Initially, crown molding was only used to conceal construction imperfections such as cracks. However, over time, it has evolved into a structural and decorative trim finish.
Today, crown molding adds value to a home by upgrading bland houses to delightful ones. Since installing crown molding can be a hard and time-consuming project, many questions abound.
Read on to find actionable answers to these queries.
Where Can You Buy Crown Molding?
You can buy crown molding in your local homebuilding store, construction supplies depot, or a reliable building and online construction supplies shop. You can purchase some of the best genuine natural wood crown moldings along with several other synthetic crown moldings and other supplies from Amazon.
Standard crown molding is available in a variety of materials and designs, and requires some degree of house remodeling expertise to cut and install properly. That’s why you should consider these factors to show you the best place to buy your crown molding:
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Crown molding material
Crown molding comes in many different materials, each containing a specific set of qualities. Originally, crown molding was formed only from wood. Today, you’ll find crown molding in diverse synthetic materials including metal, plaster, PVC, MDF, and foam.
While some crown molding suppliers specialize in a particular material, others such as Amazon deal in crown moldings of all materials, along with other crown molding supplies.
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Design or style of crown molding profile
Crown moldings are designed with different profiles. The type of profile you choose determines where you’ll buy the crown molding. Some manufacturers specialize in simple and small crown molding profiles and are easy to find locally.
Larger and more intricate crown molding profiles are hard to find, especially those made of plaster. The best place to buy these is from a reliable supplier who will ship the crown molding to your place.
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Type of crown molding
There are various types of crown molding and the specific type you choose can have a bearing on where you’ll buy it. These are the commonest types of crown molding:
- Hollow crown molding
- One-piece crown molding
- Two-piece crown molding
- Two-piece traditional crown molding
- Three-piece crown molding
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Location
The location of your house can determine where you buy your crown molding. You may want to buy it from a local manufacturer or supplier to ease transport costs. However, a decent number of manufacturers offer free shipping to their clients. Different locales also have differing costs of crown moldings, and this also impacts where you buy yours.
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Cost of purchase and installation
Different crown molding manufacturers and suppliers will charge you different figures for their products. This will determine where you buy the commodity.
What is the Average Cost of Crown Molding?
The average cost of crown molding varies greatly depending on a variety of factors. The crown molding materials are fairly affordable, but the cost of installation can spike up where a lot of work is involved. Usually, the costs include:
- Purchasing the crown molding materials
- Setup
- Painting
- Finishing
- Cleanup
On average, you can expect to spend between $7 and $16 per linear foot to buy and install crown molding. This translates to approximately $464 to $1,102 for a 15’ x 14’ living room and an average of $210 to $570 for a 10×10 kitchen. On the big picture, this means the average cost of installing crown molding in an entire house averages between $674 and $4,000 for a standard house depending on the size of the house.
Here’s a highlight and comparison of the average cost of buying different crown molding materials:
| Crown Molding Material | Average Cost Per Linear Foot |
| Foam/Polystyrene | $1-$2 |
| PVC/Vinyl | $1-$3 |
| MDF | $1-$3 |
| Wood | $1-$6 |
| Polyurethane | $2-$6 |
| Plaster | $6-$15 |
| Exotic Wood | $10-$45 |
| Metal | $20-$30 |
To find the total linear feet of the crown molding you’ll need, simply add up the length of the four walls.
Apart from the crown molding material, the average cost of crown molding also depends on the type of crown molding profile you choose as illustrated:
| Crown Molding Profile | Average Cost Per Linear Foot |
| Bead and Curve | $1.50 to $5 |
| Rope deign | $3 to $10 |
| Dentil design | $4 to $10 |
| Double Bead profile | $5 to $9 |
| Leaf profile | $6 to $12 |
| Stair Steps profile | $7 to $11 |
| Egg and Dart design | $8 to $30 |
| Garland profile | $13 to $16 |
| Ornamental Ovolo design | $16 to $25 |
The average cost of the crown molding can also be influenced by these other factors:
- The type of crown molding you choose. Each type has a separate price point as shown:
| Type of Crown Molding | Average Cost per Linear Foot |
| Hollow Crown Molding | Between $3 and $7 |
| One-Piece Crown Molding | Between $4 and $8 |
| Two-Piece Crown Molding | Between $5 and $10 |
| Three-Piece Crown Molding | $8 to $15 |
- Some crown moldings, particularly wood, require professional installation. This means you may have to pay a reliable carpenter to handle the project, and this will impact the end cost
- Most solid and exotic wood crown moldings require priming, staining, or painting before installation
- Balance between cost and quality. Although some crown molding materials are cheaper than others, they might require more careful installation and maintenance.
