Rant: Tried to match crown molding in an 1890s house in Providence

I was replacing a busted section of crown in a Victorian near Brown University, thought I could blend it with some new stuff. Ended up spending 3 hours carving it by hand because nothing on the shelf matched the old plaster profiles. Has anyone else had to custom mill trim for an old remodel?

2 comments

2 Comments

the_kim5d ago

Oh man, three hours carving by hand is rough but yeah, old plaster crown is a whole different animal. I think you might have had an easier time if you checked the actual angle of your ceiling first. A lot of those 1890s houses in Providence have plaster walls that aren't square anymore, so even a custom milled piece won't sit right unless you cut for the true angle. Next time, grab a contour gauge and trace the exact profile from the existing piece, then have a local woodshop run a knife for you. It'll save your hands and your sanity.

leeknight4d ago

Did you end up patching it with joint compound before you carved? I've found that can save a little bit of the headache if the plaster is really crumbly.