Crown Molding Material Types

Solid Wood Crown Molding

Solid wood crown molding stock is the post popular crown molding type installed. Wood crown molding is available in many types of wood, including hardwoods such as mahogany and oak. There is also a plethora of stock options to choose from which helps to keep crown molding costs affordable.

In many cases, the various wood crown molding stock options can be integrated together to develop very sophisticated and elegant crown molding patterns.

Solid wood crown molding installation can be tricky, particularly due to the fact that consideration has to be made for shrinking and swelling due to temperature and humidity changes. The shrinking and swelling can lead to separated, cracking, or split joints.

Medium Density Fiberboard (MDF) Crown Molding MDF crown molding is fabricated using a combination of sawdust and resins and is ideal for rooms where the trim is painted. Though MDF is ideal for painting, there is some MDF stock available that has a wood veneer finish and can be stained. MDF is less susceptible to shrinking and expansion, and is less expensive than traditional wood crown molding. It is also available in a wide variety of stock profiles.

Plaster Crown Molding

Plaster crown molding is the ultimate in elegance, and as a result so is the price. It is typically used on plastered walls. The reason plaster crown molding is so pricey is that it is not available in stock form. Instead it is custom made per specific customer requirements. Due to the fact that it is custom made, very unique and intricate profiles can be fabricated, but again, at a steep price. It is also difficult to install as it susceptible to cracking and requires back buttering with plaster. One advantage of plaster crown molding is that it doesn’t shrink, expand or warp and thus joints stay tight regardless of room temperature and humidity.

Polystyrene Crown Molding Polystyrene crown molding is effectively inexpensive plastic crown molding that looks as if it was extruded on the same production line as a Styrofoam cup. Its mottled texture is obvious upon close inspection and it needs to be painted. The novice do it yourself person can fasten it to walls using a miter saw and some construction adhesive. Once the adhesive has been applied to the back of it, it can be pressed into place and held by masking tape until the adhesive dries. After the adhesive has dried, the masking tape can be removed. To complete this low-budget crown molding project, just caulk the joints, lightly sand them, and then apply paint.

PVC Crown Molding

PVC crown molding is ideal for humid or moist rooms, such as a bathroom or finished basement area. Due to the fact that is fabricated using polymers (e.g. plastic), it is impervious to moisture, rot or insect damage, and it will not shrink or warp. On the downside, stock profiles are somewhat simple and limited, and it can only be painted.

Polyurethane Crown Molding

Polyurethane crown molding, as it name suggests, is a polymer based crown molding. It is relatively inexpensive, is more stable than wood crown molding, and is easier to install than wood crown molding. It is also available in a large number of stock profiles, and does not crack, split or chip. It is also insect and rot repellant. On the downside, it is only used in painted applications and it can easily dent.

To summarize, there are crown molding types for all different types of budgets, applications and carpentry skill levels. So if you want to convert an otherwise drab room into an elegant space, visit your local home improvement store and find the right crown molding material for your specific needs.