Bob’s project has been a journey—one that started back on September 1, 2020, and has taken a few twists along the way. His cabinet doors alone have been through two different painting companies, and now they’re headed to a shop in Phoenix for a third attempt. On September 10, 2021, I drilled the doors for hinges, and when I laid out the doors and drawer fronts, I felt pretty good: only one wrong‑sized door. Bob can probably turn that one into a picture frame for some local artwork, so nothing goes to waste.
I wrapped up the wall‑to‑ceiling crown molding on September 2, 2021, and that part of the project deserves its own chapter..
Taking on Crown Molding After 20 Years
I hadn’t installed crown molding in over two decades, and as sure as God made little green apples, I had zero experience pricing a job like this. But I wanted the challenge—and the knowledge—so I jumped in.
Bob wanted 6‑inch crown molding, which isn’t something you can just grab off the shelf in our small town. I ordered fourteen pieces of 3/4 x 6‑1/8 x 84 primed MDF crown, and that’s where the fun began. More pieces means more joints, and more joints means more time. A great start for underpricing the job.
Then came the primer surprise. Since the molding was already primed, I figured I’d skip a step.
WRONG.
The primer looked like it had been sprayed on by a machine having a bad day—wavy, uneven, and full of texture. Every inch needed sanding. More time, more underpricing.
And then I made my first tactical error: I started the installation with a return‑to‑wall trim piece.
WRONG again.
I should have started where the paint color changes. That misstep cost me a few more hours.
The Real Time Cost
In the end, the job took about 30% more time than I had bid. The joints were the biggest time sink, and about three‑quarters of the way through, I realized a biscuit cutter would have saved time and made the joints cleaner. Live and learn.
For the curved bay window, I had suggested rubber molding as an option, but it was pricey—and unforgiving. Miss by more than 1/16″, and you’re buying another one. Plus, there was no guarantee it would blend well with the straight sections. I’m glad we skipped it. Instead, I built the curve using six pieces, each about 17 inches long, to span the nearly eight‑foot compass window.
A Project Worth Doing
Yes, I underbid the wall‑to‑ceiling crown molding. But honestly, it’s fine. I wanted the experience, and now I have it. I solved a problem for Bob, and I added a solid project to my portfolio. That’s a win in my book.
