Which crown molding material should you choose for your home?

When choosing something permanent for your home, value outweighs price. 

Here are the commonly used crown molding materials and their pros/cons:

Plaster:
- Best material to create a grand interior with high style.
- Cast in soft latex mold which offers deep elaborate undercuts and intricate relief.  
- Plaster crown molding won’t shrink or warp due to temperature or humidity changes.
- The drawback is it’s easier to crack which makes it difficult to ship.
- Very heavy and not easy to install.

Natural wood:
- Milled and carved, hardwood (Oak, Cherry, Mahogany) can be stained and add warmth and elegance to a room. 
- Not easy to install, requires a higher level of professional ability.
- Will shrink and warp over time due to temperature and humidity changes.
- Large budget required for nicer material/designs.

MDF (Medium Density Fiberboard):

- Made from sawdust and resin, MDF is a paint grade alternative for natural solid wood molding.

- MDF crown moldings are extruded and only come in profiles with no relief.
- Lowest cost amongst all crown molding materials.
- Its installation has a higher difficulty level, close to natural wood.
- Will shrink and dent due to its softer nature.

*Polyurethane (sometimes incorrectly referred to as foam):

- Cast in molds, polyurethane crown molding is the least expensive “imitation” of plaster crown molding.

- Offers a high level of detail and relief,
which most closely matches the characteristics of plaster.

- Will not rot and is termite resistant.

- Can be primed and painted easily, and a stained look can be achieved by faux finishing.

- Slightly softer than wood but less likely to dent than MDF.                                     

- Extremely light weight and much easier to install.*