Expert: Jamie Yocono - 1/5/2008

Question
I had cabinet installed and ordered a crown molding when I ordered the cabinets. The cabinets are up and the installer is telling me that I can't put the crown on because my ceilings are very uneven (1 1/2inches) from on wall to the other. At one point my wall is 94 inches he says. He says it's just how the house is built. We remodeled the kitchen and the ceiling was removed--is it the contractors fault for not leveling the dry wall or is it just how the house settled and where my joists are(room has new dry wall and old joists. Should the installer have figured in the ceiling heights when installing the wall cabinets and maybe dropped them all down an inch or so to accommodate the shorter side. I'd like to put something up there, it looks awful now; but the cabinet seller says she can't put a smaller crown on and thinks any topping would make the ceiling look noticeably uneven(you can't tell at all now). I think the installer is taking a very long time to finish and the last payment gets made when job is done--is she being honest about nothing can be done or will it just take longer to deal with the situation and she doesn't want to take the time to remedy things. I  don't know if no one is to blame as cabinet person says, or if person who put up dry wall is to blame or if cabinet installer should have figured in the wall uneveness before installing the cabinets knowing a crown had to be added at the end. Most importantly I'd like to know if there is any way to correct the situation and use my original 2 inch molding or cut it down or use a smaller finishing piece. I can't believe mine is the only house that ever settled and has uneven ceilings. Thank you for your help.

Answer
Hi Gina,

I'm sorry to hear you're having that problem, and I'll try to help, but I'm not sure how much I'll be able to help. This is probably going to be a long answer, so grab a cup of coffee and put your feet up!

Yes, the contractor who put the new ceiling on could have shot the ceiling with a laser level to see how badly out of level it was. Apparently, they didn't, and it's hard to believe they didn't notice it, since it would have affected the way they cut the drywall and hung it up. So it's something they were probably aware of, they just didn't want to correct it. And the contract you had with them probably didn't mention it (on purpose!) so that they wouldn't be responsible for it.

Anyway, to fix it now would be a major undertaking, so I don't recommend it, unless you just won the lottery or something. This would entail removing the drywall again, shimming out the studs to be level, and reinstalling new drywall. A lot of work!

Most cabinet installers just assume that the floor/ceiling is going to be reasonably level.  And when you're installing cabinets, it's easy to level the base cabinets by building a level toe kick base, or by using those 4" base cabinet feet- that's what I use. Anyway, the only time it's really a problem is with a floor to ceiling cabinet, like the ones that house an oven or a pantry.  Or with the upper cabinets.

Anyway, to your question- you're sort of on the right track about tapering the crown molding, to make it work. But the thing is- #1- it's probably more work than the installer anticipated, and #2- it could possibly look bad.  Just like you said.

Here's what I would do... I would tell the installer to forget the crown molding- and take the price off. They will probably want you to pay for the materials that are there, that he already bought. But if you really want to play hard ball, tell them since they're not installing it, take the whole price off- for the labor and the materials.

The reason I'm saying to do it this way is BC it sort of sounds like they're not that skilled, and also, they sound a little lazy. I'm a firm believer that many contractors suffer from EJS, or End of Job Syndrome. They just run out of energy, the job is harder than they thought, etc. It sounds like that has happened here. It's common.

Then call a few contractors and see if someone will give you a price for installing the crown molding. Someone with some new energy, maybe some problem solving skills, etc.  I don't know where you live, but I'm sure there are some decent smaller contractors in your area that can so this job. Do you have a smaller newspaper in your town, with classified ads in the back? That is a great way to find a small company that can possibly do the job.

I have to say, a skilled installer would probably be able to do that job, regardless of the ceiling being out of level. They MAY have to switch to a crown molding that doesn't have as much pattern or design it. Because of you taper a molding that has a lot of design in it, it will show, and look bad. So a molding that is sort of plain would look and be better to taper than ones with a lot of pattern or detail.

That's my best suggestion.  Sorry if this isn't what you want to hear, but it sounds like those people aren't being flexible enough to help with the problem. I would cut your losses, DON'T PAY THEM! for any crown related work, and find someone who knows what they're doing.

Good luck, write back if you need more help, or just a shoulder to cry on (I'm kidding)... I'll try to help more if you need it.

Jamie Yocono
Wood It Is! Custom Cabinetry
Las Vegas, NV
www.wooditis.com