decorative
Coving, cornice and ornamental plasterwork
Coving costs £18 to £40 per linear metre supplied and fitted, so an average room is £250 to £500. Matching and running a cornice in situ on a period property is a separate skill and is quoted per job.
What this covers
What it costs. Coving costs £18 to £40 per linear metre supplied and fitted. Full cost breakdown.
What the job covers
- Fitting plaster coving around a room and filling the joints
- Matching an existing Victorian cornice profile in a run
- Running a cornice in situ on a heritage job
- Repairing a damaged section without replacing the whole run
- Fitting a ceiling rose to match a restored cornice
What is involved
There are two trades hiding under one heading. Fitting coving is buying a length of plaster or lightweight moulding, cutting the internal and external mitres, sticking it up with adhesive and filling the joints so the run reads as continuous. It is neat work and most plasterers do it.
Running a cornice in situ is the other one. A profile is cut in zinc to match the original, mounted on a horse, and the plaster is run in place against a screed of lime or gypsum, building the section up in passes. It is how the cornices in a Georgian or Victorian room were made and it is the only way to match one exactly. Fewer firms do it, and a town page here counts how many.
For a repair, the question is whether the damaged section can be cast and let in. Taking a squeeze from a sound length, casting a replacement and fitting it into a gap is almost always better than replacing a whole run, and it keeps the original.
Fitting plaster coving around a room and filling the joints, one of the jobs a coving and cornice specialist is hired for.
Choosing someone for the job
Ask whether they are fitting a stock profile or matching an existing one, because those are different jobs at different prices. Ask how many internal and external corners are in the price. On a period property, ask whether they run cornice in situ or only fit lengths, and ask to see a profile they have matched.
Common questions
What is the difference between coving and cornice?
Coving is a plain concave moulding between wall and ceiling, usually a simple arc. A cornice is a more elaborate profile with detail in the section. In practice the words are used loosely and the price difference is in the profile rather than the word.
Can a damaged cornice be repaired rather than replaced?
Usually. A squeeze is taken from a sound length, a replacement section is cast from it and let into the gap. It is cheaper than replacing a whole run and it keeps the original, which matters on a listed building.