
I’m working on a built in book shelf for my office. I have some crown molding to top it off with. You just saved me a huge brain ache. Thank you. I have a crown molding jig but its tough to figure out.
Cindy says
I have corner cabinets and my husband can’t get the angle right any tips for this ? I hope so ; ~ }
Tina Barta says
HOLY MOLY is this what I needed! I have gone through…..so many, boards of crown moulding because I kept on messing up the angles. This totally simplified my thought process. Thank you so much for this step by step template tutorial. So easy to follow too! THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU!!!!
Erin says
Wow, this tutorial is amazing!!! Thank you so much. You just saved my husband and I hours of headaches at the end of our kitchen remodel. Did I say thank you yet!!!??
Larry Riegel says
Doing a room with all inside corners. Measured the angles and they are all 46-92 degrees. What if any adjustment do I make on my saw for this? Thank you!
Larry
Sandra says
Sorry Larry, This tutorial only includes the information that it includes — settings for 90˚ angles. You can google “Crown moulding angles” to find a chart that will have ALL the different angles and settings.
m @ random musings says
thank you so much, Sandra!! I just put up crown molding in our dining room (first time working with crown) and this made life a breeze! Not one wrong cut. you are awesome
Sandra says
So glad it was helpful!
Kaley says
Wow I used this for a project and it worked perfectly. Not one wasted cut. Thank you very much. If you ever travel to vermont ( haha) I will owe you a steak dinner. Thanks again,kaley
Sharon loney says
Hi, thanks so much for the great instructions to create templates. I’m getting ready to attempt crown molding in our home. Any suggestions for bull cornered walls? Do you have templates for those? Thanks!!
Steve says
Had a VERY hard time tying to figure out how to cut A corner on our home re-model……Finally came across your page . All I can say is I LOVE YOU SANDRA !!!! (LOL) This template idea made things soooooo easy THANK YOU !!!
Amanda says
These were excellent instructions! worked perfectly, thank you thank you!
B-dawg says
Oh man….read all those woodworking books and mags and those guys never make it easy. Sorta’ like engineers that make really easy stuff impossible! I especially liked your “visual” explanation. When you’re 12′ up on scaffold and half to climb back down to make your cut and then someone asks you something…geeze…back up you go. I’ve been using patterns for years when I’m up in the air. Can’t forget with pattern in hand! I too am a “visual” person. A pic is worth a ga-zillion words for me! Great article and you MAKE IT ALL SIMPLE!!!
Sam Hart says
Every time I cut mitres for crown I always end up looking on the internet for “how too’s” SOOO glad I found your site, first time I ever saw mentioned and explanation of 38, 52 and 45 degree crown, WOW what a difference, will bookmark your site and look forward to more..
Scott roop says
I like your post to a point. I have done trim work my whole life. Never 45 inside corners, always cope them. Compound mitre saws are great for the jobs they were meant for. Cut all crown upside down and backwards with the saw set at 90 degrees. Swing from left to right to make the cut. Make it simple on yourself and every one that follows you. Try it, you’ll really like it
Stella says
Your way does not work for me! I need a visual guide
Sandra says
Everything doesn’t work for everyone.
Melanie Austin says
Thank you so much for the crown molding pattern idea. It helped so much!
Sandra says
Glad it helped. Visual templates just make it easier for my brain to connect the dots.
[email protected] says
That is absolutely the most difficult way to do it and it’s not 100% foolproof because manufacturers are not standardized like they should be abd the angles on the back of the crown are not always the same so it changes the inside and outside angles change. the best way to do it is to turn the crown upside down and cut it backwards on the angle that it would be on the wall so easy even a child could do it.
Sandra says
The problem with that is a lot of people have miter saws that only bevel in one direction and that have a short fence so you can’t cut tall crown, even on the angle. This method is one that works with any saw.
Penny cathey says
You have saved me!! After reading countless instructions, watching instructional videos, and going through too much wasted molding I still don’t understand all these concepts. (My fence wasn’t tall enough to prop the molding up & I didn’t want to spend $100 on crown stops for my new saw.). With these templates I don’t have to! I only have to follow my new (perfectly cut) templates. Thank you for breaking this down for us amateurs!
Libby says
YOU SPEAK MY LANGUAGE!!!! My husband and I bought a 1960’s Tri/Split-Level home last year that was in desperate need of some renovations. We contracted out some of the work, but did a lot of it ourselves. You don’t realize how much trim is in a 3500 sq/ft home until you take it ALL down paint it and then (attempt) to put it back up…?
