broken cornice - NorthWest specialists reqd! *PIC*

[Anonymous]

We're really disappointed that some of the beautiful original cornice work in our Victorian living room has been damaged (see photo)

The bit that broke off came out perfectly in one piece and fitted back like a glove, but our plasterer decided to put it back in with a great big lump of plaster which looked terrible so we've had to break it off again.

Can anyone suggest any cornice specialists in our area (just north of Manchester)?

Many Thanks

Simon & Nicola

 

[Anonymous]

Can't you have go at putting it back and filling it in yourself?

If you need a specialist, try the 'Seeking Specialists' part of this site, or see if SPAB can recommend someone?


http://www.spab.org.uk

 

[Anonymous]

I think you will find SPAB will give the details of Malcolm Uttley in Salford- he demonstrated lime plastering at the SPAB course in Hawes last year. He does lime plastering but specialises in cornicing as I recall.

 

[Anonymous]

This should be fairly easy to repair by someone who can run a cornice in situ.

Cornices like this would have been been formed where they are by building up layers of wet plaster (usually a 50:50 mix of lime putty and plaster of Paris). A reverse profile cut out of a zinc sheet would be held in a wooden frame and run to and fro along a batten fixed to the wall with the top end of the frame resting on the ceiling to create the regular profile.

Corners, interior and exterior, would be formed by hand after the cornice had been run. This sounds trickier than it is. Plaster would be applied to the corner then the profile would be formed using a set of "joint rules". These are a set steel rules of different length, about three inches wide, with one end set at 45 degrees, the other end square, with edges ground flat. The edge of rule would be held flat against the already formed part of the cornice to guide the plasterer in forming the mitre. This is the technique needed to mend your cornice.

Most modern cornice work is done in workshops off site then fitted later. Many modern cornice specialists will not do in situ work and may propose solutions which involve making bits off site, because that is all they know how to do. This would not be an appropriate solution in your case.

 

[Anonymous]

Thank you all for your info - I have so far got one quote back from a specialist who are looking at around £500, which at the moment is a little out of my budget!

I'll try a couple of the others that I've been recommended to and see how things progress!

 

[Anonymous]

the mans right .. its a DIY job you can do it !! just take your time and don't worry (£500 ... no way)
you can do it in two or three 1 hour sessions over 2-3 days .. block it out with the plaster and scribe the excess off in line with the existing profile .. as the man said ..