Cornice restoration and repair

Cracking, missing sections and softened detail can have different causes. Water ingress, movement, previous alterations and unsuitable repairs may all affect the condition of a cornice. Repeated decoration can also obscure fine ornament and change the appearance of the original profile.

Before recommending work, we examine the plaster, its construction and its connection to the wall and ceiling. Where damage relates to an ongoing leak or movement, that cause needs to be addressed for a repair to last.

Cornice repairs range from filling small losses and reinstating damaged edges to securing loose sections and reconstructing missing ornament.

We use compatible materials and traditional plastering techniques, taking care around fragile surfaces and surviving detail. Where sound historic repairs remain, these are considered as part of the existing work.

The aim is to recover the continuity of the cornice while preserving its original material and character.

Where a section has been lost, the surviving cornice provides the starting point for its replacement. We record the profile, dimensions and decorative detail so that new work follows the original design.

Plain mouldings can be reproduced using a running mould made specifically to match the profile. Ornamental cornices may require moulds taken from a suitable surviving section, with missing details modelled by hand where necessary.

Replacement lengths are made and fitted with attention to their alignment, projection and junctions. This is particularly important in older rooms, where walls and ceilings are rarely straight or level.

Historic cornices were made using different materials and methods. Some were run directly onto the building in lime plaster; others were formed in gypsum plaster or manufactured as fibrous plaster sections and fixed into position.

Understanding this construction helps determine the appropriate repair.

Our experience in both lime and decorative plasterwork allows us to work with these different forms of cornice, including repairs where the moulding meets an existing lime plaster wall or ceiling.

Layers of paint can conceal delicate leaves, beads and other ornament. In some cases, careful paint removal can reveal detail that appears to have been lost.

We assess the surface and carry out trials before recommending removal. The condition of the underlying plaster and the significance of earlier decorative finishes guide how far the work should proceed.

Doorway alterations, removed partitions and changes to services often leave gaps in an otherwise complete cornice. We can reproduce these missing lengths and connect them to the surviving work.

Where an entire cornice has been removed, photographs, fragments or matching details elsewhere in the building may help establish a suitable design for reinstatement.

The cost depends on the condition of the plaster, the complexity of the profile, access and the extent of any mould making or modelling required.

A short repair to a plain cornice will involve different work from reproducing enriched ornament or securing loose plaster at height. We provide a clear scope and quotation following an assessment of the work.

We work with homeowners, architects, conservation professionals and contractors across the Cotswolds, Gloucestershire, Worcestershire, Warwickshire and Oxfordshire.

If your cornice is cracked, damaged or incomplete, send us photographs showing the affected area and the room as a whole, together with the property’s location. We can then advise on the next step and arrange a visit where needed.