Several rooms had Crown Moulding; in some rooms it was 3 1/2 inches wide, and in other rooms it was the smaller, 2 in cove type Moulding. We also installed headboard and trim in several rooms. But in doing this I would say to my husband (Who has never done a project like this before) “We need 2 left inside corners and 2 right inside corners.” After about a day of this he said to me, “I have no idea what you are talking about when you say ‘inside corners and outside corners’!??♂️??♂️??♂️ I’m not sure that I was able to clearly explain to him what I meant. We still have trim work that needs to be done this summer; hopefully your article will help me explain what I mean by inside corners and outside corners!
Libby says
*Beadbord, not headboard??♀️
Peter F Brands says
What a huge difference in your in your tutorial vs. the world of other tutorials out there. Bravo! Now I know why I purchased a compound miter saw. It took me two long days of trial and kj;bivucp]-py; to finally try your site out. Your guide made everything work for me. Seeing, hearing, reading . Perfect!!!!
zackmack says
Hi, I am an newbie “do it yourselfer” and use the internet to find how to videos and instructions on projects! OMG…you are the best at explaining crown molding corner cuts. Like everyone else I have made my templates and am in “crown molding” bliss! Thank you for such a simple and basic explanation and for the templates….I can put my Kregg set away for good!
Sandra says
Thanks so much for your note. I love hearing success stories!
Jennifer Gautier says
Thank you!! Your “word salad” made total sense to me, & now I get it! You rock!
Thanks!!
Jenn G ??
ckenna says
I need help! I have cut my pieces using the templates have worked out great, with few adjustments because of uneven walls. However I am having a tough time cutting bull nose corner? I have been using bevel 33.9 and miter 31.6 for other corners, Tried 22 and change for bullnose doesn’t fit please help,
Jeannine says
Saw Dust Girl!!!! I have read and watched dozens of how to blogs and videos about cutting crown Moulding corners. YOU explained it SO clearly. SDG…. you saved my faux BILLY bookcase project!! (And hours of future frustration and much wasted Moulding at $1.45 a sq ft).
Thank you!!!???
John mccallum says
I always have to order 50% more material to do trim. This is the best explanation I’ve seen. So easy now makes perfect sense. Can’t wait for the next opportunity to do trim work . thanks so much.
Sandra says
50% is a lot of extra trim. Glad to help.
chris says
Thanks for the tutorial, great help!
Stella says
I know this is an old thread but I need to know if the molding is face up or face down? White primed side up or unfinished side up? Also, instead of saying top and bottom of the crown… maybe say the ceiling edge or the wall edge? In my mind I can visualize that.
Sandra says
The moulding is always face up. The “bottom” of the crown moulding is the part that sits on the wall. The “top” is against the ceiling. The photos demonstrate each cut.
Amanda Duke says
Do you have any videos that explain working with angled ceilings?
Joe says
when cutting this molding on the flat
What happens when you come up to a 22.5 angle
James says
Great tutorial but do you have any tips on all to measure the trim runs or distance from one inside corner to another inside corner, or an inside corner to an outside corner?
handyhomo says
Awesome tutorial!! I kept the laptop opened and I had to have the visual for each cut I did…but it worked and it was SOOOO much easier!!! I’m pretty handy but never had the courage to try crown molding. Now it’s easy peasy!!
Sandra says
I have to have a visual aid every single time I do crown too. Glad I could help.
Dee says
I just read and understood your explanation about crown molding. I renovated our bathroom and still have the crown to finish. Well, it has been renovated for about a year now, but the crown has given me fits and I just decided it would have to stay this way until I could get my brain wrapped around how it needed to be done. Thank you so much for putting it into clear terms and adding the pictures! My family will be SO surprised when I finally wrap that project up.
Carl Lambeck says
This makes it very easy to accomplish. I’m still having problems joining three cabinets together with crown. The angle where the cabinets meet is 22.5 degrees. What do my sample measurements then become?
Sandra says
I use an angle finding tool that then sits on the miter saw and shows you where to set it.
Kelly Lawson says
Bless you for this!! ?
Mike M says
Genius!! Thanks so much. I’ve been tentative about trying this on some very expensive molding. But now I’m going to buy some cheap “practice” molding and give it a whirl.
