Styrofoam Crown Molding for an Easy Way to Add Personality to Your Home
Written by Milan Jara on 12th Oct 2021
Do you like the look of crown molding, but are not a fan of the price and the maintenance? Styrofoam crown molding may be the perfect option for you.
Crown molding provides a beautiful finishing touch to any room. Their architectural shapes can add a lovely decoration to any door or wall panels. Although it can be expensive and difficult to work with, this decor look is desired by many homeowners.
Luckily, there is an easy alternative to traditional crown molding that will help you achieve the same classic look without the inconvenience that wood causes: styrofoam crown molding.
Styrofoam crown molding looks just like the real thing, but without the maintenance, difficult installation, and high price of wood. When applied correctly, you can’t tell the difference between traditional crown molding and styrofoam crown molding.
Keep reading to learn more about styrofoam crown molding and find out how you can install this trim in your home quickly and without spending extra money on tools.
What is crown molding?
Before we dive into the benefits of styrofoam molding, let’s first discuss what exactly crown molding is.
Crown molding pieces are added to the top of the room, usually where the walls and ceiling or cabinets and ceiling meet. It can also be added to a door frame for extra trim and decor.
Crown molding is mainly decorative, which gives you more options when choosing the right style for your space. It’s a great way to add some extra character to a room while hiding all unpleasant cracks.
On its own, good quality crown molding can give any room an updated look as it allows you to customize any style of home you want. This is because there are several types of crown molding to choose from, such as:
- Traditional crown molding: The standard in most homes. Works best with classic style homes but can be incorporated into several other styles.
- Stacked crown molding: Made with pieces stacked together to create a uniform look. Great for homes with high ceilings. Ideal to hide the gap between the ceiling and your cabinets.
- Edge molding: Added to the outside edge or border of the cabinet.
- Interior crown molding: Placed around the interior of your ceilings. Often found above kitchen cabinets to fill the gap between the cabinets and the ceiling.
- Styrofoam crown molding: An alternative to traditional crown molding that gives the same beautiful look of traditional crown molding, but without the hassle of wood.
Styrofoam crown molding is a particularly useful and convenient option. Let’s explore why.
Why Choose Styrofoam Crown Molding?
Styrofoam crown molding is a great alternative to traditional crown molding.
Instead of being made out of wood or plaster, this type of crown molding is made out of lightweight foam, or polystyrene. This makes for an easier installation than traditional wood or medium-density fiberboard (MDF) crown molding. In fact, styrofoam crown molding can be easily installed by one person.
Wood crown molding often has different needs and more maintenance. First of all, it’s heavy, which makes it difficult to lift up for installation and requires more tools. There’s also a strong chance that you have to sand your wood down first before installing, which introduces an extra step in the process. Finally, wood is expensive and the right type of wood can be difficult to find, which may limit your options.
In contrast, there are many benefits to using styrofoam crown molding, such as:
- Inexpensive.
- Will not expand or crack.
- Easy to install.
- No nails involved, so no need to locate wall studs.
- Less work to maintain.
- You can easily paint it.
- Stands up well to humidity.
- Available in several different styles.
Be aware that styrofoam crown molding is slightly more fragile than other types, so make sure that you handle it with care.
There are plenty of different types of styrofoam crown molding that make installation easier. From DIY options that require no nails or fasteners, to pre-cut corners, you’ll be able to install your new styrofoam crown molding in no time.
How to Install Styrofoam Crown Molding
Not only is styrofoam crown molding easy to install, but there are also several ways to install it, making it the perfect DIY project.
If you want to paint your styrofoam crown molding, start with that. You can always paint after installation, but it’s usually easier and quicker to do it before. Use water-based paint only, and apply either one coat of paint or two coats of spray.
Once you’ve prepped your styrofoam crown molding, you’re ready to cut using your miter saw. Install spackle or filler at the end of each piece to prevent the pieces from moving.
Then, rather than using nails, you’re going to lay the material with caulk. Lay a bead the size of a pencil against the edge of the top and the bottom, then lay it against the edge of the wall.
Make sure that you remove the excess sealant and wipe any extra away with a damp cloth. When two pieces of molding are pressed together, be sure to also wipe away the excess spackle that comes out of the front.
For more details on how to install styrofoam crown molding, check out this page.
Conclusion
To recap, you should consider styrofoam crown molding over traditional crown molding because it is:
- Less expensive.
- Less maintenance.
- Easier to install.
Crown molding adds personality to any room. Although we all love the look of traditional crown molding, it isn’t always the most practical option. Styrofoam crown molding helps you achieve that same feel that traditional crown molding creates more quickly and at a fraction of the price.
Interested in installing styrofoam crown molding in your home? Check out our options to get you started.
