Crown Moldings Instructions

Crown Moldings, Cornices, Grider Molding finish the outer perimeter of your tin ceilings.

Instructions.Things You'll Need:

Tape measure
Tin snips
Miter box

1. Lay the section of tin molding on a flat surface and place a tape measure on it to determine the location where it needs to be cut to fit the wall. Crown moldings come to you in 27" lengths. You get (2) pcs of molding for every one purchased. Totalling 54"s. Crown molding will overlap each other when installed. Determine linear feet needed for molding and divide by 4' to take in account the overlap of molding when installed.

2. Draw a line along the tape measure using a pencil to designate the cut line.

3. Pick up a pair of tin snips, which look like bolt cutters. Open the blades and insert the tin molding into the tin snips lining up the pencil line with the blades of the snips.

4. Press the handles of the tin snips together to cut through the tin molding, just as if you were using scissors. Continue the cutting process until you have cut all the way through the tin molding.

5. To cut miter cuts on the tin molding, such as for a corner, place the molding inside a miter box. Draw a line on the tin with the pencil while it is in the miter box to designate the proper 45-degree angle. Remove the tin and cut along the pencil line with the tin snips.

6. Some crown moldings will arrive to you as a flat molding: C103, C104, C105. All other moldings are curved already curved for installation. Crown moldings come this way so you can determine the desire angle of installation, such as a 45 or 30 degree angle. Take the molding and lay it on a flat surface. Bend the bottom nail rail flange at desired angle, then bend the top nail rail flange to desire angle and install. Do not worry about bending painted crown molding. Paint will not crack.

7. Sometimes when installing the crown molding, the edge of the molding will land on the pattern of the installed ceiling tile and not on the nail rail area of the ceiling tile as planned. You can determine this by prefitting and scribing a line on the ceiling where the molding will land on the ceiling and mate on top of the tin ceiling tile. If this occurrs you will need to flatten out the area on the ceiling tile (or cut edge of the tile, about 1/2"), using a piece of wood and hammer so that you create a flat surface for the molding to lay on. This best way to flatten the edged is on the ground before installation of the remaining outside edge ceiling tiles. This will eliminate any gaps under the molding when installed. It will give you an affect that looks like the tile molds itself right into the side of the crown molding.

Protecting Unfinished Material

Any steel material should be coated with an oil-based product for protection and best results.

Painting your Ceiling

If you choose to paint your metal ceiling, be sure you use an oil-based primer and paint as the steel will rust if a water based product is used. Unfinished steel must be cleaned with wax and grease cleaner before painting. Use care not to scratch pre-painted finishes when nailing up ceiling.