How to attach the Cornice (the molding on top of tall cabinets and tall boxes). It’s best to cut and adjust the longest piece first in case a mistake is made, as you can then try again with a new piece and cut the wrong size piece into smaller pieces.
To cut the Cornice and Pelmet it is recommended to use a good quality miter saw. These can be rented or you can buy your own as they are very useful if you are hands on minded. These machines, like all power tools, must be used with care to ensure your safety and the long life of the machine. Never try to cut too much at one time. The sound of the engine will tell you if you are being too hard on it.
Care should be taken when measuring because the cornice usually overhangs units and doors, so this should be taken into account when measuring. Take a piece of cornice and place it on top of the wall unit to see how much overhang you want. It may be advisable to temporarily hang a door so you can get a better idea of how it looks.
Whenever possible, try to cut the correct angle at one end first, then snap the entire length into place. Drive a screw into the end to secure it in place while moving to the other end to carefully score the cornice lengthwise. Then go back and remove the screw and cut the piece to size.
The cornice is best fixed to the top of the cabinets by drilling holes in the cornice every 300mm or so. If there is little or no access above the ledge to reach the screws, drill the holes through the top of the cabinets.
Hint: If there is enough cornice, try cutting a length up in the same order as they go around the units, so that the grain matches up at the miter. Obviously when you start a new length the grain of the wood cornice may not match, but you can take a look at all the pieces you have and lay them end to end and swap them to give the best continuity of color and grain.
When you have placed the first piece, measure the approximate length of the next piece and cut the corresponding angle on it. If it’s ok, go to the opposite end and mark it lengthwise. When the cornice is ready to go, drill holes in the bottom taking care that the holes are on the wall unit and not on the edge or missing the unit altogether.
Now put a good quality PVA adhesive on the joint and push it into place.
When the joint is properly aligned and clean, hold it in position with 20mm tape then screw the cornice into place.
Sometimes the screw closest to the joint can move the joint when fully tightened, so in that situation just back the screw out a bit and tighten it later when the glue has dried.
The glue usually dries in 30 minutes, but leave it on as long as possible or overnight.
The next job is to place the Light Pelmet, which is the molding placed under the wall units that traditionally, as its name suggests, shields the lights that are placed under the wall units.
Often when the valance has been installed and the lights are on, light can shine through the gap between the bottom of the wall unit and the top of the valance. This can be resolved by using a dark silicone or putty behind the trim where it meets the wall unit.
When fixing the border there are two ways to do it depending on the profile of the molding.
If it is an L-shaped molding, the fixing can be done through the extension piece of the L. Care must be taken when selecting the length of the screws.
If the molding is single profile, it should be fastened down through the bottom of the cabinets.
If the tiling is going to be done like the kitchen, it is best to place the Pelmet on the fronts and then cut all the returns that go back to the wall but do not fit.
Do all tiling and grouting before trimming and placing returns. On some types of valance it is not possible to screw the returns on, so it is best to secure them by running clear silicone along the top of the valance and putting a good quality adhesive on the seam and pushing it into place.
The silicone will hold the Pelmet as long as the joint is properly aligned, cleaned and sealed with 20mm adhesive tape. The glue usually dries in 30 minutes, but leave it on as long as possible or overnight.