Install cove moulding corners

Wash the bottom of the walls with a mixture of one part bleach and four parts warm water to remove any remaining dirt or grease. Let the wall dry. Measure the length of the walls where you plan to install the cove moulding. Add the lengths together to determine how much cove moulding you need to buy. Measure the length of the first wall, starting at an inside corner. Mark a line where you need to cut the cove moulding.

Lay the moulding face down on scrap plywood and cut along the mark with a utility knife. Hold the cut piece of moulding against the wall to ensure the cut was made to the correct measurement. Apply construction adhesive to the back side of the moulding in a wavy line. Lay the moulding on the wall, making sure the bottom edge sits securely along the floor.

Slide your hand down the moulding to press the adhesive firmly in place, then follow with a rubber hand roller. Measure the next section of wall and cut the moulding to fit.

Apply any other straight pieces in the same fashion. Fold a piece of cove moulding around an outside corner to start your corner cut. Mark the back side of the moulding where the corner hits. Fold the moulding along the mark inside out, so the the front sides are touching. Make an angular cut with a utility knife on each side of the mark so that they meet in the center of your mark.

The cuts should remove about half the thickness of the moulding. Peel away the cut section, and reverse the moulding so it folds tightly around the corner.

When making cuts or scores, set the vinyl molding on top of backerboard or a similar material to protect the underlying surface. To fit the molding tightly against inside corners, lightly score the back of the molding with a utility knife and cut a notch at the base of the molding along the score line.

To fit the molding around an outside corner, heat the area of molding with a hair dryer until it becomes extra pliable, then bend the molding to expose its backside and use the utility knife to carefully shave a thin layer off of the backside of the molding so it can bend around the corner. Apply adhesive to the back of the molding using a thin bead of adhesive in a zigzag pattern to ensure thorough coverage. You also might trowel on the adhesive, depending on the type of adhesive used.

Utilize an adhesive meant for use with the specific molding product and the wall substrate to achieve the best possible bond. Roll over the entire molding surface with a J-roller. Press out all trapped air and make sure that the adhesive and molding are completely in contact with the wall. Clean the area using a damp rag to wipe off any adhesive that was forced out from behind the molding during the rolling process.

Angela Ryczkowski is a professional writer who has served as a greenhouse manager and certified wildland firefighter. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in urban and regional studies.

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