Can I Put Crown Mouldings on a Cathedral Ceiling?
Cathedral ceilings allow more overhead space in your room because of the arched shaped design. Some homeowners desire these ceilings due to this feature. If you are interested in adding more detail to a cathedral ceiling, you may have considered installing crown mouldings. The process involves a different type of cut, but mouldings can be installed on any ceiling, provided you have the proper materials and tools.
Measuring for a Crown Moulding
To install a crown moulding on a ceiling, you must first measure the ceiling slope. This is true for any installation on any type of ceiling, cathedral or horizontal. To do this, use an angle measure tool. This tool has two rulers connected by a hinge joint, similar to a protractor. Place one end along the wall just below the point where it intersects with the ceiling. Now move the other end until it rests flush with the ceiling. Read the angle measurement inside the dial on the tool's hinge. This is the slope angle of your ceiling. Write this down. Now, check the slope every few feet in the same manner along the intersection of the ceiling and the wall.
Cutting the Mouldings
Now that you know the angle of slope for the ceiling, you can cut the mouldings to fit the ceiling. The bottom edges of the mouldings will be placed flush against the wall and the ceiling, so the angle of the cuts must allow the bottoms to lay flush. In some installations you can get away with a little variation in the angles; however, it is best to cut them as close to flush as possible. Cut the bottom of the moulding pieces to the angle of measure using a miter saw and fit them to the ceiling and wall joint. The fit should be the same as if you were installing them to a horizontal ceiling. Take a few tries to get the angle correct. Then repeat the process for each section.
Corner Joints
Joints are slightly more involved in a cathedral ceiling, but only because you are dealing with non-perpendicular joints. The moulding joints will lie flush; they will simply be cut with sharper angles. Since the moulding pieces are tilted at a steeper angle, you will increase the angle of the joint cuts. One way to do this is to use a miter saw again, and set your cutting blade at a 90-degree, centered angle; however, lay the moulding pieces on a brace, cut at the same slope as the ceiling. In essence, you are cutting the pieces on the same plane as they will lie in the final installation, and ensuring you make the proper cuts.
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