Thanks so much…
Linda says
Thank you sooooooo much! I’m working on my first project with crown moulding and was all turned around and upside down! Then I remembered I pinned your templates. Wow, this will save me a lot of cuts and frustration! Very grateful! Thanks again.
Leslie pucheu says
My husband would not listen to me, and this old house had him building fences for saw that didn’t work, I showed him the “girl” explanation and suddenly it became clear to him…and he’s using my compound mitre saw that he broke and taped together with electrical tape! Told him he owes me a new saw.
Sandra says
LOL electrical tape to hold together a miter saw. So funny! Do what works though. Glad my instructions were helpful!
Steve says
Thanks a ton – for the reassurance that we aren’t losing our minds when we can never ever remember this stuff intuitively as well as the great template steps – best website overall on this topic out there!
Ronnie says
On crown molding can you lay it flat no matter the size? Or not? And does it make it harder of the walls aren’t square or plum and the ceiling is not flat.
Sandra says
If you have a really small miter saw, you may not be able to cut super large crown. But your miter saw will be the determining factor in that regard. The answer to the other questions are, “yes”. Corners that are really out of square, wavy walls and ceilings…all that makes it harder. Just takes more szhushing.
Mark says
Grateful to you! Thanks a million.
Victoria Dennis says
Hi
Stumbled onto your crown templates. Thank you so much! I too have watched multiple other videos and didn’t get it. I too have the creative brain and math/numbers confuse me. I have a powder room that is waiting for crown…I’m excited now to try. I have 2 miter saws and more tools that the average guy ( some duplicates because I couldn’t find the first one….lol )but your work shop and table saw and vacuum thing make me drool. I’m technically challenged is there a way to follow you and your video posts? Lol I’m sure I’ll have more questions down the road!
Thanks
Victoria
(Crazy dog lady)
Sandra says
Glad to help. If you sign up for my “newsletter”, I send out an email letting you know when I publish a new post. Subscribe to my Youtube channel for videos too. Thanks!
Nick Thompson says
Will this still work with different angles other than 45?
Sandra says
You have to make adjustments for angles other than 45.
Sarah says
Ok! I have no idea what on earth I’m doing wrong and I’m slightly losing my mind.. I am extremely crafty, handy.. I have hung other kinds of moulding in my house but this is the first time I have tried crown and I have wasted soooo much trying to do this. It is moulding that has a 45 degree spring angle and I set the saw like you said according to left and right sides miter at 35.3( which is just a line on mine) and bevel at 30.. does not match up at all.. what on earth am I doing wrong.. Help, please…..
Sandra says
Hi Sarah, did you check your walls and ceiling angles? If the house is not square itself, creating a molding joint that is square –won’t fit the out of square wall/ceiling. Check wall-to-wall (the corner) and wall to ceiling (on both sides of the corner) to see if things are square? I generally don’t change the settings on the saw, I just use shims to pull down, push up, or pull forward or backwards… on the moulding to create a tight joint. Then caulk the crap out of the wonky wall/ceiling to moulding joint.
Gary D Morrison says
Obviously, walls are frequently too long for a single stick. Do you suggest a butt joint, a simple miter, or a compound miter overlap?
Sandra says
I use a scarf joint (https://sawdustgirl.com/making-invisible-molding-seams-scarf-joint/)
kathy says
GENIUS!!!!
tanya says
Hi Sandra!
Thank you so much for this article, it has helped me wrap my mind around what to do next! I do have a question though, I have a dual bevel compound miter saw – I know your instructions are best for single bevel and I could absolutely do it but I was curious how your instructions would change for a dual bevel?
Thank you!!
Tanya
mars says
I know it’s a super old thread but I’m trying to figure out the trick to cut the exact length you need when the bottom (wall) side of the molding is up against the fence on a single bevel small miter saw. Since you’re measuring from the walls of your house, you need to see where that cut is going to be on the underside of the crown that is up against the fence. What’s the trick there? Just cut long and then make micro adjustments until you’re on your mark?
Sandra says
When you’re cutting in that situation it’s always good to cut long and then sneak up on your mark. (Often a good idea to test fit the “long” cut before trimming it down.)
However, the mark shouldn’t bee on the underside of the moulding. It should be on the top face, at the bottom.
Hamberg says
Any chance there is a printable version of this post?
Sandra says
That is a good idea but I don’t have that option at this time. You could screen shot each photo and then print those out.
