[784caroline]

Beware of Crown Moulding installation problems.

We have recently been in 2 homes that had crown moulding installed and let me tell you it looks a mess. When first installed everything was fine and the job looked great, but with this recent cold spell and now with the heat turned on inside the homes, the wood is starting to shrink and major gaps are showing up. Especially noticeable are places (long runs of moulding) where the contractor spliced the moulding together, or at corners and angle cuts, and its even separating from the ceiling where caulk should have hidden this problem. When these homeowners called the contractor they said it was not their fault for wood will normally shrink during the winter when heat is turned on in the hosue and that it "should" return to normal when more moisure enters the home (summer).

Fortuantely the crown moulding in our house is not showing the same problems but then again it was installed by someone else. All long runs of moulding are one piece, with the exception of one that is more than 30 feet long. Contractors will try and cut corners by piecing moulding together to save on their cost of moulding and it facilitates installation but in weather like we just experienced the short-cuts to save a buck will definitely show up....and its a mess.

Anybody else see this problem first hand?

[ijusluvit]

Haven't seen the problem here, but IMHO that excuse about expansion/contraction is a crock. Decent moulding is essentially impervious to temp and humidity changes.

[784caroline]

Hey I agree with you. Again it has not happened to us but I have seen some shoddy installation jobs in houses that I have visited. either these contractors are buying inferior grade moulding (not dryed properly) or just not securing them properly to the walls and corners. It was also obvious that they were saving some money by using smaller pieces to work with thus creating more cuts in the long moulding runs. Its also an indication that the cheapest price job may not always be the best in the long run. It pays to know the reputation of your contractor.

[faithfulfrank]

Cutting your splices about 30 degrees and coping your inside corner joints minimizes any problems. Outside corners should always be glued and nailed.

Coping a joint is an art that is more labor intensive but looks great, especially if the inside corner is not exactly 90 degrees. Sadly, it is not done much....I cope all my inside corner joints. Folks usually can't tell, but I know.

Frank

[Donna2]

I heard that moulding that is made from MDF or plastic would not shrink or expand like wood moulding. It could also be the house, itself, expanding?

[784caroline]

Most, if not all, of the Crown moulding that I have seen inside village homes is Wood. Outside the house at the entry way is 12-15inch foam/stucco crown moulding.

[rhall1644]

We have, but our contactor (Creative Finish Carpentry of Florida) that installed it, has been there each and every time to make the necessary repairs. I would highly recommend them.

[mulligan]

Wood, by its nature, will expand and contract with changes in humidity, regardless of how it is dried initially. The effects of these changes can be minimized, with back-priming, a coat of good paint, and sealing the ends of all pieces at joints. IMHO