Want to Transform Your Home? You Need Fairfield Crown Molding Installation & Repair

If you're looking for a way to make a huge impact on the appearance and style of a particular room—or your entire Fairfield, CT house—your mind probably went straight to a major renovation. While there's no doubt that tearing everything out of a room and redoing it from the floor up will make quite a difference, that idea can feel discouraging if you don't have the time, energy or budget to undergo a complete remodel right now. That's okay! There's actually something you can do that will be quick, relatively simple and very cost-effective, while still giving you the style upgrade you're looking for: Fairfield crown molding installation.

It may seem unlikely that a little decorative strip at the corner where your walls meet the ceiling could really have much of a noticeable impact. It's completely understandable to have some skepticism before you see it in place, but crown molding is a surprisingly impactful design element. It draws the eye upward and can make an entire room feel refreshed. Or, maybe you've already got interior trim in place at the top of your walls, but it's really not looking its best anymore. In that case, Fairfield crown molding repair services will restore its beauty and appeal.

Want to see for yourself the drastic difference crown molding installation and repair services from your local Fairfield handyman can make in your home? The skilled team of service professionals at Mr. Handyman of Upper Fairfield County has plenty of experience installing and repairing crown molding in Fairfield, CT and other parts of Fairfield County. You can rely on us to get the job done efficiently and effectively so your home can truly shine.

What Is Crown Molding, Anyway?

Basically, it is a type of cornice that runs along the top of an interior wall—and a cornice is a type of horizontal molding that crowns architectural elements on a building. Is that about as clear as mud? The truth is, you've seen crown molding many times—and may even have some in your house—but might not have known the term for it. It's a decorative strip of indoor trim that adorns the corner joint between walls and the ceiling. It can be very plain and low-profile, or large and covered in intricate designs. Sometimes it's found decorating the tops of high cabinets, window bays, and other built-in architectural features that are near the ceiling.

It's worth noting that there are other types of moldings all over your house, such as chair rails, wainscoting, baseboards and even handrails, but crown molding is always found near or touching the ceiling. Millwork is another interior trim term that applies to interior trim made of wood, which sometimes also includes crown molding installations.

Is Crown Molding Just For Decoration?

Pretty much, yes—but maybe not in exactly the way you're thinking. Its main job is to sit there and look pretty, there's no denying that. But it also has another important appearance-related function: to hide an area that is typically not very attractive. Crown molding installation started back when walls and ceilings were typically covered in plaster, and the joint where the two planes met at a 90-degree angle was often not the most smooth and even part of the room. Or, the meeting surfaces may be different materials, leaving a small gap in the ceiling and wall corners. The solution? Cover it up with a strip of something and call it decorative.

Drywall has replaced plaster as the wall and ceiling covering of choice, but that wall-to-ceiling joint can still need some coverage. That being said, even the most flawlessly-drywalled room can still benefit from Fairfield crown molding installation on a purely decorative level. It can enhance and reinforce the existing interior design aesthetic in your home and make any room feel a lot more polished. Most people tend to think of styles such as Victorian when it comes to elaborate interior trim, but if you think outside the box with materials and appearance, your Fairfield crown molding installation can contribute toward any style, from modern minimalist to country rustic.

How Does a Handyman Install Crown Molding in Fairfield, CT?

The installation method may vary a bit depending on the kind of material you choose, but the basic process in most cases is to line up the piece and press it into place with construction adhesive, then use a nail gun to secure it in place. Your Fairfield handyman will then cover the nail holes with repair epoxy or putty and paint over them so they're invisible. If there's a small gap above the installation because of uneven ceilings or walls, we'll fill it with a bead of caulk and then cover the paintable caulk so it all looks like part of the same piece of material.

How Is the Size of a Crown Molding Installation Determined?

Size is important when it comes to trim. Too big, and it will look overbearing, clunky and out of place. Too small, and it won't be noticeable—or it will just cause people to wonder why you bothered. There are three ways to figure out what size will work best for your property in Fairfield, CT:

Take inspiration from the purpose and size of your room. Traditionally, large, elaborate trim was used in large common rooms such as entrance foyers, dining rooms and parlors while small, simple crown molding installation was used for smaller, more intimate rooms like bathrooms and bedrooms.
Keep it in proportion with other trim elements in your room. That doesn't mean it'll be the exact same size, but it shouldn't look out of place next to your baseboards, chair rails or window frames. For example, a cornice will generally be around the same height as your baseboard, or may be a bit taller.
Pay attention to ceiling height, since the higher they are, the further away your crown molding installation will be. As a general rule of thumb, eight foot ceilings should have a trim of no more than six inches in height, while nine foot ceilings can feature a trim up to 7.5 inches high and it could be as much as eight inches high for a 10-foot ceiling.