Vernon says
Thank you so much. This is perfectly clear and wow you the best.
Stephen Hosmer says
Hi
I have been doing trim for a long time but I to need to refresh myself before I get started.
This is the best description and with pictures too.
Tommy Silva needs to understand that most people need clear visuals.
Thanks again
Steve
Drew says
Thank you!!! Many hours and dollars saved with a few easy to understand visuals, much appreciated!
Tony B says
Struggled for hours on YouTube videos saying to cope this, cope that. Find this site with awesome instructions for templates and really saved me from driving myself crazy that things weren’t fitting for some reason. Thank you. Have templates made and saved for more crown molding projects.
Sandra says
Glad this method was helpful. When I don’t install crown for long periods of time, I have to re-remember all the things and I refer back to this tutorial myself.
M B says
This was so useful! I love my little templates with the instructions on them. Thank you!
Viktoria says
Thanks so much, it made easier for me to complete my project!
Rita R says
I wish I could reach through the phone and hug you! I’ve spent the last two days crying out of frustration and feeling like an idiot, not to mention wasting money and time buying more crown molding because I just could not get it to make sense. I made your templates and just got it right on the first try! THANK YOU!!!!
Sandra says
I’m so glad this method helped you conquer that frustrating project. Every time I install crown, I have to follow my own instructions because it’s not intuitive and I can’t remember how to keep everything straight in my mind – no matter how many times I’ve installed crown. I’m a visual person and I have to hold up the templates and make my brain understand what I’m doing. With each cut.
Crown is just that kind of project for me. I like to remind people as often as possible that even I, after renovating for over 25 years, am still confounded when converting “upside down and backwards” on the ceiling to …”What the heck am I supposed to do at the miter saw?”.
So anyway…kindred minds. Just wanted to give you reassurance that we aren’t idiots, we just have to find the method that works for our creative brains.
Dixie says
OMG, forget kissing the templates, I could kiss you! I have watched video after video, and no one was doing cuts like you, and they did not fit! Finally, I found you, and guess what, the cuts were easier (laying the boards flat) and they fit!!! I’ve only put up 2 boards so far, but I am now so excited to put crown molding in my entire house! This has by far been the hardest DIY for me, but you have made it doable! Thank you for sharing your knowledge!
Forever grateful, Dixie
Sandra says
Yeah! So glad this method is working for you. It is inevitable that you will come to a corner where it won’t be a perfect fit because the wall/wall/ceiling corner of the room is that out of square. I don’t mess with trying to make small adjustments to the cuts, I just use shims behind the crown to keep those pieces tight and caulk the wall and ceiling lines which are always imperfect anyway (because every wall I’ve ever seen is not perfectly straight). But you will figure out how to deal with the small hurdles that you run into as you run into them – in the best way that fits the situation you’re specifically dealing with.
At least having a jumping off point that makes sense and works pretty darn well is a good starting point.
Hope the rest of the project goes well for you!
Ed Rosner says
I have view multiple pages and videos on crown molding and this was the only one I understood and that was truly helpful. Thanks.
Bella says
Hi! You saved me from a complete nervous breakdown! Can’t tell you how many times I messed up left and right side cuts before printing out pics of your instructions and hanging them up on the wall in front of my miter saw. Thanks a million! xoxo
John says
This was by far the best tutorial on how to do crown molding using miter and bevel flat cut method.
The pictures of how to lay the wood down for right and left inside cuts was the thing lacking in a lot of YouTube tutorials.
I used this tutorial plus this calculator, to account for the fact that my corners weren’t near 90 degrees. Came out perfect.
https://www.blocklayer.com/crown-molding
Thank you!
sonia womack says
sorry I will be honest I did not read the entire post. I have seen it years ago and even saved it to my pinterest. But sitting at work I came up to it again and need to know if this works for all crown molding or this style only? I am looking for something that goes with 8 ft ceilings for daughter’s bedroom and I am going for a coastal feel. Thank you.
Sandra says
These instructions work for any crown moulding with 38 degree spring angles. If you buy a moulding with a different spring angle you would use different settings for each template. I have included the substitutions for 45 degree spring angles in this post.
Simon says
I stumbled across this randomly while trying to fudge molding cuts on my miter saw. In all honesty, this is the BEST description and guide I’ve read – no more messing around trying to get the crown to align up against the fence, laying flat with known angles makes this SO SIMPLE — THANK YOU!