fixing a cornice

[Aangelique1611]

Who do I go to for fixing decorative cornices? Is this a plasterers job specifically or are most handy types able to do this job? See attached picture of what I am trying to correct.

[arose62]

I couldn't really tell from the pics what the problem was???

Anyway, I was able to do our bedroom cornices without any real major dramas, though they weren't as ornate as the ones pictured.

The main tricks were :

1) making sure I had the right adhesives (it was going between woodpanel wall and woodpanel ceiling ) but if you have standard gyprock, the cornice cement is the go.

2) getting the corner angle-cutting right. I bought the red plastic thingy, and did a few test cuts, and then labelled the samples so I did the right thing with the "real" pieces.

3) the actual putting in place was the biggest deal. Make sure you have enough folks to do it, as cornice is long and thin, and floppy, and heavyish (in long pieces held overhead). I tapped in some small nails to hold it in place while the cement went off.

4) smoothing the cement was easy, as I'd been given the tip of using a painbrush dipped in water to 'paint' it smooth, rather than trying to sand it smooth.

Cheers,
Andrew

[Aangelique1611]

oh sure, the problem is that the cornice covers 2.5 sides of the ceiling but one and a half sides are bare with nothing at all. It doesnt appear that the one currently in place would be easily remove so is the idea to find a good match? even so, what would i do about the bit that juts into the wall ... I think maybe complete removal looks like the key so how do i start to get the other down? Sorry if I sound redundant

[Pulse]

choices are:

1. rip it down and put a new period look alike cornice
2. Remove a section, take it to a plasterworks or similar which will make a mould, lengthen the mould and then reproduce cornice lengths with fibre reinforced plaster

1 is cheaper but not as authentic

Cheers
Pulse

[Aangelique1611]

ok, cool. well, every cornice in the place is different at present so authenticity is not a huge concern. I'll go with the rip it down option. Is it just get a chisel and start tapping till it falls kinda thing? Or is there a more methodical approach ... And then just glue the new one up there as advised by arose62?

[durwood]

I have just taken my cornice down to line the walls (they are brick.)

Use a stanley knife to break the join at the ceiling and wall first. If it has been stuck the normal way it will have cement along both edges. I then used a wide scraper and forced it under the edge and pushed it until it felt loose. I had to give it a push along with a mallet as it was fairly hard.

If you don't cut the edge of the join the glue may bring the paper covering on the lining board with it and you will have extra work to do patching up the ceilings and walls.

Check the yellow pages for plaster works I have a brochure for one called Coastal Distributors who have over 50 plaster cornices (they had mine and its been in the house 30 years) They have a web site www.sydneyplasterworks .com.au but I just tried it and it doesn't work'

Plaster is pretty brittle get someone to hold the opposite ends on long lengths when loosening or it will break.

[Aangelique1611]

very cool, thanks so much. I'll give them a bell today. May give it a shot myself, will talk to more people and find out how badly it can be stuffed up But getting a plasterer in might be the ticket ... Thanks for the explanations of how its done ... I'll probabaly give it a shot myself then call a plasterer once i have stuffed it

[arms]

) They have a web site www.sydneyplasterworks .com.au but I just tried it and it doesn't work'


it would probably work if you included all the address in the posting and not have a double space in the addr ess