Does a Crown Molding Installation Have to Touch the Ceiling?

Not necessarily—most of the time, a Fairfield crowning molding installation does touch the ceiling on one side and the wall on the other. But some people choose to move it down an inch to create a small gap that can conceal cords and wires, or hide a strip of LED lighting that creates a ring of soft light around the upper perimeter of the room.

Does Fairfield Crown Molding Installation Increase Property Value?

When the right style of crown molding installation is used in the right places, and it's all installed correctly by a Fairfield handyman, it can absolutely raise the listing price of your property when you decide to put it on the market. It also helps convince prospective home buyers to seal the deal, because most real estate agents will make a point of drawing their clients' attention to it as a selling feature.

What Are Signs That a House Needs Fairfield Crown Molding Repair?

When you first have it installed, it may seem unlikely that you'll ever need crown molding repair—what could get to it all the way up there? While it's not as prone to damage as other, more easily accessible interior trim elements in your Fairfield, CT home, it is possible for it to suffer damage. The most common issues are cracked plaster and surface problems such as stains or peeling paint. Want to learn more about other types of trim in your home? Check out our guide to trim repair and installation in Fairfield County.

If you can't see any problems with your upper trim from down on the floor, it's probably safe to say it's in decent shape and you don't need crown molding repair. But if you see these symptoms of damage, your expert Fairfield handyman can help:

Flaking or peeling paint
Grimy build-up that can't be simply dusted off
Gouges or cracks
Stains
Sagging or dangling pieces
Missing sections

How Does Crown Molding Get Cracked in Fairfield, CT?

If you notice cracks in your upper trim elements and you're not sure how they got there, it could be reason for concern. It's a sign of major issues that actually originate far from your ceiling in the foundation of your building. A foundation can sink into the ground or heave upward, which puts a strain on inflexible materials throughout the building such as plaster trim. The same thing happens when your floor joists are compromised and sagging downward in parts.

Plaster crown molding is particularly vulnerable because it's located at a point where two planes intersect at a 90-degree angle and is rigid, with no flex or “give.” If your gaze drifts upward and you notice some unsightly cracked trim, it's a good reason to get Fairfield crown molding repair regardless of the cause. But if you suspect it could be related to trouble with your foundation, it's a good idea to have a foundation professional take a look and rule that out as a potential cause.

What Else Can Damage Crown Molding in Fairfield County, CT?

If the foundation isn't the part of your house causing you to need crown molding repair, then where is the problem coming from? It's important to know the potential causes of damage in your home so you can determine if there's a more serious issue lurking behind your trim damage. Here are a few of the most common causes of damage our handyman team deals with in Fairfield, CT:

Excess Water: Crown molding is not usually exposed to much in the way of moisture, but it can be affected by problems such as a leaking roof or hidden plumbing leak. It can also be damaged by excessive humidity or condensing steam in a poorly ventilated bathroom or kitchen. That moisture leads to issues such as wood rot, which can worsen and spread to other parts of your building to cause serious structural stability problems.
Damage From Impacts: Your ceiling trim isn't usually going to be hit or crushed because it's well out of reach, but it can happen occasionally when furniture is being moved around carelessly or someone is practicing their baseball pitch indoors.
Changes in Pressure Distribution: All the parts of your house are interconnected, and pressure on your roof can affect some interior elements of your building that you wouldn't suspect. For example, a big dump of snow could increase weight on your roof structure, causing it to bear down harder on ceiling joists and making your trim buckle or separate from your wall.
Fluctuating Temperatures: Some materials expand in heat or contract in cold. If your house rapidly goes from quite cold to very warm or vice versa, that quick expansion or contraction can loosen your trim from the wall or cause problems such as peeling paint.
Insect Infestations: Scaling a wall is no problem for insect pests, and the more destructive varieties such as carpenter ants and termites can really cause a huge amount of damage to wooden trim. Insect damage may look like a maze of holes or channels in the surface of the wood, or you may just notice a lot of insect activity near the ceiling if they are nesting behind your trim.

Mr. Handyman is Your Local Fairfield Crown Molding Installation & Repair Expert!

Whether you're in Fairfield, CT or another part of Fairfield County such as Stamford, New Canaan or Ridgefield, you can count on the team of service technicians at Mr. Handyman of Upper Fairfield County for professional expertise and customer care that goes the extra mile. Whether you need services for crown molding in Fairfield, or help with fixing a wall hole, you can rely on our skilled technicians.

Get in contact with us today by calling 866-550-1710 to speak with our friendly customer service staff about the reliable handyman services we offer, including Fairfield crown molding installation and repair, or to schedule an appointment at a convenient time.