To those who remember me I would like to say HI !!!!!! I have been gone for a wee bit with family issues……………….. Hope all is well with everyone…I have a question and would like to pick the collective brain. I am in the process of restoring a 1917 Brick Bungalow (MINE) and I am now working a the upstairs Hallway. There was picture molding that was stuck tight to the ceiling and I have removed it and am in the process or cleaning & painting it. I would like to install it correctly but I do not know how far it is to be held from the ceiling. My Darling Inga and I are going to hang SOME of our art collection from this molding and light it with track lights that we have yet to agree on. There is Family coming to stay in a couple of weeks so as they say “The heat is on ” Any help would be great. Thanks , Rick.
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When the cieling/wall corner is straight and smooth, I use a 1/4" shim.
When old houses have uneven ceiling, I measure height of the picture mold and add 1/4" to lowest spots of the ceiling, then mark a line to set the bottom of the molding to. This means there will be spaces where there is 3/8" or so above it.
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Sounds like your molding was being used as a cove/crown to hide the junction. I prefer to use a different molding at the top of the ceiling and keep the picture molding down from the top at least 6-8". (This depends in part on the wall height too. Taller walls lend themselves better to a dropped picture rail.) The space above the top of the picture rail can even be painted a different color to accent it - maybe the ceiling color.
If you feel that you only want to use one molding up there, and assuming that yours is really picture rail (there are others that look similar), I would get one of the picture hooks that goes over top of it and see how much room you will need to get it in. I'm thinking that the 3/8" suggested by Piffin might be a little tight when you are at the top of a ladder trying to hold it all up.
Edit: Just went downstairs and measured one of the hooks that we used. The distance from the inside of the top (where it goes over the molding) to the bottom of the back (that sits on top of the molding) is just about 7/16". Piffen's distance would likely work if you angle the bottom of the hook back as you push the top in. I'd go a little bigger, say at least a half inch.
Don K.
EJG Homes Renovations - New Construction - Rentals
Edited 9/20/2009 10:34 pm ET by DonK