As for the cost of labor when installing crown molding, the final average figure depends on the nature of the crown molding materials and the size of your house. You can expect to spend between $6 and $12 per linear foot on a professional worker.
What is the Cheapest Crown Molding?
Wood forms the best crown moldings in terms of quality and polished appearance. How much money have you dedicated to the crown molding project? Running wooden crown molding around an entire house can be very high.
In place of wood, you can opt for polystyrene/foam crown molding to spruce your home with style and class. This alternative is very affordable- you can get it for as little as $1 per linear foot. Moreover, it’s pliable and really easy to install.
What is the Easiest Crown Molding to Install?
Of all the types of crown molding, polyurethane (Styrofoam) and polystyrene (foam) are the easiest to install. Polyurethane crown molding is lightweight and pliable. You can prime, shape, mold, cut, and paint it. Even better, you can use it on damp surfaces and outdoor spaces.
Some manufactures also produce polyurethane crown molding that you can install simply by gluing. Although it’s easy to work with and is very affordable, Styrofoam crown molding is also not environmentally friendly. Besides, it’s easy to distinguish polyurethane crown molding from real wood crown molding up close.
What Can You Use Instead of Crown Molding?
Crown molding is an indispensable element of a house’s basic interior décor. It not only conceals ugly gaps and blemishes with style and magnificence but also enlivens and crown molding adds value to a house.
The biggest challenge of crown molding is that installing and maintaining it can take a huge chunk off your bankroll. It can also take up a lot of your time and effort.
Fortunately, there are a few alternatives to crown molding that you can use to spice up your house’s appearance and value. Better still, these alternatives are remarkably versatile. So, you can use them on other surfaces such as baseboards, casings, and furniture railings.
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Picture Molding
Picture molding is a great alternative for crown molding to homeowners running on a budget. It’s not only way cheaper than crown molding but is also lightweight and very easy to install. Moreover, you can attach it using a hot glue gun in place of nails.
You can make endless modifications on picture moldings for a custom look and feel. This makes them prefect for interior house improvement on a tight budget. Remember to paint the picture moldings before installation. This helps you to avoid masking off the wall and ceiling edges while painting on the wall.
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Caulk and Paint
In place of crown molding, you can caulk the junction between your ceiling and walls smoothly, and then paint it over. Unlike crown molding, paint is very affordable.
This method also gives you the freedom to choose between bold and thin accent strips at the wall and ceiling edges. It’s advisable to use colors that complement the room’s finish for a consistent and beautiful look.
Caulking and painting also allows you to make easy corrections in case you make a mistake. Crown molding takes time, effort, and sometimes needs professional expertise to install correctly. Conversely, caulking and painting over the wall-ceiling border is a walk in the park.
Caulk and paint are a lot cheaper than crown moldings. So, you can upgrade or change the color schemes any time you choose without offsetting your budget.
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Peel & Stick strips
Peel & Stick strips are as convenient as they sound. They consist of thin plastic cast on the front surface and adhesive material at the back. They’re available in short lengths that are light and easy to work with without help.
Using a peel & stick strip is a piece of cake. You only need to cut it to measure, peel off the back layer to expose the adhesive surface, and then stick the strip onto the wall-ceiling border.
Besides being extremely easy to install, Peel & Stick strips are affordable and fast to work with. You don’t even need special equipment to cut the strips to your preferred size. Just use a pair of scissors.
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Wallpaper Borders
Using wallpaper borders is one of the most effective and hassle-free ways to enhance the beauty of your house’s interior. They tie together a room’s theme and give it a genuine, upscale appearance and feel. What’s more, they’re both less costly and easier to work with than crown molding.
You can use wallpaper borders on painted walls or those that already have wallpapers installed without breaking the cohesive look. Since the material is exceptionally light, you can install it quickly on your own.
Final Thoughts
When upgrading the appearance and feel of your house’s interior, one of the most pressing questions is where you can buy crown molding. You may hesitate because of how much money the project can take, but the end result will justify the expenditure.
Regardless of your budget, there’s a suitable material and style of crown molding for your house. Hop into your local homebuilding and construction store or consult a trustworthy interior décor expert to learn the best place to buy your crown molding.