Were you aware that it’s feasible to affix crown molding to a popcorn ceiling? While the popcorn surface may add some complexity, it remains a viable option if done correctly. Essentially, it becomes a bit difficult to achieve a flush mount with the crown molding against this type of coarse-textured ceiling, but it is certainly not unachievable.
You have to remove the popcorn texture where you intend to install the crown molding as a first step. With that, the crown molding will look beautiful and adequately finished. In the future, when you decide to remove popcorn ceiling in its entirety, the crown molding will remain as beautiful as it was in the beginning.
But how do you install crown molding on a popcorn ceiling? This article provides a step-by-step procedure to help you complete the installation quickly and stress-free. The following are the things you should do to install crown molding on popcorn ceilings:
Step 1: Remove Popcorn Ceiling Texture
As a first step, you should remove the popcorn finish. Start by covering the floor, furniture, and walls with plastic drop cloths. Then, use masking take to seal the seams.
Removing even the most minor portion of popcorn texture can result in lots of dust settling all over the room. Getting rid of the dust can present a considerable problem.
Measure the crown moulding’s width. For example, if it’s one-and-a-half inches wide, plan to remove one-and-a-half inches of popcorn ceiling texture in all the places you intend to install crown molding. Then, use the tip of a putty knife to scrape across the surface to remove the popcorn ceiling texture.
Remove popcorn texture from only the area where you will install crown moulding. You can remove the whole popcorn texture if you plan to retexture the entire ceiling surface.
Your tool should have the same width as the crown molding. For example, if your crown molding is one and a half inches wide, your patty knife should also be one and a half inches wide.
Step 2: Cut the Molding
Check that you have the right tools before settings up the work area. Apart from a coping saw, you need a tape measure to ensure you cut the materials to the correct dimensions. This step involves cutting highly long lengths and requires plenty of space.
Before you start cutting, measure the room once more to ascertain the measurements you got when you did it the first time. Then, cut corners to 45 degrees using a miter saw to ensure that all corners butt up perfectly.
Even though power tools can help, the popular method is to cut using a miter saw. Prime and paint the crown moulding beforehand to make your work easier.
Step 3: Install Crown Molding
Remember you had to scrape away the popcorn ceiling. If you did an excellent job, you stick moulding up using glue. With that, you’ll have easy work devoid of filling any holes. However, it would help if you dried fit all boards to ensure that all angles mount perfectly.
Alternatively, you can apply a bead of caulk to the crown molding edges. Due to its solid adhesive characteristics, caulk can secure the crown moulding to the wall without nails. After installing the crown molding, you don’t have to worry about filling and painting over small nail holes.
After applying caulk, press the moulding against the wall to secure it. Wipe excess caulk using a damp cloth. Hide imperfections between the ceiling and the molding using some more caulk. Ideally, it would help to use the painter’s caulk before applying paint to the surface.
Step 4: Cover with Drywall for The Final Finish
Screw in the drywall beginning at the corners. Ensure that the sheets run across the ceiling instead of the joists. You can use fewer sheets and reduce the number of seams you need to tape.
Using a drill, drive the screws stopping as soon as they break into the drywall fiber. Make sure the screw heads get indented into the drywall board.
Apply drywall mud over the seams pushing it into the cracks. Please wait for the drywall mud to dry and run sandpaper over it. Make sure you do not puncture the drywall. Now you can prime and paint in your favorite color.
Installing Crown Molding on Non-Popcorn Ceilings
It is also possible to give non-popcorn ceilings a texture and install crown molding. That would mean painting the ceiling afresh and texturing it before installing crown moulding. Here are simple steps you can take to achieve that.
Step 1: Prepare the Ceiling and Room
Like most homeowners, your ceiling might not have the popcorn texture. In that case, you should start by changing the ceiling texture. But, first, it would help if you moved all the furniture from the area you intend to work.
Alternatively, you can cover the furniture with a plastic drop cloth. Also, remember to cover all the walls with plastic to prevent the mud spray from messing up the wall paint.
Get double-stick tape from the hardware and stick it along the walls closer to the seam. Once you finish, attach the painter’s plastic or plastic drop cloth to the double-stick tape on all the walls connected to the ceiling. Use all-purpose canvas flooring to protect the floor from paint drops from the top.
Step 2: Remove Dust and Cobwebs from the Ceiling
Before working on the ceiling, get rid of all the dust and cobwebs and seal visible cracks and holes with caulking. Next, you must apply a sealer. If your had painted the ceiling, skip this step.
Sealant is essential in preparing the surface for eventual painting. It makes it possible for the paint to stick to the ceiling. Depending on your time, you may use a spray-on or roll-on sealant.
Applying a spray-on sealant is quicker. Remember to use goggles, gloves, a respirator, and other appropriate equipment.
Step 3: Apply the Popcorn Ceiling
Before applying the sealant to the ceiling, prepare the ceiling mud for texturing the ceiling. The mud should be of a thick consistency to prevent it from shooting out of the hopper texture gun. That’s the gun for applying the popcorn texture.
Put some in the hopper once you have a ceiling mud of the right consistency. Connect the hopper gun to an air compressor and apply the texture. After texturing the surface, give it at least 24 hours to dry.
Step 4: Prepare Crown Molding for Installation
Getting more pieces than necessary is essential whether or not you have installed crown molding before. You can quickly replace the molding pieces if you fail to cut them correctly. Also, it would help if you painted the crown molding beforehand.
Locate the studs in the room since you’ll need them to secure the crown molding. Using a tape measure, take measurements of the wall where you intend the bottom of the crown molding to go.
Step 5: Cut and Install Crown Molding
Next, you must cut the crown molding using a miter saw. However, before that, wear safety goggles to prevent injury to the eyes by flying wood pieces.
Ensure the crown molding is exactly how you would want it to look after installing the popcorn ceiling and wall. After flipping the crown molding, cut it upside down.
Make the side-to-corner cuts to be at an angle of 45 degrees. Make the bottom edge longer for the inside corner and shorter from the top. The bottom edges can be shorter for the outside corners and the top edges longer.
For the piece that forms the scarf joint, there’s no need to turn it upside down to cut it. Instead, you can lay the boards flat to each other. Besides, these boards can fit perfectly on the wall.
Hide imperfections by filling the scarf joints and inside corner cuts with a bead of caulk. The cutting must be perfect with the outside corner cuts, leaving no room for errors.
Apply glue to the ends to install crown molding. You can also use small nails to hold them firmly on the studs. Hide imperfections by applying paintable caulk. With that, you can have a seamless finish.
Sources:
https://homesteady.com/way-6079887-tips-crown-molding-popcorn-ceilings.html
https://www.doityourself.com/stry/how-to-install-crown-molding-with-a-popcorn-ceiling
https://homeguides.sfgate.com/install-crown-molding-textured-wall-ceiling-32149.html
https://www.finehomebuilding.com/forum/crown-molding-on-popcorn-ceiling
https://twomakeahome.com/crown-molding-and-popcorn-ceilings-keys-to-a-successful-project/