Homes with crown molding exude class, style and tasteful décor. It is used in the interior as well as the exterior of a home and brings character and warmth to a room. 

Crown molding can be placed in any room making it a convenient and efficient trim. I find that decorating a home with crown molding is adventurous, enjoyable and even fulfilling.

The aesthetic appeal of a crown molding depends on its type and design. Numerous materials have been used to make crown molding over time that include traditional papier-mache, wood, and more recently, PVC, and polyurethane, to mention a few. 

Wood has long been hailed as a magnificent piece of trim as it offers the divine spark of elegance that only nature can give, while adding warmth and a wealth of quality to any room. However, it has its limitations. It is these shortcomings that then make polyurethane not just a copy, but a superior material for crown molding.

In this article, we will look into some of the reasons to use polyurethane crown molding as opposed to wood crown molding.


The Properties

Polyurethane resists temperature changes

Wood molding tends to be inflexible and as such, will rapidly shrink and expand as the temperature changes. Before long, what was once a beautiful piece of trim will crack or warp leaving an ugly visual.

Polyurethane on the other hand is designed to be flexible and withstands the effects of these changes. This makes it good even when installed in exterior sections of the house.

Polyurethane is moisture resistant 

Wood absorbs moisture from the air. Over time, this moisture will trigger the growth of mold or mildew which in addition to being a sore sight, is not healthy for the inhabitants of that space. 

Polyurethane is impervious to moisture and retains this quality throughout its lifetime. For this, polyurethane crown molding is ideal even for rooms with high humidity such as the kitchen, the bathroom, or the house exterior.

Polyurethane resists insect damage

Wood is a favorite and a staple food for insects such as termites. Wood crown molding installed in the house will be a target for such insects causing damage either to the wood itself or to your pocket in the labor of making the wood insect repellent.

Polyurethane is naturally insect-resistant and will therefore not be prone to damage.

Polyurethane is more durable

Given the ways in which polyurethane molding is resistant to damage by mold and mildew, warping or cracking, and insect damage, it is automatically more durable than wood molding. 

This is not to say that wood crown molding itself would not be long-lasting: It would however be more expensive and more work to keep the wood trim intact than polyurethane would demand.

Polyurethane is more affordable

Cost is one of the most important considerations for any element of interior decor. Any conscious buyer respects the need to get quality at the best price possible. 

Wood undoubtedly offers great quality. The catch, however, is that good quality wood molding is on the higher price range. The more customized the trim is, the pricier it becomes. Polyurethane molding makes a great alternative because for all the good qualities it packs, it comes at a lower price and is therefore budget-friendly.

Polyurethane has a similar visual appeal to wood 

Polyurethane crown molding looks just like it is made of wood. At first glance, the difference between polyurethane molding and wood molding may not easily be detected nor spotted. 

The material-polyurethane- can then be easily used as a substitute for wood to have molding that offers the visual appeal that wood carries while embodying polyurethane molding’s advantages.

Polyurethane comes in numerous designs

Polyurethane crown molding is not limited to simple designs. While it is a strong material, it is also soft and workable, allowing for numerous styles, designs, and colors. This means that you can achieve a sophisticated finish with good quality polyurethane without having to resort to wood molding.

Polyurethane is great even on uneven walls

Even where walls may appear straight and perfectly square, they sometimes tend to have uneven surfaces. Crown molding installed on such walls may then have gaps and appear shoddy. Heavy wood may be a victim of this unfortunate circumstance as it is relatively inflexible.

Polyurethane is light and pliable and can be slightly molded onto the uneven surface so it lies squarely on the surface. Any small gaps still left will be easy to hide using caulk.

Polyurethane is easy to paint

One way to ensure that a trim maintains its beauty is by painting it. Polyurethane crown molding requires little maintenance. The best way to maintain old polyurethane crown molding is to paint it. This is not to say that crown molding cannot be painted for decorative purposes. 

As a bonus, our polyurethane crown molding comes pre-primed. This means that it comes ready to paint, saving on time and money.

The uses

Interior spaces

Polyurethane crown molding can be used in any room in the interior of a home unlike wood crown molding. This is because rooms where moisture is likely to be present cannot uphold the integrity of wood and consequently the integrity of wood crown molding. 

An example of such rooms is bathrooms. Polyurethane crown molding is not limited in such a manner because they are moisture resistant and therefore are a suitable molding for bathrooms.

Exterior spaces

Polyurethane crown molding can also be used on the exterior of a home; standard wood molding cannot. This is because it would not fare well with the fluctuating weather and humidity. 

While polyurethane is ideal, the crown molding that is used in the interior of a home cannot be used on the exterior of a home- it would peel off. Exterior polyurethane crown molding ought to have a finishing that is an ultraviolet absorber.


The installation

Polyurethane crown molding is one of the most inexpensive and easiest forms of interior and exterior molding to install. It does not have extra steps like adding stainless wood filler and semi-transparent stains like when installing wood crown molding. 

A little preparation work is required together with some tools, polyurethane adhesive or joint compound, nails and caulk. Anybody can install polyurethane crown molding like a professional.

The tools

Tools are essential to installing crown molding and other trim. Polyurethane crown molding is especially efficient because it can use all the standard tools that wood crown molding uses. From coping saws to miter saws, drilling and hammering, screwing nails and finishing nails, polyurethane crown molding is not negatively affected. 

As if that is not enough, one can use wood fillers and wood putty on polyurethane crown molding like they would on wood crown molding.


Whether it’s properties or its uses, there is no doubt that polyurethane crown molding is a great pick over wood crown molding.


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