Frequently Asked Questions

Once you have emailed us your query we will be in touch with a price that will include VAT and delivery charges (if applicable) and then you can pay online either by bank transfer or by credit card.

It is very difficult to give a generic cost for coving but as a rule of thumb an average size room using any cornice from the “Medium” size range will cost € 350.00 and the more rooms that need to be done the less the cost per room will be.

It is very important to get the size of the cornice you intend to use just right as it will certainly have an effect on the appearance of the finished product. In general we would go with the following:

  • In rooms with ceilings up to 2.5m high (or 8′ 2 “) we would recommend using a style from our ‘Small’ range.
  • In rooms with ceilings between 2.5 and 2.8m (or 9′ 2″) we recommend using a style from our ‘Medium’ range.
  • In rooms with ceilings between 2.8m (or 9’2”) and 3.5m (or 11’5″) we recommend using a style from our ‘Large’ range.
  • In rooms with ceilings above 3.5m (or 11’5″) we recommend using a style from our ‘Extra Large Range’.

The term ‘Georgian’ refers to a period in British architectural history when the use of plaster mouldings was very widespread and we can see from some of the very fine examples of Georgian architecture in our own country they made use of quite plain styles of cornice as well as very elaborate ones.

Furniture, curtains, wall hangings and paintings should all be removed from the room, if not possible then move to the centre of the room and cover with dust sheets.
Care should be taken that all light fittings, intruder alarms, door bells etc are below the level the cornice will come to. This measurement can be found as the D which stands for drop on the particular cornice you have chosen for your home.

The use of plaster mouldings in any room will soften the angles between walls and ceilings and help to create a warmer more luxurious atmosphere. It also speaks of an ancient craft and the care and love you have for your home. On a practical level it can conceal the unsightly cracks we often get in modern homes at the ceiling lines.

Unfortunately there is a lot of dust, made worse by the fact that we scrape off the paint where the cornice sits on the wall and ceiling. While this process does add to the dust created on the job, it is required to ensure the cornice bonds firmly and will stay in place for generations. We do make a big effort to clean up the work space and leave it as we found it.

All our cornice is kiln dried so it can be painted after the adhesive and joint filling material has dried in, usually about one day is sufficient. The fact that the cornice is kiln dried ensures that there will be no shrinking or warping after installation thereby vastly reducing the risk of cracking.

Paint your coving with a good quality brush after you have painted the ceiling with your roller. Assuming it is going to be the same colour as the ceiling, paint it before you paint the walls. The same rule applies to ceiling roses and any other decorative plasterwork.

Yes, we cast all our own material at our workshop in Bunclody.

Use a style that is pleasing for you to look at. There is no hard and fast rule that dictates whether you should use a plainer or a more ornately decorated cornice in any particular room.

Yes, by appointment only. Contact Ciarán to arrange a suitable time and date.

Restoration

Yes, we can, there is no moulding that we cannot reproduce an exact copy of, as long as we can get a sizeable piece of the original.

Reproduction and plaster restoration are a key part of our business and it is safe to say that there is no moulding that cannot be identically reproduced. The complexity of the moulding you wish to reproduce will determine the method used and the time it will take. Take a look at the Restoration page on our website and see the wonderful work that can be reproduced using a combination of age old methods, modern materials and time.

It depends to some extent on the complexity of the mould to be reproduced and how busy we are at that particular time, but in general we can do this within two to three weeks.

Water penetration at roofs and chimneys along with leaking plumbing is without any doubt the main cause of damage to plaster but it can all be repaired and generally the damage is localized so it may not be expensive to repair.