How to Attach Crown Molding to Kitchen Cabinets
- 1). Measure the distance between the top of the cabinets and the ceiling of the kitchen to determine the size of crown molding you'll need. Place a tape measure against the ceiling and measure down to 1/2 inch above the upper cabinet doors. This is the vertical distance that the crown molding needs to cover when it is installed.
- 2). Mark the upper cabinet with a pencil 1/2 inch above the cabinet doors. This is where the bottom of the crown molding will be located. Use a pencil and a 4-foot carpenter's level to make a straight and level line to set the crown molding to when you nail it into place.
- 3). Measure the length of the crown molding for the first piece of crown. Write this down on a piece of paper. This will be the inside dimension of the crown molding.
- 4). Measure the angle of the corner where the crown molding will change direction. Use a digital protractor for this step. The protractor will give you the angle of the corner you are working on. The angle to cut the crown molding will be 1/2 of the total angle on the digital protractor.
- 5). Place the crown on the miter saw upside down, as it would be on the wall. Use miter saw stops to hold the crown in place as you make your cut. Adjust the saw to the correct angle for the cut and lock it in position. Cut the crown molding slowly to help keep the wood crown molding from splintering.
- 6). Nail the crown molding to the top of the cabinets with a pneumatic nail gun. Repeat Steps 3 through 5 for each section of crown molding. Use a thin layer of glue on all of the miter joints for the crown molding. Wipe off any excess glue that seeps out after the crown molding has been nailed in space.
- 7). Sand the miter joint lightly with 100 grit sand paper by hand. This will clean up the miter joint and remove any glue residue.
