Repairing period features properly will bring out the very best in your property
JOB OF THE WEEK Cornice repair
Traditional cornice will always show signs of wear and tear, especially where there’s been movement in the building or water damage, manifesting itself as cracks.
These cracks, once formed, settle in place and do not move again. It may sound extreme, but the only way to fix them is to cut out and fill over with fine casting plaster or DK Dental plaster, commonly known as plaster of Paris.
This fine plaster sets very quickly, so it can be built up and repaired in under an hour, and is identical to the original plaster. That means it shouldn’t open and crack again.
Use a Stanley knife to cut out the cracks, forming a V-shape, exposing the crack to about half the depth of the knife’s blade. Then use a large paintbrush to dampen the exposed plaster.
Fine-casting plaster is best mixed in small amounts. This can be done at the bottom of a plastic cup, but you only have 5-10 minutes to work until it sets.
The casting plaster tightens up quickly so, once the crack has been filled, use a plasterer’s small tool to fill the hole in line with the profile of the cornice.
When it is starting to set, wet a mitre trowel and work off the excess, again using the profile of the cornice.