Most rooms are easy to lay
out. If you have a central chandelier or ceiling fan
then the position of the center medallion is predetermined.
If the room does not have a center light or fan feature then
the center medallion should go in the exact center of the room.
The center of the room can easily be determined by holding the
chalk line, string or laser level in one corner and lead the
other end of the chalk line, string or laser light to the diagonally
opposed corner. Avoid the temptation of using chalk or heavy
pencil marks on the ceiling, as they are difficult to clean
up or erase. Instead use some of the blue masking tape to mark
the line in the center. Switch to the adjacent corner and repeat
the process. Where the two chalk lines, string or laser lines
intersect is the exact center of the room. Mark the center with
a small light pencil mark.
Now look at how and where the corners should be located
without creating location issues with heating grilles,
recessed lights, sprinkler heads or other items found on your
ceiling. If there is nothing interfering with the location of
the corner pieces then try locating the outside edge of the
decorative corners one to two feet from the corners of the room.
Inset these corner pieces one foot from the corners and two
feet for larger rooms. Very large rooms may look best with a
three foot inset for the corners. Anyway determine where the
corners are best located and put a small pencil mark in each
corner an equal distance from each wall.
Then stretch the chalk line or string or line up the laser light
from one adjacent to the other. Depending on the style
of molding that you selected you may be able to use the chalk
line or pencil to mark it but my recommendation is only mark
two sides first. Then install the first corner and the molding
from that corner to the next two corners. This is recommended
because depending on the type of molding used it may end up
slightly short or long by an inch or two. Therefore some slight
adjustments to the final location of the other corners may be
necessary. So lets discuss how to install that first decorative
corner, then we will tell you how to put up the molding on the
two chalk or pencil lines emanating from the first corner.
Each decorative corner and the central medallion have
a few pre-drilled screw holes in them. If you can't
locate them by looking at the front of the first corner piece,
that is good, because we try to put them in places where they
are difficult to see, like deep crevices. If you chose to cover
your screws with cabochons or nail heads your holes will be
in places appropriate for their use. However, you can simply
turn over the corner piece and see where the screw holes pierce
through. Twist a drywall screw into each hole by hand just to
hold it in place, making sure they don't poke out the back which
will scratch the ceiling. Now one member of the installation
team should hold up the decorative medallion while the other
member assists in lining up the corner with the two chalk or
pencil lines. Notice that there is a precise point where the
molding looks best projecting out from the corner. Some styles
of ceilings are more free form than others and some have predetermined
junction points with the molding, others don't. So you will
have to line up the corner and mark with tape prior to adding
the adhesive to the back of the decorative corners.
Once you apply the adhesive you definitely
don't want to move the corner much because you may smear glue
over exposed parts of the ceiling. So take the time to line
up the first corner and mark reference points with tape or pencil
to help you guide the piece into the proper place. Now when
you are ready, load the special space age adhesive that we provide
into your caulk gun and cut the tip off with a knife or scissors.
Pump the caulk gun so that plenty of adhesive goes onto the
back of the decorative corner. Avoid getting too close to the
edges (try 2" from any edge) because the caulk will spread
when you apply upward pressure to secure the corner to the ceiling.
Then slowly and carefully guide the corner piece to those guide
marks you predetermined and once you are sure you are in just
the right place, push the corner upward to the ceiling.
Apply lots of pressure, while
the other member of the installation team uses the
battery powered screw driver to screw those drywall screws into
the drywall. Do not over tighten these screws as most will just
go into drywall alone and over-tightening will actually strip
out the drywall around the screws. The concept of these screws
is to hold the decorative corner in place while the adhesive
dries. If any adhesive squeezed out from the edge, don't touch
it yet, wait until it dries overnight and it will easily peel
off without any mess or difficulty. If you have lots of adhesive
squeeze out then reduce the amount you put close to the edges
on the remaining corners.
Cabochons
