coving joints very obvious - how to hide?

Elphaba2007

The coving in my house is not put up very well. In the lounge-diner there are 7 joins in the middle of walls (only 2m coving was used, not 3m), and 8 corners. The coving is the plaster-covered-in-paper kind.

7 of the corners are fine, but the 8th is MILES out. Is this likely to be due to shoddy workmanship or the ceiling/wall not being straight?

Of the middle joins, 2 are brilliant (almost invisible, I really had to hunt for them), 2 are ok (I think I only notice them because I'm looking), but 3 look dreadful. The joins are cut diagonally, but one half of the coving juts out about 5mm beyond the other half.

Is there anything I can do about this that will make the coving look good or should I consider ripping it all down and getting someone to start from scratch? How hard would that be?

Would using polyfilla over the joint and surrounding area, sanding and painting work?

Thanks for any advice!

pandaqueen1

We put coving up and were lucky to get 4m lenghts. I would try the polyfilla, sanding route first,what a mess to take it down and start again. Also if the ceiling is old sections can come down with the coving too! It happened to a cousin of ours.

andrew-b

Polyfilla, gently sand (careful not to tear through the paper of the coving), repeat until your happy, couple of coats of emulsion.

We've done one room where we replaced completely (i pulled the old down ..plasterer put new up) and one where i made good some really bad corners (literally about an inch gap between the coving in the middle badly filled that i raked out and refilled) and damaged edges.

Depending how well stuck on they are, replacing coving will likely damage the ceiling and walls and it's quite messy. Also even after a professional replaced them i still had to go round with polyfilla to make it good - but then i'm a bit of a perfectionist so quite fussy!

It's actually difficult to tell that my patched coving isn't new now! Was worried when i had gaping holes in the corners...but very satisfied after the paint went on.

Andy

Red_Cat

When I've seen a gap in my coving when decorating I have made up a mixture of sloppy decorator's filler (Polyfilla for example). The consistency should be slightly thinner than you would have when you make it for normal filler, a bit like thick custard. Then using a paintbrush, I actually paint the filler into the gap, smooth it and finish it off till flush. The reason I do this is that I found got a better, smoother result than when filling and trying to then sand the filler when dry. I also found it awkward to sand down dry filler in corners.

Obviously if you have a big gap, fill with regular filler, let that dry, then use ths sloppy mix and a paintbrush to finish.

Red Cat

PROFESSIONAL_LANDLORD

We install miles of this!!!

Use ARTEX mixed thick, use an old credit/ plastic card to shape the profile, fill at least twice before sanding with p120 sandpaper.

If the line at the bottom (wall) of the coving is way out , the coving can't be saved.

Stantheman

Bloke who installed my coving a few weeks back used the plaster type stuff which was actually used to make the coving to fill it and you cant see any of the joins once painted. As mentioned above he used a credit card to shape it and take off any excess. He also cut away a lot of wall/ceiling where the wall was bowed to get it dead flush. Looks great.

Michael_Chandler

Try 'Orac' products from Belgium. See www.hm-online.co.uk
Lighter and easier to install. Regards Michael.